JUNIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

 

 

SCBT FINANCIAL CORPORATION

 

Reconciliation and tie between the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (including cross-references to provisions of Sections 310 to and including 317 which, pursuant to Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by the Trust Reform Act of 1990, are a part of and govern this Indenture (whether or not physically contained therein), dated as of               , 2009.

 

§ 310(a) (1), (2) and (5).	6.9
(a) (3).	Not Applicable
(a) (4).	Not Applicable
(b).	6.8, 6.10
(c).	Not Applicable
§ 311.	6.13
§ 312 (a).	7.1, 7.2(a)
(b).	7.2 (b)
(c).	7.2 (c)
§ 313 (a).	7.3 (a)
(b).	7.3 (b)
(c).	1.5, 7.3(a), 7.3(b)
(d).	7.3 (c)
§ 314 (a) (1), (2) and (3)	7.4
(a) (4).	10.4
(b).	Not Applicable
(c) (1).	1.2
(c) (2).	1.2
(c) (3).	Not Applicable
(d).	Not Applicable
(e).	1.2
(f).	Not Applicable
§ 315 (a).	6.1(a)
(b).	6.2
(c).	6.1(b)
(d).	6.1(c)
(d) (1).	6.1(a)(1)
(d) (2).	6.1(c)(2)
(d) (3).	6.1(c)(3)
(e).	5.14
§ 316(a) (1) (A).	5.12
(a) (1) (B).	5.13
(a) (2).	Not Applicable
(b).	5.8

 

 

(c).	1.4 (f)
§ 317 (a) (1)	5.3
(a) (2).	5.4
(b).	10.3
§ 318 (a).	1.7

 

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Junior Subordinated Indenture.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I	DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION	1
Section 1.1.	Definitions	1
Section 1.2.	Compliance Certificate and Opinions	9
Section 1.3.	Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee	10
Section 1.4.	Acts of Holders	11
Section 1.5.	Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company	13
Section 1.6.	Notice to Holders; Waiver	13
Section 1.7.	Conflict with Trust Indenture Act	13
Section 1.8.	Effect of Headings and Table of Contents	14
Section 1.9.	Successors and Assigns	14
Section 1.10.	Separability Clause	14
Section 1.11.	Benefits of Indenture	14
Section 1.12.	Governing Law	14
Section 1.13.	Non-Business Days	14
Section 1.14.	Force Majeure	14
ARTICLE II	SECURITY FORMS	15
Section 2.1.	Forms Generally	15
Section 2.2.	Form of Face of Security	15
Section 2.3.	Form of Reverse of Security	18
Section 2.4.	Additional Provisions Required in Global Security	21
Section 2.5.	Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication	22
ARTICLE III	THE SECURITIES	22
Section 3.1.	Title and Terms	22
Section 3.2.	Denominations	25
Section 3.3.	Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating	25
Section 3.4.	Temporary Securities	26
Section 3.5.	Registration, Transfer and Exchange	27
Section 3.6.	Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities	29
Section 3.7.	Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved	29
Section 3.8.	Persons Deemed Owners	31
Section 3.9.	Cancellation	31
Section 3.10.	Computation of Interest	31
Section 3.11.	Deferrals of Interest Payment Dates	31
Section 3.12.	Right of Set-Off	33
Section 3.13.	Agreed Tax Treatment	33
Section 3.14.	Shortening or Extension of Stated Maturity	33
Section 3.15.	CUSIP Numbers	33

 

