-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Ruk5B0ORm3bExeI1ax1loU4+kNGhrDvb0rcMDbaShquusKZE+eyw53G0jlsNkqJc cERqjNqbZ1zwGDj/AbhYhQ== 0001104659-06-020252.txt : 20060329 0001104659-06-020252.hdr.sgml : 20060329 20060329171801 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-06-020252 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 11 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20051231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20060329 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20060329 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: LANDMARK BANCORP INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001141688 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021] IRS NUMBER: 431930755 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-33203 FILM NUMBER: 06719757 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 POYNTZ AVENUE CITY: MANHATTAN STATE: KS ZIP: 66502 BUSINESS PHONE: 7855652000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 POYNTZ AVENUE CITY: MANHATTAN STATE: KS ZIP: 66502 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: LANDMARK MERGER CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20010530 10-K 1 a06-2144_110k.htm ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 AND 15(D)

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

 

 

For fiscal year ended December 31, 2005

 

 

OR

 

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

 

For transition period from              to

 

Commission File Number 0-33203

 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

43-1930755

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

of incorporation or organization)

 

 

 

701 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas   66505

(Address of principal executive offices)         (Zip Code)

 

(785) 565-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

 

Name of Each Exchange

Title of Each Class

 

on which Registered

None

 

None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

Preferred Share Purchase Rights

(Title of Class)

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. 

Yes o                No ý

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange

Act.

Yes o                No ý

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act 0f 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports),

and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ý                No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this 10-K or any amendment to this form 10-K. ý.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of  “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer o

 

Non-accelerated filer ý

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

Yes o                No ý

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the last sales price quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System on June 30, 2005, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $35.5 million*. At March 23, 2005, the total number of shares of common stock outstanding was 2,228,591.

 

Documents incorporated by Reference:

 

Portions of the 2005 Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, are incorporated by reference into Parts I and II hereof, to the extent indicated herein. Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 17, 2006, are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof, to the extent indicated herein.

 


*              Based on the last reported price of actual transactions in Registrant’s common stock on June 30, 2005, and reports of beneficial ownership prepared by all directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Registrant; however, such determination of shares owned by affiliates does not constitute an admission of affiliate status or beneficial interest in shares of common stock of Registrant.

 

 



 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

 

2005 Form 10-K Annual Report

 

Table of Contents

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1.

BUSINESS

1

 

 

 

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

25

 

 

 

ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

32

 

 

 

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

32

 

 

 

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

32

 

 

 

ITEM 4.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

32

 

 

 

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

32

 

 

 

ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

34

 

 

 

ITEM 7.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

34

 

 

 

ITEM 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

34

 

 

 

ITEM 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

34

 

 

 

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

34

 

 

 

ITEM 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

35

 

 

 

ITEM 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

35

 

 

 

ITEM 10.

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

35

 

 

 

ITEM 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

36

 

 

 

ITEM 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

36

 

 

 

ITEM 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

38

 

 

 

ITEM 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

38

 

 

 

ITEM 15.

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

38

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

40

 



 

PART I.

 

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

 

The Company

 

Landmark Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) is a bank holding company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Currently, the Company’s business consists solely of the ownership of Landmark National Bank (the “Bank”), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. As of December 31, 2005, the Company had $465.1 million in consolidated total assets.

 

The Company is headquartered in Manhattan, Kansas and has expanded its geographic presence through acquisitions in the past several years. In August 2005, the Company acquired 2 branches in Great Bend, Kansas. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company completed the acquisition of First Manhattan Bancorporation, Inc., the holding company for First Savings Bank, F.S.B. Effective April 1, 2004, the Company acquired First Kansas Financial Corporation (“First Kansas”), the holding company for First Kansas Federal Savings Association (“First Kansas Federal”). In conjunction with the transaction, First Kansas Federal was merged into the Bank (the “2004 Acquisition”). Effective October 9, 2001, Landmark Bancshares, Inc., the holding company for Landmark Federal Savings Bank, and MNB Bancshares, Inc., the holding company for Security National Bank, completed their merger into Landmark Merger Company, which immediately changed its name to Landmark Bancorp, Inc. (the “2001 Merger”). In addition, Landmark Federal Savings Bank merged with Security National Bank and the resulting bank changed its name to Landmark National Bank.

 

As a bank holding company, the Company is subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”). The Company is also subject to various reporting requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

Pursuant to the 2004 Acquisition and 2001 Merger, the Bank succeeded to all of the assets and liabilities of First Kansas, First Kansas Federal, Landmark Federal Savings Bank and Security National Bank. The Bank is principally engaged in the business of attracting deposits from the general public and using such deposits, together with borrowings and other funds, to originate consumer, commercial, multi-family, and one-to-four family residential mortgage loans in the Bank’s principal market areas, as described below. Since the 2001 Merger, the Bank has focused on originating greater numbers and amounts of consumer, commercial, and agricultural loans. Additionally, greater emphasis has been placed on diversification of the deposit mix through expansion of core deposit accounts such as checking, savings, and money market accounts. The Bank has also diversified its geographical markets as a result of both the 2004 Acquisition and the 2001 Merger. The Company’s main office is in Manhattan, Kansas with branch offices in central, eastern and southwestern Kansas. The Company continues to explore opportunities to expand its banking markets through mergers and acquisitions, as well as branching opportunities.

 

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The results of operations of the Bank are dependent primarily upon net interest income and, to a lesser extent, upon other income derived from loan servicing fees and customer deposit services. Additional expenses of the Bank include general and administrative expenses such as salaries, employee benefits, federal deposit insurance premiums, data processing, occupancy and related expenses.

 

Deposits of the Bank are insured by both the Savings Association Insurance Fund (the “SAIF”) or the Bank Insurance Fund (the “BIF”) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) up to the maximum amount allowable under applicable federal law and regulation. The Bank is regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”), as the chartering authority for national banks, and the FDIC, as the administrator of the SAIF and the BIF. The Bank is also subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System with respect to reserves required to be maintained against deposits and certain other matters. The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and the Federal Home Loan Bank (the “FHLB”) of Topeka.

 

The Company’s executive office and the Bank’s main office are located at 701 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502. The telephone number is (785) 565-2000.

 

Market Area

 

The Bank’s primary deposit gathering and lending markets are geographically diversified with locations in eastern, central, and southwestern Kansas. The primary industries within these respective markets are also diverse and dependent upon a wide array of industry and governmental activity for their economic base. A brief description of these three geographic areas and the communities which the Bank serves within these communities is summarized below.

 

Shawnee, Miami, Osage, and Bourbon counties are located in eastern Kansas and encompass the Bank locations in Topeka, Auburn, Paola, Louisburg, Osawatomie, Osage City, and Fort Scott. Shawnee County’s market, which encompasses the Bank locations in Topeka and Auburn, is strongly influenced by the State of Kansas, City of Topeka, two regional hospitals and several major private firms and public institutions. The communities of Paola, Louisburg, and Osawatomie, located within Miami County, are influenced by the high growth of the Kansas City market resulting in housing growth and small private industries and business. Additionally, the Osawatomie State Hospital is a major government employer within the county. Bourbon and Osage Counties are primarily agricultural with small private industries and business firms, while Bourbon County is also influenced by a regional hospital and Fort Scott Community College.

 

Bank locations within central Kansas include the communities of Manhattan within Riley County, Wamego which is located within Pottawatomie County, Great Bend and Hoisington within Barton County, and LaCrosse located in Rush County. The Riley and Pottawatomie County economies are significantly impacted by employment at Fort Riley Military Base and Kansas State University, the second largest university in Kansas, which is located in Manhattan. Several private industries and businesses are also located within these counties. Agriculture, oil,

 

2



 

and gas are the predominant industries in Barton County. Additionally manufacturing and service industries also play a key role within this central Kansas market. LaCrosse, located within Rush County, is primarily an agricultural community with an emphasis on crop and livestock production.

 

The counties of Ford and Finney were founded on agriculture, which continues to play a major role in the economy. Predominant activities involve crop production, feed lot operations, and food processing. Dodge City is known as the “Cowboy Capital of the World” and maintains a significant tourism industry. Both Dodge City and Garden City are recognized as regional commercial centers within the state with small business, manufacturing, retail, and service industries having a significant influence upon the local economies. Additionally, each community has a community college which also attracts a number of individuals from the surrounding area to live within the community to participate in educational programs and pursue a degree.

 

Competition

 

The Company faces strong competition both in attracting deposits and making real estate and other loans. Its most direct competition for deposits comes from commercial banks and other savings institutions located in its principal market areas, including many large financial institutions which have greater financial and marketing resources available to them. The ability of the Company to attract and retain deposits generally depends on its ability to provide a rate of return, liquidity and risk comparable to that offered by competing investment opportunities. The Company competes for loans principally through the interest rates and loan fees it charges and the efficiency and quality of services it provides borrowers. Additionally, competition may increase as a result of the continuing reduction on restrictions on the interstate operations of financial institutions. The financial services industry is also likely to become more competitive as further technological advances enable more companies to provide financial services. These technological advances may diminish the importance of depository institutions and other financial intermediaries in the transfer of funds between parties.