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ARTICLE IV	SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE	34
Section 4.1.	Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture	34
Section 4.2.	Application of Trust Money	35
ARTICLE V	REMEDIES	35
Section 5.1.	Events of Default	35
Section 5.2.	Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment	36
Section 5.3.	Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee	37
Section 5.4.	Trustee May File Proofs of Claim	38
Section 5.5.	Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of Securities	39
Section 5.6.	Application of Money Collected	39
Section 5.7.	Limitation on Suits	39
Section 5.8.	Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest; Direct Action by Holders of Preferred Capital Securities	40
Section 5.9.	Restoration of Rights and Remedies	40
Section 5.10.	Rights and Remedies Cumulative	41
Section 5.11.	Delay or Omission Not Waiver	41
Section 5.12.	Control by Holders	41
Section 5.13.	Waiver of Past Defaults	42
Section 5.14.	Undertaking for Costs	42
Section 5.15.	Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws	42
ARTICLE VI	THE TRUSTEE	43
Section 6.1.	Certain Duties and Responsibilities	43
Section 6.2.	Certain Rights of Trustee	43
Section 6.3.	Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities	45
Section 6.4.	May Hold Securities	45
Section 6.5.	Money Held in Trust	45
Section 6.6.	Compensation and Reimbursement	45
Section 6.7.	Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility; Conflicting Interests	46
Section 6.8.	Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor	46
Section 6.9.	Acceptance of Appointment by Successor	48
Section 6.10.	Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business	49
Section 6.11.	Appointment of Authenticating Agent	50
ARTICLE VII	HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY	52
Section 7.1.	Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders	52
Section 7.2.	Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders	52
Section 7.3.	Reports by Trustee	53
Section 7.4.	Reports by Company	53

 

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ARTICLE VIII	CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE	54
Section 8.1.	Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms	54
Section 8.1.	Successor Corporation Substituted	55
ARTICLE IX	SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES	55
Section 9.1.	Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders	55
Section 9.2.	Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders	57
Section 9.3.	Execution of Supplemental Indentures	58
Section 9.4.	Effect of Supplemental Indentures	58
Section 9.5.	Conformity with Trust Indenture Act	58
Section 9.6.	Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures	59
ARTICLE X	COVENANTS	59
Section 10.1.	Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest	59
Section 10.2.	Maintenance of Office or Agency	59
Section 10.3.	Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust	60
Section 10.4.	Statement as to Compliance	61
Section 10.5.	Waiver of Certain Covenants	61
Section 10.6.	Additional Sums	61
Section 10.7.	Additional Covenants	63
ARTICLE XI	REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES	64
Section 11.1.	Applicability of This Article	64
Section 11.2.	Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee	64
Section 11.3.	Selection of Securities to be Redeemed	64
Section 11.4.	Notice of Redemption	65
Section 11.5.	Deposit of Redemption Price	66
Section 11.6.	Payment of Securities Called for Redemption	66
Section 11.7.	Right of Redemption of Securities Initially Issued to a SCBT Capital Trust	66
ARTICLE XII	SINKING FUNDS	67
Section 12.1.	Applicability of Article	67
Section 12.1.	Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities	67
Section 12.3.	Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund	67
ARTICLE XIII	SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES	69
Section 13.1.	Securities Subordinate to Senior and Subordinated Debt	69
Section 13.2.	Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc	69
Section 13.3.	Prior Payment to Senior and Subordinated Debt Upon Acceleration of Securities	70
Section 13.4.	No Payment When Senior and Subordinated Debt in Default	71
Section 13.5.	Payment Permitted if No Default	72

 

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Section 13.6.	Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior and Subordinated Debt	72
Section 13.7.	Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights	73
Section 13.8.	Trustee to Effectuate Subordination	73
Section 13.9.	No Waiver of Subordination Provisions	73
Section 13.10.	Notice to Trustee	74
Section 13.11.	Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent	75
Section 13.12.	Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior and Subordinated Debt	75
Section 13.13.	Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior and Subordinated Debt; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights	75
Section 13.14.	No Recourse	75
Section 13.15.	Article Applicable to Paying Agents	75
Section 13.16.	Certain Conversions or Exchanges Deemed Payment	76

 

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(3)                All accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles which are generally accepted in the United States at the date or time of such computation; provided that when two or more principles are so generally accepted, it shall mean that set of principles consistent with those in use by the Company; and

 

(4)                The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

 

“ Act ” when used with respect to any Holder has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.

 

                                                “ Additional Interest ” means the interest, if any, that shall accrue on any interest on the Securities of any series the payment of which has not been made on the applicable Interest Payment Date and which shall accrue at the rate per annum specified or determined as specified in such Security, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

                                                “ Additional Sums ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.6.

 

                                                “ Additional Taxes ” means the sum of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental charges to which SCBT Capital Trust has become subject from time to time as a result of a Tax Event.

 

                                                “ Administrator ” means, in respect of SCBT Capital Trust, each Person identified as an “Administrator” or an “Administrative Agent” in the Trust Agreement, solely in such Person’s capacity as Administrator or an Administrative Agent, as the case may be, of SCBT Capital Trust under the Trust Agreement and not in such Person’s individual capacity, or any successor administrative trustee or successor administrative agent, as the case may be, appointed as therein provided.

 

                                                “ Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person; provided, however, the SCBT Capital Trust in which Securities have been issued shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company.

 

                                                For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

                                                “ Allocable Amounts ,” when used with respect to any Senior and Subordinated Debt, means all amounts due or to become due on such Senior and Subordinated Debt less, if applicable, any amount which would have been paid to, and retained by, the holders of such

 

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Senior and Subordinated Debt (whether as a result of the receipt of payments by the holders of such Senior and Subordinated Debt from the Company or any other obligor thereon or from any holders of, or trustee in respect of, other indebtedness that is subordinate and junior in right of payment to such Senior and Subordinated Debt pursuant to any provision of such indebtedness for the payment over of amounts received on account of such indebtedness to the holders of such Senior and Subordinated Debt or otherwise), but for the fact that such Senior and Subordinated Debt is subordinate or junior in right of payment to (or subject to a requirement that amounts received on such Senior and Subordinated Debt be paid over to obligees on) trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business.

 

                                                “ Authenticating Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.11 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

                                                “ Authorized Newspaper ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.

 

                                                “ Board of Directors ” means either the board of directors of the Company or any committee of that board duly authorized to act hereunder.

 

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

 

                                                “ Business Day ” means any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday, (ii) a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed or (iii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or, with respect to the Securities of a series initially issued to the SCBT Capital Trust, the principal office of the Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement, is closed for business.

 

                                                “ Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties on such date.

 

                                                “ Common Securities ” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.

 

                                                “ Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $2.50 per share, of the Company.

 

                                                “ Company ” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor corporation shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor corporation.

 

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                                                “ Company Request ” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, the written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, its President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

                                                “ Corporate Trust Office ” means a principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.

 

                                                “ Corporation ” includes a corporation, association, company, joint-stock company or business trust.

 

                                                “ Debt ” means, with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent, (i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such Person; (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person; (vi) all indebtedness of such Person whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred, for claims in respect of derivative products, including without limitation, interest rate and foreign exchange contracts, forward commodity contracts (whether related to mortgages, securities, commodities, or otherwise), options and swaps and similar arrangements; and (vii) every obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of another Person and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such Person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable for, directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise.

 

                                                “ Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

 

                                                “ Depositary ” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to such series (or any successor thereto).

 

                                                “ Discount Security ” means any security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2.

 

                                                “ Distributions ,” with respect to the Trust Securities issued by the SCBT Capital Trust, means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as provided in the Trust Agreement and referred to therein as “Distributions.”

 

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                                                “ Dollar ” or “U.S. $” means the currency of the United States of America that, as at the time of payment, is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

                                                “ Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Article V unless otherwise specified in the supplemental indenture or the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof creating a series of Securities.

 

                                                “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

                                                “ Extension Period ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.11.

 

                                                “ Global Security ” means a Security in the form prescribed in Section 2.4 evidencing all or part of a series of Securities, issued to the Depositary or its nominee for such series, and registered in the name of such Depositary or its nominee.

 

                                                “ Guarantee Agreement ” means the Guarantee Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex C, or substantially in such form as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

                                                “ Holder ” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Securities Register.

 

                                                “ Indenture ” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof or one or more Officers’ Certificates delivered pursuant to Section 3.1 and shall include the terms of each particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.1.

 

                                                “ Interest Payment Date ” means as to each series of Securities, the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Securities.

 

                                                “ Junior Subordinated Payment ” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.

 

                                                “ Maturity ” when used with respect to any Security means the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

                                                “ Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

                                                “ Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

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                                                “ Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company.

 

                                                “ Original Issue Date ” means the date of issuance specified as such in each Security.