 

Employees

 

At December 31, 2005, the Bank had a total of 151 employees (141.5 full time equivalent employees). The Company has no direct employees. Employees are provided with a comprehensive benefits program, including basic and major medical insurance, life and disability insurance, sick leave, and a 401(k) profit sharing plan. Employees are not represented by any union or collective bargaining group and the Bank considers its employee relations to be good.

 

3



 

Lending Activities

 

General. The Bank strives to provide each market area it serves a full range of financial products and services to small and medium sized businesses and to consumers. The Bank targets owner-operated businesses and utilizes Small Business Administration and Farm Services Administration lending as a part of its product mix. Each market has an established loan committee which has authority to approve credits, within established guidelines. Concentrations in excess of those guidelines must be approved by either a corporate loan committee comprised of the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, the Credit Risk Manager, and three other senior commercial lenders or the bank’s board of directors. When lending to an entity, the Bank generally obtains a guaranty from the principals of the entity. The loan mix is subject to the discretion of the Bank’s board of directors and the demands of the local marketplace.

 

Residential loans are priced and originated following underwriting standards that are consistent with guidelines established by the major buyers in the secondary market. Commercial and consumer loans generally are issued at or above the national prime rate. While the origination of one to four family residential loans continue to be a key component of our business, the majority of these loans are sold in the secondary market. The Bank is focusing on the generation of commercial and consumer loans to grow and diversify the loan portfolio. The Bank has no potential negative amortization loans. The following is a brief description of each major category of the Bank’s lending activity.

 

Real Estate Lending. Commercial, residential, construction and multi-family real estate loans represent the largest class of loans of the Bank. Generally, residential loans retained in portfolio are variable rate with adjustment periods of five years or less and amortization periods of either 15 or 30 years. Commercial real estate loans, including agricultural real estate, generally have amortization periods of 15 or 20 years. The Bank has a security interest in the borrower’s real estate. The Bank also generates long term fixed rate residential real estate loans which are sold in the secondary market. Commercial real estate, construction and multi-family loans are generally limited, by policy, to 80% of the appraised value of the property. Commercial real estate, including agricultural real estate loans, also are supported by an analysis demonstrating the borrower’s ability to repay. Residential loans that exceed 80% of the appraised value of the real estate generally are required, by policy, to be supported by private mortgage insurance, although on occasion the Bank will retain non-conforming residential loans to known customers at premium pricing.

 

Commercial Lending. Loans in this category include loans to service, retail, wholesale and light manufacturing businesses, including agricultural operations. Commercial loans are made based on the financial strength and repayment ability of the borrower, as well as the collateral securing the loans. The Bank targets owner-operated businesses as its customers and makes lending decisions based upon a cash flow analysis of the borrower as well as a collateral analysis. Accounts receivable loans and loans for inventory purchases are generally on a one-year renewable term and loans for equipment generally have a term of seven years or less. The Bank generally takes a blanket security interest in all assets of the borrower. Equipment loans are generally limited to 75% of the cost or appraised value of the equipment. Inventory loans are

 

4



 

generally limited to 50% of the value of the inventory, and accounts receivable loans are generally limited to 75% of a predetermined eligible base.

 

The Bank also provides short-term credit for operating loans and intermediate term loans for farm product, livestock and machinery purchases and other agricultural improvements. Farm product loans have generally a one-year term and machinery and equipment and breeding livestock loans generally have five to seven year terms. Extension of credit is based upon the borrower’s ability to repay, as well as the existence of federal guarantees and crop insurance coverage. These loans are generally secured by a blanket lien on livestock, equipment, feed, hay, grain and growing crops. Equipment and breeding livestock loans are generally limited to 75% of appraised value.

 

Consumer and Other Lending. Loans classified as consumer and other loans include automobile, boat, student loans, home improvement and home equity loans, the latter two secured principally through second mortgages. With the exception of home improvement loans and home equity loans, the Bank generally takes a purchase money security interest in collateral for which it provides the original financing. The terms of the loans typically range from one to five years, depending upon the use of the proceeds, and generally range from 75% to 90% of the value of the collateral. The majority of these loans are installment loans with fixed interest rates. Home improvement and home equity loans are generally secured by a second mortgage on the borrowers personal residence and, when combined with the first mortgage, limited to 80% of the value of the property unless further protected by private mortgage insurance. The home improvement loans are generally made for terms of five to seven years with fixed interest rates. The home equity loans are generally made for terms of ten years on a revolving basis with the interest rates adjusting monthly tied to the national prime interest rate.

 

Loan Origination and Processing

 

Loan originations are derived from a number of sources. Residential loan originations result from real estate broker referrals, direct solicitation by the Bank’s loan officers, present depositors and borrowers, referrals from builders and attorneys, walk in customers and, in some instances, other lenders. Residential loan applications are underwritten and closed based upon standards which generally meet secondary market guidelines. Consumer and commercial real estate loan originations emanate from many of the same sources. The average loan is less than $500,000.

 

The loan underwriting procedures followed by the Bank conform to regulatory specifications and are designed to assess both the borrower’s ability to make principal and interest payments and the value of any assets or property serving as collateral for the loan. Generally, as part of the process, a loan officer meets with each applicant to obtain the appropriate employment and financial information as well as any other required loan information. The Bank then obtains reports with respect to the borrower’s credit record, and orders, on real estate loans, and reviews an appraisal of any collateral for the loan (prepared for the Bank through an independent appraiser).

 

5



 

Loan applicants are notified promptly of the decision of the Bank. Prior to closing any long-term loan, the borrower must provide proof of fire and casualty insurance on the property serving as collateral, and such insurance must be maintained during the full term of the loan. Title insurance is required on loans collateralized by real property.

 

6



 

SUPERVISION AND REGULATION

 

General

 

Financial institutions, their holding companies and their affiliates are extensively regulated under federal and state law. As a result, the growth and earnings performance of the Company may be affected not only by management decisions and general economic conditions, but also by the requirements of federal and state statutes and by the regulations and policies of various bank regulatory authorities, including the OCC, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the ”Federal Reserve”) and the FDIC. Furthermore, taxation laws administered by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities and securities laws administered by the SEC and state securities authorities have an impact on the business of the Company. The effect of these statutes, regulations and regulatory policies may be significant, and cannot be predicted with a high degree of certainty.

 

Federal and state laws and regulations generally applicable to financial institutions regulate, among other things, the scope of business, the kinds and amounts of investments, reserve requirements, capital levels relative to operations, the nature and amount of collateral for loans, the establishment of branches, mergers and consolidations and the payment of dividends. This system of supervision and regulation establishes a comprehensive framework for the respective operations of the Company and its subsidiaries and is intended primarily for the protection of the FDIC-insured deposits and depositors of the Bank, rather than shareholders.

 

The following is a summary of the material elements of the regulatory framework that applies to the Company and its subsidiaries. It does not describe all of the statutes, regulations and regulatory policies that apply, nor does it restate all of the requirements of those statutes, regulations and regulatory policies that are described. As such, the following is qualified in its entirety by reference to applicable law. Any change in applicable statutes, regulations or regulatory policies may have a material effect on the business of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

The Company

 

General. The Company, as the sole shareholder of the Bank, is a bank holding company. As a bank holding company, the Company is registered with, and is subject to regulation by, the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”). In accordance with Federal Reserve policy, the Company is expected to act as a source of financial strength to the Bank and to commit resources to support the Bank in circumstances where the Company might not otherwise do so. Under the BHCA, the Company is subject to periodic examination by the Federal Reserve. The Company is also required to file with the Federal Reserve periodic reports of the Company’s operations and such additional information regarding the Company and its subsidiaries as the Federal Reserve may require.

 

7



 

Acquisitions, Activities and Change in Control. The primary purpose of a bank holding company is to control and manage banks. The BHCA generally requires the prior approval of the Federal Reserve for any merger involving a bank holding company or any acquisition by a bank holding company of another bank or bank holding company. Subject to certain conditions (including deposit concentration limits established by the BHCA), the Federal Reserve may allow a bank holding company to acquire banks located in any state of the United States. In approving interstate acquisitions, the Federal Reserve is required to give effect to applicable state law limitations on the aggregate amount of deposits that may be held by the acquiring bank holding company and its insured depository institution affiliates in the state in which the target bank is located (provided that those limits do not discriminate against out-of-state depository institutions or their holding companies) and state laws that require that the target bank have been in existence for a minimum period of time (not to exceed five years) before being acquired by an out-of-state bank holding company.

 

The BHCA generally prohibits the Company from acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company that is not a bank and from engaging in any business other than that of banking, managing and controlling banks or furnishing services to banks and their subsidiaries. This general prohibition is subject to a number of exceptions. The principal exception allows bank holding companies to engage in, and to own shares of companies engaged in, certain businesses found by the Federal Reserve to be “so closely related to banking ... as to be a proper incident thereto.”  This authority would permit the Company to engage in a variety of banking-related businesses, including the operation of a thrift, consumer finance, equipment leasing, the operation of a computer service bureau (including software development), and mortgage banking and brokerage. The BHCA generally does not place territorial restrictions on the domestic activities of non-bank subsidiaries of bank holding companies.