 

                                                “ Outstanding ” means, when used in reference to any Securities, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

(a)                Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(b)               Securities for whose payment money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the Holders of such Securities; and

 

(c)                Securities in substitution for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered or which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6, unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Securities are held by Holders in whose hands such Securities are valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company;

 

provided, however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor. Upon the written request of the Trustee, the Company shall promptly furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate listing and identifying all Securities, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of the Company, or any other obligor on the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such obligor, and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.2, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Securities not listed therein are Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.

 

                                                “ Paying Agent ” means the Trustee or any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

                                                “ Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

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                                                “ Place of Payment ” means, with respect to the Securities of any series, the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of such series are payable pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.11.

 

                                                “ Predecessor Security ” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

 

                                                “ Preferred Capital Securities ” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.

 

                                                “ Proceeding ” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.

 

                                                “ Property Trustee ” means, in respect of the SCBT Capital Trust, the Person identified as the “Property Trustee” in the Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the SCBT Capital Trust under the Trust Agreement and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor property trustee appointed as therein provided.

 

                                                “ Redemption Date ,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

                                                “ Redemption Price ,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

                                                “ Regular Record Date ” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date with respect to the Securities of a series means, unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to Securities of a series, (i) in the case of Securities of a series represented by one or more Global Securities, the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date and (ii) in the case of Securities of a series not represented by one or more Global Securities, the date which is fifteen days next preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day).

 

                                                “ Responsible Officer ” when used with respect to the Trustee means any officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee from time to time to administer its corporate trust matters and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

                                                “ S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.

 

                                                “ SCBT Capital Trust ” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.

 

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                                                “ SCBT Guarantee ” means the guarantee by the Company of distributions on the Preferred Capital Securities of SCBT Capital Trust to the extent provided in the Guarantee Agreement.

 

                                                “ Securities ” or “ Security ” means any debt securities or debt security, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

                                                “ Securities Register ” and “ Securities Registrar ” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.

 

                                                “ Senior and Subordinated Debt ” means the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any (including any deferred interest and interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), on Debt of the Company, whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the Securities, provided, however, that Senior and Subordinated Debt shall not be deemed to include (a) any Debt of the Company which, when incurred and without respect to any election under Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, as amended, was without recourse to the Company, (b) any Debt of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries, (c) Debt to any employee or director of the Company, and (d) any Securities or other securities or obligations which, by their terms, are expressly stated to rank pari passu in right of payment with the Securities.

 

                                                “ Special Record Date ” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7.

 

                                                “ Stated Maturity ” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon means the date specified pursuant to the terms of such Security as the date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of interest is due and payable, in the case of such principal, as such date may be shortened or extended as provided pursuant to the terms of such Security and this Indenture.

 

                                                “ Subsidiary ” means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means 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.

 

                                                “ Tax Event ” means the receipt by the SCBT Capital Trust of an Opinion of Counsel (as defined in the SCBT Capital Trust Agreement) experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or

 

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taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of issuance of the Preferred Capital Securities of SCBT Capital Trust, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the SCBT Capital Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to United States Federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the corresponding series of Securities, (ii) interest payable by the Company on such corresponding series of Securities is not, or within 90 days of the date of such Opinion of Counsel, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States Federal income tax purposes or (iii) the SCBT Capital Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.

 

                                                “ Trust Agreement ” means the Trust Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A, as amended by the form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex B, or substantially in such form as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

                                                “ Trustee ” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder and, if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

 

                                                “ Trust Indenture Act ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. (S)(S) 77aaa-77bbb), as amended and as in effect on the date as of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 9.5.

 

                                                “ Trust Securities ” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.

 

                                                “ Vice President ” when used with respect to the Company, means any duly appointed vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president.”

 

Section 1.2. Compliance Certificate and Opinions .

 

                                                Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent (including covenants, compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent), if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent (including covenants compliance with which

 

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constitute a condition precedent), if any, have been complied with, except that, in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

                                                Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificates provided pursuant to Section 10.5) shall include:

 

(1)                a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

(2)                a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(3)                a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

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

 

Section 1.3. Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee .

 

                                                In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

                                                Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.  Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions, or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

10

 

amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.

 

                                                The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 5.2, (ii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.7(2) or (iii) any direction referred to in Section 5.12, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date, provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.

 

                                                With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day, provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 10.6, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

 

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(g)               Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

Section 1.5. Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company .

 

                                                Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

 

(1)                the Trustee by any Holder, any holder of Preferred Capital Securities or the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust office, or

 

(2)                the Company by the Trustee, any Holder or any holder of Preferred Capital Securities shall be sufficient for every purpose (except as otherwise provided in Section 5.1) hereunder if in writing and mailed, first class, postage prepaid, to the Company, addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

Section 1.6. Notice to Holders; Waiver .

 

                                                Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

Section 1.7. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .

 

                                                If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act through operation of Section 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control.

 

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Section 1.8. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents .

 

                                                The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

Section 1.9. S uccessors and Assigns .

 

                                                All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 1.10. Separability Clause .

 

                                                In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 1.11. Benefits of Indenture .

 

                                                Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors and assigns, the Holders of Senior and Subordinated Debt, the Holders of the Securities and, to the extent expressly provided in Sections 5.2, 5.8, 5.9, 5.11, 5.13, 9.1 and 9.2, the holders of Preferred Capital Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

Section 1.12. Governing Law .

 

                                                This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Section 1.13. Non-Business Days .

 

                                                In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or the Securities) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, until such next succeeding Business Day except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day (in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date or at the Stated Maturity)).

 

Section 1.14. Force Majeure .

 

                                                In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts

 

14

 

of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

ARTICLE II

 

SECURITY FORMS

 

Section 2.1. Forms Generally .

 

                                                The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the forms set forth in this Article, or in such other form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with applicable tax laws or the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.3 with respect to the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

                                                The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be substantially in the form set forth in this Article.

 

                                                The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods, if required by any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, on a steel engraved border or steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such securities.

 

Section 2.2. Form of Face of Security .

 

SCBT FINANCIAL CORPORATION

 

    % JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURE DUE

 

Registered		Principal Amount:
No.		CUSIP No.:

 

15

 

                                                SCBT Financial Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of South Carolina (hereinafter called the “Company”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to       , or registered assigns, the principal sum of       Dollars on       ; provided that the Company may (i) shorten the Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security to a date not earlier than       , and (ii) extend the Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security at any time on one or more occasions, subject to certain conditions specified in Section 3.14 of the Indenture, but in no event to a date later than       . The Company further promises to pay interest on said principal sum from       or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”) on which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on the       day of       ,       ,       , and       of each year commencing       at the rate of       % per annum, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, plus Additional Interest, if any, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the rate of       % per annum, compounded quarterly. The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. The amount of interest payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then a payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. A “Business Day” shall mean any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday, (ii) a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed or (iii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or the principal office of the Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement (hereinafter referred to) for SCBT Capital Trust is closed for business. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest installment, which shall be [insert Record Date] next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (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 Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than       days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on

 

16

 

which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

 

                                                So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right at any time during the term of this Security to defer payment of interest on this Security, at any time or from time to time, for up to       consecutive       interest payment periods with respect to each deferral period, but up to not less than 20 consecutive quarters (each an “Extension Period”), (during which Extension Periods the Company shall have the right to make partial payments of interest on any Interest Payment Date, and at the end of which the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with Additional Interest thereon to the extent permitted by applicable law)); provided, however, that no Extension Period shall extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security; provided, further, that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock), or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt security of the Company (including Securities issued by the Company pursuant to the Indenture other than the Securities represented by this certificate) that ranks pari passu with or junior in interest to this Security or make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the Company of the debt securities of any Subsidiaries of the Company (including SCBT Guarantees other than the Guarantee related to the Preferred Capital Securities issued by SCBT Capital Trust) if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in interest to this Security (other than (a) dividends or distributions in Common Stock of the Company, (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the future or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c) payments under the SCBT Guarantee related to the Preferred Capital Securities issued by SCBT Capital Trust, and (d) purchases of Common Stock related to the issuance of Common Stock or rights under any of the Company’s benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees). Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend such Extension Period, provided that such extension does not cause such Extension Period to exceed       consecutive interest payment periods or to extend beyond the Stated Maturity. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and upon the payment of all amounts then due, and subject to the foregoing limitation, the Company may elect to begin a new Extension Period. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period except at the end thereof. The Company shall give the Trustee, the Property Trustee and the Administrators of SCBT Capital Trust notice of its election to begin any Extension Period at least       Business Days prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which Distributions on the Preferred Capital Securities would be payable except for the election to begin such Extension Period, or (ii) the date the Administrators are required to give notice to any automated quotation system or to holders of such Preferred Capital Securities of the record date or the date such Distributions are payable, but in any event not less than        Business Days prior to such record date.