 

Additionally, bank holding companies that meet certain eligibility requirements prescribed by the BHCA and elect to operate as financial holding companies may engage in, or own shares in companies engaged in, a wider range of nonbanking activities, including securities and insurance underwriting and sales, merchant banking and any other activity that the Federal Reserve, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines by regulation or order is financial in nature, incidental to any such financial activity or complementary to any such financial activity and does not pose a substantial risk to the safety or soundness of depository institutions or the financial system generally. As of the date of this filing, the Company has not applied for approval to operate as a financial holding company.

 

Federal law also prohibits any person or company from acquiring “control” of an FDIC-insured depository institution or its holding company without prior notice to the appropriate federal bank regulator. “Control” is conclusively presumed to exist upon the acquisition of 25% or more of the outstanding voting securities of a bank or bank holding company, but may arise under certain circumstances at 10% ownership.

 

Capital Requirements. Bank holding companies are required to maintain minimum levels of capital in accordance with Federal Reserve capital adequacy guidelines. If capital levels

 

8



 

fall below the minimum required levels, a bank holding company, among other things, may be denied approval to acquire or establish additional banks or non-bank businesses.

 

The Federal Reserve’s capital guidelines establish the following minimum regulatory capital requirements for bank holding companies: (i) a risk-based requirement expressed as a percentage of total assets weighted according to risk; and (ii) a leverage requirement expressed as a percentage of total assets. The risk-based requirement consists of a minimum ratio of total capital to total risk-weighted assets of 8% and a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets of 4%. The leverage requirement consists of a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to total assets of 3% for the most highly rated companies, with a minimum requirement of 4% for all others. For purposes of these capital standards, Tier 1 capital consists primarily of permanent stockholders’ equity less intangible assets (other than certain loan servicing rights and purchased credit card relationships). Total capital consists primarily of Tier 1 capital plus certain other debt and equity instruments that do not qualify as Tier 1 capital and a portion of the company’s allowance for loan and lease losses.

 

The risk-based and leverage standards described above are minimum requirements. Higher capital levels will be required if warranted by the particular circumstances or risk profiles of individual banking organizations. For example, the Federal Reserve’s capital guidelines contemplate that additional capital may be required to take adequate account of, among other things, interest rate risk, or the risks posed by concentrations of credit, nontraditional activities or securities trading activities. Further, any banking organization experiencing or anticipating significant growth would be expected to maintain capital ratios, including tangible capital positions (i.e., Tier 1 capital less all intangible assets), well above the minimum levels. As of December 31, 2005, the Company had regulatory capital in excess of the Federal Reserve’s minimum requirements.

 

Dividend Payments. The Company’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders may be affected by both general corporate law considerations and policies of the Federal Reserve applicable to bank holding companies. As a Delaware corporation, the Company is subject to the limitations of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the ”DGCL”). The DGCL allows the Company to pay dividends only out of its surplus (as defined and computed in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL) or if the Company has no such surplus, out of its net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. Additionally, policies of the Federal Reserve caution that a bank holding company should not pay cash dividends that exceed its net income or that can only be funded in ways that weaken the bank holding company’s financial health, such as by borrowing. The Federal Reserve also possesses enforcement powers over bank holding companies and their non-bank subsidiaries to prevent or remedy actions that represent unsafe or unsound practices or violations of applicable statutes and regulations. Among these powers is the ability to proscribe the payment of dividends by banks and bank holding companies.

 

Federal Securities Regulation. The Company’s common stock is registered with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ”Exchange Act”). Consequently, the Company is subject to the information, proxy

 

9



 

solicitation, insider trading and other restrictions and requirements of the SEC under the Exchange Act.

 

The Bank

 

General. The Bank is a national bank, chartered by the OCC under the National Bank Act. The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by the FDIC’s BIF and its SAIF. The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Home Loan Bank System. As a national bank, the Bank is subject to the examination, supervision, reporting and enforcement requirements of the OCC, the chartering authority for national banks. The FDIC, as administrator of the BIF and the SAIF, also has regulatory authority over the Bank.

 

Deposit Insurance. As an FDIC-insured institution, the Bank is required to pay deposit insurance premium assessments to the FDIC. The FDIC has adopted a risk-based assessment system under which all insured depository institutions are placed into one of nine categories and assessed insurance premiums based upon their respective levels of capital and results of supervisory evaluations. Institutions classified as well-capitalized (as defined by the FDIC) and considered healthy pay the lowest premium while institutions that are less than adequately capitalized (as defined by the FDIC) and considered of substantial supervisory concern pay the highest premium. Risk classification of all insured institutions is made by the FDIC for each semi-annual assessment period.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2005, both BIF and SAIF assessments ranged from 0% of deposits to 0.27% of deposits. For the semi-annual assessment period beginning January 1, 2006, both BIF and SAIF assessment rates will continue to range from 0% of deposits to 0.27% of deposits.

 

FICO Assessments.  Since 1987, a portion of the deposit insurance assessments paid by SAIF members has been used to cover interest payments due on the outstanding obligations of the Financing Corporation (“FICO”). FICO was created in 1987 to finance the recapitalization of the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, the SAIF’s predecessor insurance fund. As a result of federal legislation enacted in 1996, beginning as of January 1, 1997, both SAIF members and BIF members became subject to assessments to cover the interest payments on outstanding FICO obligations until the final maturity of such obligations in 2019. These FICO assessments are in addition to amounts assessed by the FDIC for deposit insurance. During the year ended December 31, 2005, the FICO assessment rate for BIF and SAIF members was approximately 0.01% of deposits.

 

Supervisory Assessments. National banks are required to pay supervisory assessments to the OCC to fund the operations of the OCC. The amount of the assessment is calculated using a formula that takes into account the bank’s size and its supervisory condition (as determined by the composite rating assigned to the bank as a result of its most recent OCC examination). During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Bank paid supervisory assessments to the OCC totaling $115,000.

 

10



 

Capital Requirements. Banks are generally required to maintain capital levels in excess of other businesses. The OCC has established the following minimum capital standards for national banks, such as the Bank: (i) a leverage requirement consisting of a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to total assets of 3% for the most highly-rated banks with a minimum requirement of at least 4% for all others; and (ii) a risk-based capital requirement consisting of a minimum ratio of total capital to total risk-weighted assets of 8% and a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets of 4%. In general, the components of Tier 1 capital and total capital are the same as those for bank holding companies discussed above.

 

The capital requirements described above are minimum requirements. Higher capital levels will be required if warranted by the particular circumstances or risk profiles of individual institutions. For example, regulations of the OCC provide that additional capital may be required to take adequate account of, among other things, interest rate risk or the risks posed by concentrations of credit, nontraditional activities or securities trading activities.

 

Further, federal law and regulations provide various incentives for financial institutions to maintain regulatory capital at levels in excess of minimum regulatory requirements. For example, a financial institution that is “well-capitalized” may qualify for exemptions from prior notice or application requirements otherwise applicable to certain types of activities and may qualify for expedited processing of other required notices or applications. Additionally, one of the criteria that determines a bank holding company’s eligibility to operate as a financial holding company is a requirement that all of its financial institution subsidiaries be “well-capitalized.”  Under the regulations of the OCC, in order to be “well-capitalized” a financial institution must maintain a ratio of total capital to total risk-weighted assets of 10% or greater, a ratio of Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets of 6% or greater and a ratio of Tier 1 capital to total assets of 5% or greater.

 

Federal law also provides the federal banking regulators with broad power to take prompt corrective action to resolve the problems of undercapitalized institutions. The extent of the regulators’ powers depends on whether the institution in question is “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized,” in each case as defined by regulation. Depending upon the capital category to which an institution is assigned, the regulators’ corrective powers include: (i) requiring the institution to submit a capital restoration plan; (ii) limiting the institution’s asset growth and restricting its activities; (iii) requiring the institution to issue additional capital stock (including additional voting stock) or to be acquired; (iv) restricting transactions between the institution and its affiliates; (v) restricting the interest rate the institution may pay on deposits; (vi) ordering a new election of directors of the institution; (vii) requiring that senior executive officers or directors be dismissed; (viii) prohibiting the institution from accepting deposits from correspondent banks; (ix) requiring the institution to divest certain subsidiaries; (x) prohibiting the payment of principal or interest on subordinated debt; and (xi) ultimately, appointing a receiver for the institution.

 

As of December 31, 2005: (i) the Bank was not subject to a directive from the OCC to increase its capital to an amount in excess of the minimum regulatory capital requirements;

 

11



 

(ii) the Bank exceeded its minimum regulatory capital requirements under OCC capital adequacy guidelines; and (iii) the Bank was “well-capitalized,” as defined by OCC regulations.

 

 Dividends. The primary source of funds for the Company is dividends from the Bank. Under the National Bank Act, a national bank may pay dividends out of its undivided profits in such amounts and at such times as the bank’s board of directors deems prudent. Without prior OCC approval, however, a national bank may not pay dividends in any calendar year that, in the aggregate, exceed the bank’s year-to-date net income plus the bank’s retained net income for the two preceding years.