 

17

 

                                                Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the United States, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Securities Register or (ii) by wire transfer in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Securities Register. The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, unsecured and will rank junior and subordinate and subject in right of payments to the prior payment in full of all Senior and Subordinated Debt, and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his acceptance hereof, waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior and Subordinated Debt, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.

 

                                                Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security 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 by manual or facsimile signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

                                                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

 

SCBT FINANCIAL CORPORATION

 

By:
	[President or Vice President]

 

 

Section 2.3. Form of Reverse of Security .

 

                                                This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under a Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of       (herein called the “Indenture”), between the Company and [Wilmington Trust Company], not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee (herein

 

18

 

called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to $      .

 

                                                All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture and in the Trust Agreement, dated as of       ,       , as amended (the “Trust Agreement”), for SCBT Capital Trust IV among SCBT Financial Corporation, as Depositor, the Administrators and the Trustees named therein, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture or the Trust Agreement, as the case may be.

 

                                                [If applicable, insert—The Company may at any time, at its option, on or after       , and subject to the terms and conditions of Article XI of the Indenture], [if applicable insert—and subject to the Company having received prior approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve] redeem this Security [in whole at any time] [or in part from time to time], without premium or penalty, at a redemption price equal to [insert redemption price] to the Redemption Date.]

 

                                                [If applicable, insert—Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Tax Event in respect of SCBT Capital Trust, the Company may, at its option, at any time within 90 days of the occurrence of such Tax Event redeem this Security, [if applicable, insert—in whole but not in part], subject to the provisions of Section 11.7 and the other provisions of Article XI of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to [insert redemption price] to the Redemption Date.

 

                                                [If applicable, insert—In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series for the portion hereof not redeemed will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

 

                                                The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction and discharge of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

 

                                                The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Company and the Trustee at any time to enter into a supplemental indenture or indentures for the purpose of modifying in any manner the rights and obligations of the Company and of the Holders of the Securities, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series to be affected by such supplemental indenture. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such

 

19

 

consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

                                                [If the Security is not a Discount Security,—As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, if an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of this series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of this series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), provided that, in the case of the Securities of this series issued to SCBT Capital Trust, if upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of this series fails to declare the principal of all the Securities of this series to be immediately due and payable, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Capital Securities then outstanding shall have such right by a notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee; and upon any such declaration the principal amount of and the accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on all the Securities of this series shall become immediately due and payable, provided that the payment of principal and interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Securities shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in Article XIII of the Indenture.]

 

                                                [If the Security is a Discount Security,—As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, if an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of this series may declare an amount of principal of the Securities of this series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), provided that, in the case of the Securities of this series issued to a SCBT Capital Trust, if upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of this series fails to declare the principal of all the Securities of this series to be immediately due and payable, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Capital Securities then outstanding shall have such right by a notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee. Such amount shall be equal to [insert formula for determining the amount]. Upon any such declaration, such amount of the principal of and the accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on all the Securities of this series shall become immediately due and payable, provided that the payment of principal and interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Securities shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in Article XIII of the Indenture. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on this Security shall terminate.]

 

20

 

“THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT 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.”

 

Section 2.5. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication .

 

This Certificate represents Securities referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated:

 

	[WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY],
	not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee
	By:
	Authorized Officer

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

THE SECURITIES

 

Section 3.1. Title and Terms .