 

The payment of dividends by any financial institution is affected by the requirement to maintain adequate capital pursuant to applicable capital adequacy guidelines and regulations, and a financial institution generally is prohibited from paying any dividends if, following payment thereof, the institution would be undercapitalized. As described above, the Bank exceeded its minimum capital requirements under applicable guidelines as of December 31, 2005. As of December 31, 2005, approximately $478,000 was available to be paid as dividends by the Bank. Notwithstanding the availability of funds for dividends, however, the OCC may prohibit the payment of any dividends by the Bank if the OCC determines such payment would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.

 

Insider Transactions. The Bank is subject to certain restrictions imposed by federal law on extensions of credit to the Company, on investments in the stock or other securities of the Company and the acceptance of the stock or other securities of the Company as collateral for loans made by the Bank. Certain limitations and reporting requirements are also placed on extensions of credit by the Bank to its directors and officers, to the directors and officers of the Company, to principal stockholders of the Company, and to “related interests” of such directors, officers and principal stockholders. In addition, federal law and regulations may affect the terms upon which any person who is a director or officer of the Company or the Bank or a principal stockholder of the Company may obtain credit from banks with which the Bank maintains correspondent relationships.

 

Safety and Soundness Standards. The federal banking agencies have adopted guidelines that establish operational and managerial standards to promote the safety and soundness of federally insured depository institutions. The guidelines set forth standards for internal controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, compensation, fees and benefits, asset quality and earnings.

 

In general, the safety and soundness guidelines prescribe the goals to be achieved in each area, and each institution is responsible for establishing its own procedures to achieve those goals. If an institution fails to comply with any of the standards set forth in the guidelines, the institution’s primary federal regulator may require the institution to submit a plan for achieving and maintaining compliance. If an institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan, or fails in any material respect to implement a compliance plan that has been accepted by its primary federal regulator, the regulator is required to issue an order directing the institution to cure the deficiency. Until the deficiency cited in the regulator’s order is cured, the regulator may restrict the institution’s rate of growth, require the institution to increase its capital, restrict the rates the institution pays on deposits

 

12



 

or require the institution to take any action the regulator deems appropriate under the circumstances. Noncompliance with the standards established by the safety and soundness guidelines may also constitute grounds for other enforcement action by the federal banking regulators, including cease and desist orders and civil money penalty assessments.

 

Branching Authority. National banks headquartered in Kansas, such as the Bank, have the same branching rights in Kansas as banks chartered under Kansas law, subject to OCC approval. Kansas law grants Kansas-chartered banks the authority to establish branches anywhere in the State of Kansas, subject to receipt of all required regulatory approvals.

 

Federal law permits state and national banks to merge with banks in other states subject to: (i) regulatory approval; (ii) federal and state deposit concentration limits; and (iii) state law limitations requiring the merging bank to have been in existence for a minimum period of time (not to exceed five years) prior to the merger. The establishment of new interstate branches or the acquisition of individual branches of a bank in another state (rather than the acquisition of an out-of-state bank in its entirety) is permitted only in those states the laws of which expressly authorize such expansion.

 

Financial Subsidiaries. Under Federal law and OCC regulations, national banks are authorized to engage, through “financial subsidiaries,” in any activity that is permissible for a financial holding company and any activity that the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Federal Reserve, determines is financial in nature or incidental to any such financial activity, except: (i) insurance underwriting, (ii) real estate development or real estate investment activities (unless otherwise permitted by law), (iii) insurance company portfolio investments and (iv) merchant banking. The authority of a national bank to invest in a financial subsidiary is subject to a number of conditions, including, among other things, requirements that the bank must be well-managed and well-capitalized (after deducting from capital the bank’s outstanding investments in financial subsidiaries). The Bank has not applied for approval to establish any financial subsidiaries.

 

Federal Reserve System. Federal Reserve regulations, as presently in effect, require depository institutions to maintain non-interest earning reserves against their transaction accounts (primarily NOW and regular checking accounts), as follows: for transaction accounts aggregating $48.3 million or less, the reserve requirement is 3% of total transaction accounts; and for transaction accounts aggregating in excess of $48.3 million, the reserve requirement is $1.215 million plus 10% of the aggregate amount of total transaction accounts in excess of $48.3 million. The first $7.8 million of otherwise reservable balances are exempted from the reserve requirements. These reserve requirements are subject to annual adjustment by the Federal Reserve. The Bank is in compliance with the foregoing requirements.

 

Recent Regulatory Developments

 

On February 8, 2006, President Bush signed the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 (“FDIRA”) into law as part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. On February 15, 2006, President Bush signed into law the technical and conforming amendments designed to implement

 

13



 

FDIRA. FDIRA provides for legislative reforms to modernize the federal deposit insurance system.

 

Among other things, FDIRA: (i) merges the BIF and the SAIF of the FDIC into a new Deposit Insurance Fund (the ”DIF”); (ii) allows the FDIC, after March 31, 2010, to increase deposit insurance coverage by an adjustment for inflation and requires the FDIC’s Board of Directors, not later than April 1, 2010 and every five years thereafter, to consider whether such an increase is warranted; (iii) increases the deposit insurance limit for certain employee benefit plan deposits from $100,000 to $250,000, subject to adjustments for inflation after March 31, 2010, and provides for pass-through insurance coverage for such deposits; (iv) increases the deposit insurance limit for certain retirement account deposits from $100,000 to $250,000, subject to adjustments for inflation after March 31, 2010; (v) allows the FDIC’s Board of Directors to set deposit insurance premium assessments in any amount the Board of Directors deems necessary or appropriate, after taking into account various factors specified in FDIRA; (vi) replaces the fixed designated reserve ratio of 1.25% with a reserve ratio range of 1.15%-1.50%, with the specific reserve ratio to be determined annually by the FDIC by regulation; (vii) permits the FDIC to revise the risk-based assessment system by regulation; (viii) requires the FDIC, at the end of any year in which the reserve ratio of the DIF exceeds 1.50% of estimated insured deposits, to declare a dividend payable to insured depository institutions in an amount equal to 100% of the amount held by the DIF in excess of the amount necessary to maintain the DIF’s reserve ratio at 1.50% of estimated insured deposits or to declare a dividend equal to 50% of the amount in excess of the amount necessary to maintain the reserve ratio at 1.35% if the reserve ratio is between 1.35%-1.50% of estimated insured deposits; and (ix) provides a one-time credit based upon the assessment base of the institution on December 31, 1996 to each insured depository institution that was in existence as of December 31, 1996 and paid a deposit insurance assessment prior to that date (or a successor to any such institution).

 

The merger of the BIF and the SAIF will take effect no later than July 1, 2006, while the remaining provisions are not effective until the FDIC issues final regulations. FDIRA requires the FDIC to issue final regulations no later than 270 days after enactment: (i) designating a reserve ratio; (ii) implementing increases in deposit insurance coverage; (iii) implementing the dividend requirement; (iv) implementing the one-time assessment credit; and (v) providing for assessments in accordance with FDIRA.

 

14



 

Company Website

 

The Company maintains a corporate website at www.landmarkbancorpinc.com. The Company makes available free of charge on or through its website the annual report on Form 10K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of the Company’s policies, including its code of ethics, committee charters and other investor information are available on the web site. The Company will also provide copies of its filings free of charge upon written request to our Corporate Secretary at the address listed on the front of this Form 10-K.

 

STATISTICAL DATA

 

The Company is the accounting successor to the prior Landmark Bancshares, Inc. and therefore, all financial information presented for periods prior to October 9, 2001 reflects only the operations of Landmark Bancshares, Inc. Landmark Bancshares, Inc. filed an Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2001. The Company has a fiscal year ending on December 31. Therefore, the Company elected to file a Form 10-K for the transition period from October 1, 2001 to December 31, 2001, which included audited consolidated financial information. The results for the three month transition period ended December 31, 2001 included MNB Bancshares, Inc.’s results commencing October 9, 2001. The information presented in this Form 10-K presents information on behalf of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

The statistical data required by Guide 3 of the Guides for Preparation and Filing of Reports and Registration Statements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is set forth in the following pages. This data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” as set forth in the Company’s 2005 Annual Report to Stockholders (attached hereto as Exhibit 13.1). All dollars in the tables are expressed in thousands.

 

15



 

I.              Distribution of Assets, Liabilities, and Stockholders’ Equity; Interest Rates and Interest Differentials

 

The average balance sheets are incorporated by reference from the Company’s 2005 Annual Report to Stockholders (attached as Exhibit 13.1). The following table describes the extent to which changes in interest income and interest expense for major components of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities affected the Company’s interest income and expense during the periods indicated. The table distinguishes between (i) changes attributable to rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume), (ii) changes attributable to volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate), and (iii) net change (the sum of the previous columns). The net changes attributable to the combined effect of volume and rate, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and the change due to rate.

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 2005 vs December 2004

 

December 2004 vs December 2003

 

 

 

Increase/(Decrease) Attributable to

 

Increase/(Decrease) Attributable to

 

 

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Net

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Net

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment securities

 

$

87

 

$

467

 

$

554

 

$

1,322

 

$

(19

)

$

1,303

 

Loans

 

497

 

1,124

 

1,621

 

2,598

 

(1,228

)

1,370

 

Total

 

584

 

1,591

 

2,175

 

3,920

 

(1,247

)

2,673

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

$

115

 

$

1,511

 

$

1,626

 

$

385

 

$

(886

)

$

(501

)

Other borrowings

 

323

 

8

 

331

 

1,974

 

(128

)

1,846

 

Total

 

438

 

1,519

 

1,957

 

2,359

 

(1,014

)

1,345

 

Net interest income

 

$

146

 

$

72

 

$

218

 

$

1,561

 

$

(233

)

$

1,328

 

 

16



 

II.            Investment Portfolio

 

Investment Securities. The following table sets forth the carrying value of the Company’s investment securities at the dates indicated. None of the investment securities held as of December 31, 2005 was issued by an individual issuer in excess of 10% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity, excluding the securities of U.S. government and federal agency obligations.

 

 

 

At
December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Securities Available-for-Sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Agency Securities

 

$

43,628

 

$

33,465

 

$

32,616

 

Municipal Obligations

 

32,380

 

14,015

 

14,020

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

52,893

 

74,504

 

46,563

 

FHLB Stock

 

5,655

 

5,413

 

2,544

 

Common Stock

 

775

 

710

 

662

 

FRB Stock

 

1,348

 

1,341

 

805

 

Corporate Bonds

 

3,035

 

1,763

 

52

 

Other investments

 

417

 

2,393

 

2,483

 

Total Investments Available for-Sale

 

$

140,131

 

$

133,604

 

$

99,746

 

 

17



 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the carrying values, weighted average yields, and maturities of the Company’s investment securities portfolio as of December 31, 2005. Yields on tax-exempt obligations have not been computed on a tax equivalent basis. The table includes scheduled principal payments and estimated prepayments.

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2005

 

 

 

One Year or Less

 

One to Five Years

 

Five to Ten Years

 

More than Ten Years

 

Total Investment
Securities

 

 

 

Carrying
Value

 

Average
Yield

 

Carrying
Value

 

Average
Yield

 

Carrying
Value

 

Average
Yield

 

Carrying
Value

 

Average
Yield

 

Carrying
Value

 

Average
Yield

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agency obligations

 

$

14,125

 

2.38

%

$

29,365

 

3.97

%

$

138

 

7.34

%

$

 

%

$

43,628

 

3.47

%

Municipal obligations

 

19,029

 

4.96

 

21,495

 

4.24

 

9,155

 

3.74

 

3,214

 

4.10

 

52,893

 

4.45

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

3,613

 

4.95

 

5,120

 

4.71

 

14,880

 

3.82

 

8,767

 

3.98

 

32,380

 

4.13

 

Corporate bonds

 

517

 

6.44

 

2,518

 

6.93

 

 

 

 

 

3,035

 

6.85

 

Total

 

$

37,284

 

4.01

%

$

58,498

 

4.24

%

$

24,173

 

3.81

%

$

11,981

 

4.10

%

$

131,936

 

4.11

%

 

18



 

II.                                     Loan Portfolio

 

Loan Portfolio Composition. The following table sets forth the composition of the loan portfolio by type of loan at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

2001

 

 

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Real estate loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential one-to-four family (1)

 

$

116,098

 

42.1

%

$

131,923

 

47.4

%

$

82,828

 

38.5

%

$

106,341

 

46.4

%

$

135,179

 

56.1

%

$

118,087

 

81.7

%

Commercial

 

78,085

 

28.3

 

77,208

 

27.7

 

65,729

 

30.6

 

62,207

 

27.2

 

48,818

 

20.3

 

10,084

 

7.0

 

Construction

 

12,356

 

4.5

 

11,234

 

4.0

 

9,171

 

4.3

 

8,969

 

3.9

 

10,799

 

4.5

 

3,248

 

2.2

 

Commercial loans

 

63,494

 

23.0

 

51,826

 

18.6

 

50,054

 

23.3

 

41,809

 

18.2

 

33,077

 

13.7

 

7,604

 

5.3

 

Consumer loans

 

8,842

 

3.2

 

9,015

 

3.2

 

9,567

 

4.4

 

12,810

 

5.6

 

15,979

 

6.6

 

6,926

 

4.8

 

Gross loans

 

278,875

 

101.1

 

281,206

 

101.1

 

217,349

 

101.1

 

232,136

 

101.3

 

145,949

 

101.2

 

145,949

 

101.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred fees & loans in process

 

(5

)

0.0

 

52

 

0.0

 

3

 

0.0

 

459

 

0.1

 

52

 

0.0

 

52

 

0.0

 

Allowance for loan losses

 

3,151

 

1.1

 

2,894

 

1.0

 

2,316

 

1.1

 

2,565

 

1.1

 

1,424

 

1.0

 

1,424

 

1.0

 

Total loans

 

$

275,729

 

100.0

%

$

278,260

 

100.0

%

$

215,030

 

100.0

%

$

229,112

 

100.0

%

$

144,473

 

100.0

%

$

144,473

 

100.0

%

 


(1)                                  Includes loans held for sale.

 

19



 

The following table sets forth the contractual maturities of loans at December 31, 2005.

 

The table does not include unscheduled prepayments.

 

 

 

Less than

 

 

 

Over

 

 

 

 

 

1 year

 

2-5 years

 

5 years

 

Total

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Real estate loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential one-to-four family

 

$

13,833

 

$

41,485

 

$

60,780

 

116,098

 

Commercial

 

19,461

 

31,087

 

27,537

 

78,085

 

Construction

 

9,744

 

2,612

 

 

12,356

 

Commercial

 

45,806

 

14,746

 

2,942

 

63,494

 

Consumer

 

3,712

 

4,948

 

182

 

8,842

 

Gross loans

 

$

92,556

 

$

94,878

 

$

91,441

 

$

278,875

 

Deferred loan fees and loans in process

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5

)

Allowance for loan losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,151

 

Loans, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

275,729

 

 

The following table sets forth, at December 31, 2005, the dollar amount of all loans due after December 31, 2006 and whether such loans had fixed interest rates or adjustable interest rates:

 

 

 

Fixed

 

Adjustable

 

Total

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Real estate loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential one-to-four family

 

$

31,941

 

$

70,324

 

$

102,265

 

Commercial

 

10,751

 

47,873

 

58,624

 

Construction

 

665

 

1,947

 

2,612

 

Commercial

 

11,041

 

6,647

 

17,688

 

Consumer

 

4,701

 

429

 

5,130

 

Gross loans

 

$

59,099

 

$

127,220

 

$

186,319

 

 

20



 

Nonperforming Assets. The following table sets forth information with respect to nonperforming assets, including non-accrual loans and real estate acquired through foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure (“real estate owned”). Under the original terms of the Company’s non-accrual loans at December 31, 2005, interest earned on such loans for the year period ended December 31, 2005 would not have been significantly different than reported.

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

At September 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

2001

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Total non-accrual loans

 

$

3,332

 

$

1,145

 

$

1,205

 

$

925

 

$

1,033

 

$

641

 

Accruing loans over 90 days past due

 

 

 

 

 

148

 

145

 

Real estate owned (“REO”)

 

749

 

479

 

281

 

402

 

257

 

233

 

Total nonperforming assets

 

$

4,081

 

$

1,624

 

$

1,486

 

$

1,327

 

$

1,438

 

$

1,019

 

Total nonperforming loans to total loans, net

 

1.2

%

0.4

%

0.6

%

0.4

%

0.4

%

0.5

%

Total nonperforming assets to total assets

 

0.9

%

0.4

%

0.5

%

0.4

%

0.4

%

0.5

%

Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans

 

94.6

%

252.8

%

192.2

%

277.3

%

233.2

%

181.2

%

 

21



 

IV.           Summary of Loan Loss Experience

 

The following table sets forth information with respect to the Company’s allowance for loan losses at the dates indicated:

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

At September 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

2001

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total loans outstanding

 

$

275,729

 

$

278,260

 

$

215,030

 

$

229,112

 

$

240,979

 

$

144,473

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average loans outstanding

 

$

275,308

 

$

266,938

 

$

217,327

 

$

233,311

 

$

245,669

 

$

164,165

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance balances (at beginning of period)

 

2,894

 

2,316

 

2,565

 

2,640

 

1,424

 

1,377

 

Provision (credit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial and consumer

 

385

 

460

 

240

 

182

 

33

 

120

 

 

 

385

 

460

 

240

 

182

 

33

 

120

 

Allowance of merged bank:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate

 

 

320

 

 

 

483

 

 

Commercial and consumer

 

 

32

 

 

 

755

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

352

 

 

 

1,238

 

 

Charge-offs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate

 

(25

)

(63

)

(30

)

(17

)

(15

)

(11

)

Commercial and consumer

 

(198

)

(232

)

(524

)

(302

)

(49

)

(149

)

 

 

(223

)

(295

)

(554

)

(319

)

(64

)

(160

)

Recoveries:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate

 

5

 

16

 

 

30

 

 

9

 

Commercial and consumer

 

90

 

44

 

65

 

32

 

9

 

78

 

 

 

95

 

60

 

65

 

62

 

9

 

87

 

Net charge-offs

 

(128

)

(235

)

(489

)

(257

)

(55

)

(73

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance balance
(at end of period)

 

$

3,151

 

$

2,894

 

$

2,316

 

$

2,565

 

$

2,640

 

$

1,424

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans outstanding

 

1.14

%

1.04

%

1.07

%

1.12

%

1.10

%

0.99

%

Net loans charged off as a percent of average loans outstanding (1)

 

0.05

%

0.09

%

0.23

%

0.11

%

0.09

%

0.04

%

 


(1)   Information for the three months ended December 31, 2001 is annualized.