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate (such Officers’ Certificate shall have the effect of a supplemental indenture for all purposes hereunder), or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of a series:

 

(a)      the title of the securities of such series, which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities;

 

(b)      the limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 9.6 or 11.6 and except for any

 

22

 

Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder); provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect;

 

(c)      the Stated Maturity or Maturities on which the principal of the Securities of such series is payable or the method of determination thereof;

 

(d)      the rate or rates, if any, at which the Securities of such series shall bear interest, if any, the rate or rates and extent to which Additional Interest, if any, shall be payable in respect of any Securities of such series, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable, the right, pursuant to Section 3.11 or as otherwise set forth therein, of the Company to defer or extend an Interest Payment Date, and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date or the method by which any of the foregoing shall be determined;

 

(e)      the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of such series shall be payable, the place or places where the Securities of such series may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange, and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series may be made;

 

(f)       the period or periods within or the date or dates on which, if any, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of such series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

 

(g)      the obligation or the right, if any, of the Company to prepay, repay or purchase the Securities of such series pursuant to any sinking fund, amortization or analogous provisions, or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or units) in which and the other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(h)      the denominations in which any Securities of such series shall be issuable, if other than denominations of $100,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

(i)       if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or units) in which the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be payable, or in which the Securities of the series shall be denominated;

 

(j)       the additions, modifications or deletions, if any, in the Events of Default or covenants of the Company set forth herein with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

(k)      if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of such series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof;

 

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(l)       the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of the Securities of such series in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons;

 

(m)     any index or indices used to determine the amount of payments of principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of such series or the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

 

(n)      whether the Securities of the series, or any portion thereof, shall initially be issuable in the form of a temporary Global Security representing all or such portion of the Securities of such series and provisions for the exchange of such temporary Global Security for definitive Securities of such series;

 

(o)      if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 2.4 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 3.5 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

 

(p)      the appointment of any Paying Agent or Agents for the Securities of such series;

 

(q)      the terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities of such series into any other securities or property of the Company, and the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series to permit or facilitate such conversion or exchange;

 

(r)       the form or forms of the Trust Agreement, Amended and Restated Trust Agreement and Guarantee Agreement, if different from the forms attached hereto as Annexes A, B and C, respectively;

 

(s)      the relative degree, if any, to which the Securities of the series shall be senior to or be subordinated to other series of Securities in right of payment, whether such other series of Securities are Outstanding or not; and

 

(t)       any other terms of the Securities of the series to be issued.

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

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If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

 

The Securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to Senior and Subordinated Debt as provided in Article XIII.

 

Section 3.2. Denominations .

 

The Securities of each series shall be in registered form without coupons and shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $100,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1.

 

Section 3.3. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its President or one of its Vice Presidents under its corporate seal reproduced or impressed thereon and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile. Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 6.2) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

(1)      if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.1, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2)      if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.1, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(3)      that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in

 

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accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.9, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

Section 3.4. Temporary Securities .

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities of such series in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities upon surrender of the temporary Securities at the office or agency of the Company designated

 

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for that purpose without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations having the same Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity and having the same terms as such temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

Section 3.5. Registration, Transfer and Exchange .

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. Such register is herein sometimes referred to as the “Securities Register.” The Trustee is hereby appointed “Securities Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, of the same Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity and having the same terms.

 

At the option of the Holder, Securities may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, of the same Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity and having the same terms, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Securities Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Securities Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

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

 

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

 

The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only to Global Securities:

 

(1)      Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

 

(2)      Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when the Depositary is required to be so registered to act as depositary, in each case unless the Company has approved a successor Depositary within 90 days, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security, (C) the Company in its sole discretion determines that such Global Security will be so exchangeable or transferable or (D) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.

 

(3)      Subject to Clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

 

(4)      Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 3.4, 3.6, 9.6 or 11.6 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

 

Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be required, pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (a) to issue, transfer or exchange any Security of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of selection for redemption of Securities pursuant to Article XI and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing of notice of redemption or (b) to transfer or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be redeemed.

 

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