 

22



 

The distribution of the Company’s allowance for losses on loans at the dates indicated and the percent of loans in each category to total loans is summarized in the following table. This allocation reflects management’s judgment as to risks inherent in the types of loans indicated, but the general allowance included in the table are not restricted and are available to absorb all loan losses. The amount allocated in the following table to any category should not be interpreted as an indication of expected actual charge-offs in that category.

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

At September 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

2001

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Real estate

 

$

1,260

 

74.0

%

$

1,158

 

78.4

%

$

910

 

72.6

%

$

1,026

 

76.5

%

$

1,188

 

79.9

%

$

789

 

90.1

%

Commercial and consumer

 

1,891

 

26.0

 

1,736

 

21.6

 

1,406

 

27.4

 

1,539

 

23.5

 

1,452

 

20.1

 

635

 

9.9

 

Total

 

$

3,151

 

100.0

%

$

2,894

 

100.0

%

$

2,316

 

100.0

%

$

2,565

 

100.0

%

$

2,640

 

100.0

%

$

1,424

 

100.0

%

 

23



 

V.            Deposits

 

As of December 31, 2005, the aggregate amount outstanding of jumbo certificates of deposit (amounts of $100,000 or more) was $42.5 million. The following table presents the maturities of these time certificates of deposit at December 31, 2005:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

3 months or less

 

$

20,069

 

Over 3 months through 6 months

 

12,550

 

Over 6 months through 12 months

 

5,682

 

Over 12 months

 

240

 

Total

 

$

42,541

 

 

VI.           Return on Equity and Assets

 

 

 

At or for the years ended
December 31,

 

At or for the
three months
ended
December
31,

 

At or for
the year
ended
September
30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets (1)

 

0.87

%

0.98

%

1.46

%

1.35

%

(0.72

)%

1.13

%

Return on average equity (1)

 

9.04

 

9.98

 

11.53

 

11.31

 

(6.29

)

10.17

 

Equity to total assets

 

9.48

 

9.54

 

12.74

 

12.03

 

11.50

 

13.03

 

Dividend payout ratio

 

37.14

 

33.33

 

27.63

 

27.57

 

NM

 

25.38

 

 


NM – not meaningful

(1) Information for the three months ended December 31, 2001 is annualized.

 

24



 

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

 

In addition to the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, stockholders or prospective investors should carefully consider the following risk factors:

 

Our business is concentrated in and dependent upon the continued growth and welfare of the markets in which we operate, including eastern, central and southwestern Kansas.

 

We operate primarily in eastern, central and southwestern Kansas, and as a result, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows are subject to changes in the economic conditions in those areas. Although each market we operate in is geographically and economically diverse, our success depends upon the business activity, population, income levels, deposits and real estate activity in each of these markets. Although our customers’ business and financial interests may extend well beyond our market area, adverse economic conditions that affect our specific market area could reduce our growth rate, affect the ability of our customers to repay their loans to us and generally affect our financial condition and results of operations. Because of our geographic concentration, we are less able than other regional or national financial institutions to diversify our credit risks across multiple markets.

 

We may experience difficulties in managing our growth and our growth strategy involves risks that may negatively impact our net income.

 

As part of our general strategy, we may acquire banks and related businesses that we believe provide a strategic fit with our business. We have recently acquired a number of local banks and, to the extent that we continue to grow through future acquisitions, we cannot assure you that we will be able to adequately and profitably manage this growth. Acquiring other banks and businesses will involve risks commonly associated with acquisitions, including:

 

              potential exposure to unknown or contingent liabilities of banks and businesses we acquire;

              exposure to potential asset quality issues of the acquired bank or related business;

              difficulty and expense of integrating the operations and personnel of banks and businesses we acquire;

              potential disruption to our business;

              potential diversion of our management’s time and attention; and

              the possible loss of key employees and customers of the banks and businesses we acquire.

 

In addition to acquisitions, we may expand into additional communities or attempt to strengthen our position in our current markets by undertaking additional branch openings. We believe that it generally takes several years for new banking facilities to first achieve operational profitability, due to the impact of organization and overhead expenses and the start-up phase of generating loans and deposits. To the extent that we undertake additional branch openings, we are likely to continue to experience the effects of higher operating expenses relative to operating income from the new operations, which may have an adverse effect on our levels of reported net income, return on average equity and return on average assets.

 

25



 

We face intense competition in all phases of our business from other banks and financial institutions.

 

The banking and financial services business in our market is highly competitive. Our competitors include large regional banks, local community banks, savings and loan associations, securities and brokerage companies, mortgage companies, insurance companies, finance companies, money market mutual funds, credit unions and other non-bank financial service providers, many of which have greater financial, marketing and technological resources than us. Increased competition in our market may result in a decrease in the amounts of our loans and deposits, reduced spreads between loan rates and deposit rates or loan terms that are more favorable to the borrower. Any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our ability to grow and remain profitable. If increased competition causes us to significantly discount the interest rates we offer on loans or increase the amount we pay on deposits, our net interest income could be adversely impacted. If increased competition causes us to relax our underwriting standards, we could be exposed to higher losses from lending activities. Additionally, many of our competitors are much larger in total assets and capitalization, have greater access to capital markets and offer a broader range of financial services than we can offer.

 

Interest rates and other conditions impact our results of operations.

 

Our profitability is in part a function of the spread between the interest rates earned on investments and loans and the interest rates paid on deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities. Like most banking institutions, our net interest spread and margin will be affected by general economic conditions and other factors, including fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government, that influence market interest rates and our ability to respond to changes in such rates. At any given time, our assets and liabilities will be such that they are affected differently by a given change in interest rates. As a result, an increase or decrease in rates, the length of loan terms or the mix of adjustable and fixed rate loans in our portfolio could have a positive or negative effect on our net income, capital and liquidity. We measure interest rate risk under various rate scenarios and using specific criteria and assumptions. A summary of this process, along with the results of our net interest income simulations is presented in the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations” included in our 2005 Annual Report to Stockholders. Although we believe our current level of interest rate sensitivity is reasonable and effectively managed, significant fluctuations in interest rates may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We must effectively manage our credit risk.

 

There are risks inherent in making any loan, including risks inherent in dealing with individual borrowers, risks of nonpayment, risks resulting from uncertainties as to the future value of collateral and risks resulting from changes in economic and industry conditions. We attempt to minimize our credit risk through prudent loan application approval procedures, careful monitoring of the concentration of our loans within specific industries and periodic independent reviews of outstanding loans by our credit review department. However, we cannot assure you that such approval and monitoring procedures will reduce these credit risks. Most of our loans are real estate, commercial or consumer loans, each of which is subject to distinct types of risk. To reduce the lending risks we face, we generally take a security interest in borrowers’ property for all three types of loans. In addition, we sell certain residential

 

26



 

real estate loans to third parties. Nevertheless, the risk of non-payment is inherent in all three types of loans and if we are unable to collect amounts owed, it may materially affect our operations and financial performance.

 

For a more complete discussion of our lending activities see Part 1 of Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Our loan portfolio has a large concentration of commercial real estate loans, which involve risks specific to real estate value.

 

Real estate lending (including commercial, construction, and residential) is a large portion of our loan portfolio. These categories were $205.4 million, or approximately 74.0% of our total loan portfolio as of December 31, 2005. The market value of real estate can fluctuate significantly in a short period of time as a result of market conditions in the geographic area in which the real estate is located. Although a significant portion of such loans are secured by real estate as a secondary form of collateral, adverse developments affecting real estate values in one or more of our markets could increase the credit risk associated with our loan portfolio. Additionally, real estate lending typically involves higher loanprincipal amounts and the repayment of the loans generally is dependent, in large part, on sufficient income from the properties securing the loans to cover operating expenses and debt service. Economic events or governmental regulations outside of the control of the borrower or lender could negatively impact the future cash flow and market values of the affected properties.

 

If the loans that are collateralized by real estate become troubled during a time when market conditions are declining or have declined, then we may not be able to realize the amount of security that we anticipated at the time of originating the loan, which could cause us to increase our provision for loan losses and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

 

Our concentration of one- to four-family residential mortgage loans may result in lower yields and profitability.

 

One-to-four family residential mortgage loans comprised $114.9 million, or 41.4%, of our loan and lease portfolio at December 31, 2005, and are secured primarily by properties located in the state of Kansas. Our concentration of these loans results in lower yields relative to other loan categories within our loan portfolio. While these loans generally possess higher yields than investment securities, their repayment characteristics are not as well defined and they generally possess a higher degree of interest rate risk versus other loans and investment securities within our portfolio. This increased interest rate risk is due to the repayment and prepayment options inherent in residential mortgage loans which are exercised by borrowers based upon the overall level of interest rates. These residential mortgage loans are generally made on the basis of the borrower’s ability to make repayments from his or her employment and the value of the property securing the loan. Thus, as a result, repayment of these loans is also subject to general economic and employment conditions within the communities and surrounding areas where the property is located.

 

27



 

Commercial and industrial loans make up a significant portion of our loan portfolio.

 

Commercial and industrial loans were $63.5 million, or approximately 22.9% of our total loan portfolio as of December 31, 2005. Our commercial loans are primarily made based on the identified cash flow of the borrower and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower. Most often, this collateral is accounts receivable, inventory, or machinery. Credit support provided by the borrower for most of these loans and the probability of repayment is based on the liquidation of the pledged collateral and enforcement of a personal guarantee, if any exists. As a result, in the case of loans secured by accounts receivable, the availability of funds for the repayment of these loans may be substantially dependent on the ability of the borrower to collect amounts due from its customers. The collateral securing other loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business.

 

Our agricultural loans involve a greater degree of risk than other loans, and the ability of the borrower to repay may be affected by many factors outside of the borrower’s control.

 

At December 31, 2005, agricultural real estate loans totaled $7.1 million, or 2.6%, of our total loan and lease portfolio. Agricultural real estate lending involves a greater degree of risk and typically involves larger loans to single borrowers than lending on single-familyresidences. Payments on agricultural real estate loans are dependent on the profitable operation or management of the farm property securing the loan. The success of the farm may be affected by many factors outside the control of the farm borrower, including adverse weather conditions that prevent the planting of a crop or limit crop yields (such as hail, drought and floods), loss oflivestock due to disease or other factors, declines in market prices for agricultural products (both domestically and internationally) and the impact of government regulations (including changes in price supports, subsidies and environmental regulations). In addition, many farms are dependent on a limited number of key individuals whose injury or death may significantly affect the successful operation of the farm. If the cash flow from a farming operation is diminished, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. The primary crops in our market areas are wheat, corn and soybean. Accordingly, adversecircumstances affecting wheat, corn and soybean crops could have an adverse effect on our agricultural real estate loan portfolio.

 

We also originate agricultural operating loans. At December 31, 2005, these loans totaled $20.2 million, or 7.3%, of our total loan and lease portfolio. As with agricultural real estate loans, the repayment of operating loans is dependent on the successful operation or management of the farm property.

 

Likewise, agricultural operating loans involves a greater degree of risk than lending on residential properties, particularly in the case of loans that are unsecured or secured by rapidly depreciating assets such as farm equipment or assets such as livestock or crops. We generally secure agricultural operating loans with a blanket lien on livestock, equipment, food, hay, grain and crops. Nevertheless, any repossessed collateral for a defaulted loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding loan balance as a result of the greater likelihood of damage, loss or depreciation.

 

28



 

Our allowance for loan losses may prove to be insufficient to absorb potential losses in our loan portfolio.

 

We established our allowance for loan losses and maintain it at a level considered adequate by management to absorb loan losses that are inherent in the portfolio. Additionally, our Board of Directors regularly monitors the adequacy of our allowance for loan loses. The amount of future loan losses is susceptible to changes in economic, operating and other conditions, including changes in interest rates, which may be beyond our control, and such losses may exceed current estimates. At December 31, 2005, our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.1% and as a percentage of total non-performing loans was approximately 94.6%. Although management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate to absorb losses on any existing loans that may become uncollectible, we cannot predict loan losses with certainty nor can we assure you that our allowance for loan losses will prove sufficient to cover actual loan losses in the future. Loan losses in excess of our reserves may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our continued pace of growth may require us to raise additional capital in the future, but that capital may not be available when it is needed.

 

We are required by federal and state regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations. We anticipate that our existing capital resources will satisfy our capital requirements for the foreseeable future. However, we may at some point need to raise additional capital to support continuing growth. Our ability to raise additional capital is particularly important to our strategy of continual growth through acquisitions. Our ability to raise additional capital, if needed, will depend on conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside our control, and on our financial performance. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of our ability to raise additional capital if needed on terms acceptable to us. If we cannot raise additional capital when needed, our ability to further expand our operations through internal growth and acquisitions could be materially impaired.

 

Our community banking strategy relies heavily on our management team, and the unexpected loss of key managers may adversely affect our operations.

 

Much of our success to date has been influenced strongly by our ability to attract and to retain senior management experienced in banking and financial services and familiar with the communities in our market area. Our ability to retain executive officers, the current management teams, branch managers and loan officers of our operating subsidiaries will continue to be important to the successful implementation of our strategy. It is also critical, as we grow, to be able to attract and retain qualified additional management and loan officers with the appropriate level of experience and knowledge about our market area to implement our community-based operating strategy. The unexpected loss of services of any key management personnel, or the inability to recruit and retain qualified personnel in the future, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Government regulation can result in limitations on our operations.

 

We operate in a highly regulated environment and are subject to supervision and regulation by a number of governmental regulatory agencies, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,

 

29



 

the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Regulations adopted by these agencies, which are generally intended to provide protection for depositors and customers rather than for the benefit of shareholders, govern a comprehensive range of matters relating to ownership and control of our shares, our acquisition of other companies and businesses, permissible activities for us to engage in, maintenance of adequate capital levels and other aspects of our operations. These bank regulators possess broad authority to prevent or remedy unsafe or unsound practices or violations of law. The laws and regulations applicable to the banking industry could change at any time and we cannot predict the effects of these changes on our business and profitability. Increased regulation could increase our cost of compliance and adversely affect profitability. For example, new legislation or regulation may limit the manner in which we may conduct our business, including our ability to offer new products, obtain financing, attract deposits, make loans and achieve satisfactory interest spreads.

 

We have a continuing need for technological change and we may not have the resources to effectively implement new technology.

 

The financial services industry is undergoing rapid technological changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. In addition to better serving customers, the effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to reduce costs. Our future success will depend in part upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands for convenience as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations as we continue to grow and expand our market area. Many of our larger competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. As a result, they may be able to offer additional or superior products to those that we will be able to offer, which would put us at a competitive disadvantage. Accordingly, we cannot provide you with assurance that we will be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing such products and services to our customers.

 

There is a limited trading market for our common shares, and you may not be able to resell your shares at or above the price you paid for them.

 

Although our common shares are listed for trading on the National Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market, the trading in our common shares has substantially less liquidity than many other publicly traded companies. A public trading market having the desired characteristics of depth, liquidity and orderliness depends on the presence in the market of willing buyers and sellers of our common shares at any given time. This presence depends on the individual decisions of investors and general economic and market conditions over which we have no control. We cannot assure you that volume of trading in our common shares will increase in the future.

 

System failure or breaches of our network security could subject us to increased operating costs as well as litigation and other liabilities.

 

The computer systems and network infrastructure we use could be vulnerable to unforeseen problems. Our operations are dependent upon our ability to protect our computer equipment against damage from physical theft, fire, power loss, telecommunications failure or a similar catastrophic event, as well as

 

30



 

from security breaches, denial of service attacks, viruses, worms and other disruptive problems caused by hackers. Any damage or failure that causes an interruption in our operations could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Computer break-ins, phishing and other disruptions could also jeopardize the security of information stored in and transmitted through our computer systems and network infrastructure, which may result in significant liability to us and may cause existing and potential customers to refrain from doing business with us. Although we, with the help of third-party service providers, intend to continue to implement security technology and establish operational procedures to prevent such damage, there can be no assurance that these security measures will be successful. In addition, advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries in the field of cryptography or other developments could result in a compromise or breach of the algorithms we and our third-party service providers use to encrypt and protect customer transaction data. A failure of such security measures could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

We are subject to certain operational risks, including, but not limited to, customer or employee fraud and data processing system failures and errors.

 

Employee errors and misconduct could subject us to financial losses or regulatory sanctions and seriously harm our reputation. Misconduct by our employees could include hiding unauthorized activities from us, improper or unauthorized activities on behalf of our customers or improper use of confidential information. It is not always possible to prevent employee errors and misconduct, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Employee errors could also subject us to financial claims for negligence.

 

We maintain a system of internal controls and insurance coverage to mitigate against operational risks, including data processing system failures and errors and customer or employee fraud. Should our internal controls fail to prevent or detect an occurrence, or if any resulting loss is not insured or exceeds applicable insurance limits, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Failure to pay interest on our debt may adversely impact our ability to pay dividends.

 

16 million of subordinated debentures are held by two business trusts that we control. Interest payments on the debentures must be paid before we pay dividends on our capital stock, including our Common Stock. We have the right to defer interest payments on the debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters. However, if we elect to defer interest payments, all deferred interest must be paid before we may pay dividends on our capital stock. Deferral of interest payments could also cause a decline in the market price of our Common Stock.

 

31



 

ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None

 

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

 

The Company, including the acquisition of FMB on January 1, 2006, owns its main office in Manhattan and fourteen branch offices and leases 4 branch offices. The Company also leases additional office space in Manhattan and a parking lot for one of the branch offices owned.

 

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

There are no pending legal proceedings to which the Company or the Bank is a party, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the Bank’s business. While the ultimate outcome of current legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of management that the resolution of these legal actions should not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

ITEM 4.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders during the quarter ended December 31, 2005.

 

PART II.

 

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

The Company incorporates by reference the information called for by Item 5 of this Form 10-K from the section captioned “Stock Price Information” of the Company’s 2005 Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2005 (attached as Exhibit 13.1).

 

The following table provides information about purchases by the Company and its affiliated purchasers during the quarter ended December 31, 2005, of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act:

 

32



 

Period

 

Total
Number
Of Shares
Purchased

 

Average
Price Paid
per Share

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of a
Publicly
Announced Plan (1)

 

Maximum Number
(or Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 1-31, 2005

 

 

 

 

77,036

 

November 1-30, 2005

 

 

 

 

77,036

 

December 1-31, 2005

 

 

 

 

77,036

 

Total

 

 

 

 

77,036

 

 


(1)           In November 2003, our Board of Directors approved the repurchase by us up to an aggregate of 100,800 shares of our common stock pursuant to a publicly announced repurchase program (the “2003 Repurchase Program”). In November 2004, our Board of Directors approved the repurchase by us up to an additional 5%, or 101,700 shares, of our common stock (the “2004 Repurchase Program”) following the completion of the 2003 Repurchase Program. In December 2004, we exhausted the shares available to repurchase under the 2003 Repurchase Program and began repurchasing shares pursuant to the 2004 Repurchase Program. Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Board of Directors, the current repurchase program will expire when we have repurchased all shares authorized for repurchase thereunder.

 

33



 

ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The Company incorporates by reference the information called for by Item 6 of this Form 10-K from the sections entitled “Selected Financial and Other Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Company’s 2005 Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2005 (attached as Exhibit 13.1).

 

ITEM 7.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The Company incorporates by reference the information called for by Item 7 of this Form 10-K from the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Company’s 2005 Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2005 (attached as Exhibit 13.1).

 

ITEM 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The Company incorporates by reference the information called for by Item 7A of this Form 10-K from the section entitled “Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk” of the Company’s 2005 Annual Report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2005 (attached as Exhibit 13.1).

 

ITEM 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

 

The Company incorporates by reference the information called for by Item 8 of this Form 10-K from the Financial Statements set forth in the Company’s 2005 Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2005 (attached as Exhibit 13.1).

 

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

34



 

ITEM 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of December 31, 2005. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls.

 

ITEM 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

PART III.

 

ITEM 10.

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Directors

 

The Company incorporates by reference the information called for by Item 10 of this Form 10-K regarding directors of the Company from the sections entitled “Election of Directors” and “Corporate Governance and the Board of Directors” of the Company’s Proxy Statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held May 17, 2006 (the “2006 Proxy Statement”).

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that the Company’s executive officers, directors and persons who own more than 10% of their Company’s Common Stock file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with the exchange on which the Company’s shares of Common Stock are traded. Such persons are also required to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on the Company’s review of the copies of such forms, the Company is not aware that any of its directors and executive officers or 10% stockholders failed to comply with the filing requirements of Section 16(a) during 2005.

 

35



 

Executive Officers

 

The executive officers of the Company, each of whom is also currently an executive officer of the Bank and both of whom serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors, are identified below:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Positions with the Company

 

 

 

 

 

Patrick L. Alexander

 

53

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Mark A. Herpich

 

38

 

Vice President, Secretary, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

The executive officers of the Bank are identified below:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Positions with the Bank

 

 

 

 

 

Patrick L. Alexander

 

53

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Mark A. Herpich

 

38

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Michael E. Scheopner

 

44

 

Executive Vice President, Credit Risk Manager

 

 

 

 

 

Dean R. Thibault

 

54

 

Executive Vice President, Commercial Banking

 

 

 

 

 

Larry R. Heyka

 

59

 

Market President – Manhattan

 

 

 

 

 

Mark J. Oliphant

 

53

 

Market President – Dodge City

 

ITEM 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The Company incorporates by reference the information called for by Item 11 of this Form 10-K from the sections entitled “Corporate Governance and the Board of Directors” and “Executive Compensation” of the 2006 Proxy Statement.

 

ITEM 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The Company incorporates by reference the information called for by Item 12 of this Form 10-K from the section entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” of the 2006 Proxy Statement.

 

36



 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The table below sets forth the following information as of December 31, 2005 for (i) all compensation plans previously approved by the Company’s shareholders and (ii) all compensation plans not previously approved by the Company’s shareholders:

 

 

 

(a)

 

the number of securities to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)

 

the weighted-average exercise price of such outstanding options, warrants and rights;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

 

other than securities to be issued upon the exercise of such outstanding options, warrants and rights, the number of securities remaining available for future issuance under the plans.

 

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

 

Plan category

 

Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options (1)

 

Weighted-average
exercise
price of outstanding
options

 

Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

102,406

 

 

 

$  26.14

 

 

274,645

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

- 0 -

 

 

 

- 0 -

 

 

- 0 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

102,406

 

 

 

$  26.14

 

 

274,645

 

 

 


(1) Does not include options assumed by the Company in 2001 in connection with the merger of Landmark Bancshares, Inc. and MNB Bancshares, Inc. with and into the Company. At the time of the merger, there were options issued under the previous companies’ plans, each of which was approved by stockholders of the respective company at the time of their adoption. All of the options granted under these plans fully vested at the time of the merger and no additional options were available for grant after the merger. As of December 31, 2005, there were options outstanding for an aggregate of 24,934 shares of the Company’s common stock under the prior plans with a weighted average exercise price of $13.79.

 

37



 

ITEM 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

The Company incorporates by reference the information called for by Item 13 of this Form 10-K from the section entitled “Transactions with Directors, Officers and Associates” of the 2006 Proxy Statement.

 

ITEM 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

The Company incorporates by reference the information called for by Item 14 of this Form 10-K from the section entitled “Independent Public Accountants” of the 2006 Proxy Statement.

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15.

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

ITEM 15(a)1 and 2. Financial Statements and Schedules

 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

LIST OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and related notes and auditors’ report are incorporated by reference from the Company’s 2005 Annual Report to Stockholders (attached as Exhibit 13.1).

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2005 and 2004

 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings – Years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income – Years ended
December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

All schedules are omitted because they are not required or are not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial statements incorporated by reference or notes thereto.

 

38



 

Item 15(a)3.            Exhibits

 

The exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are included with this Form 10-K and are listed on the “Index to Exhibits” immediately following the signature page.

 

Upon written request to the President of the Company, P.O. Box 308, Manhattan, Kansas 66505-0308, copies of the exhibits listed above are available to stockholders of the Company by specifically identifying each exhibit desired in the request. The Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are also available via the Internet at www.sec.gov, www.banklandmark.com or www.landmarkbancorpinc.com .

 

39



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Patrick L. Alexander

 

By:

/s/ Mark A. Herpich

 

 

 

Patrick L. Alexander

 

Mark A. Herpich

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

SIGNATURE

 

 

 

TITLE

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Patrick L. Alexander

 

March 29, 2006

 

President, Chief Executive

Patrick L. Alexander

 

Date

 

Officer and Director

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Larry L. Schugart

 

March 29, 2006

 

Chairman of the Board

Larry L. Schugart

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Richard A. Ball

 

March 29, 2006

 

Director

Richard A. Ball

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Brent A. Bowman

 

March 29, 2006

 

Director

Brent A. Bowman

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Joseph L. Downey

 

March 29, 2006

 

Director

Joseph L. Downey

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Jim W. Lewis

 

March 29, 2006

 

Director

Jim W. Lewis

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Jerry R. Pettle

 

March 29, 2006

 

Director

Jerry R. Pettle

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Susan E. Roepke

 

March 29, 2006

 

Director

Susan E. Roepke

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ C. Duane Ross

 

March 29, 2006

 

Director

C. Duane Ross

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ David H. Snapp

 

March 29, 2006

 

Director

David H. Snapp

 

Date

 

 

 

40



 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

Incorporated by reference to

 

Attached
hereto

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

 

the registrant’s transition report on Form 10-K for the transition period ending December 31, 2001, filed with the Commission on March 24, 2002 (SEC file no. 000-33203)

 

 

3.2

 

Bylaws

 

the registrant’s Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Commission on June 7, 2001 (SEC file no. 333-62466)

 

 

4.1

 

Form of stock certificate

 

the registrant’s Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Commission on June 7, 2001 (SEC file no. 333-62466)

 

 

10.1

 

Form of employment agreement between Larry Schugart and the Company

 

the registrant’s Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Commission on June 7, 2001 (SEC file no. 333-62466)

 

 

10.2

 

Form of employment agreement between Patrick L. Alexander and the Company

 

the registrant’s Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Commission on June 7, 2001 (SEC file no. 333-62466)

 

 

10.3

 

Form of employment agreement between Mark A. Herpich and the Company

 

the registrant’s Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Commission on June 7, 2001 (SEC file no. 333-62466)

 

 

10.4

 

Form of employment agreement between Michael E. Scheopner and the Company

 

the registrant’s Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Commission on June 7, 2001 (SEC file no. 333-62466)

 

 

10.5

 

Form of employment agreement between Dean R. Thibault and the Company

 

the registrant’s Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Commission on June 7, 2001 (SEC file no. 333-62466)

 

 

10.6

 

Rights Agreement between the Company and Landmark National Bank

 

the registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 22, 2002 (SEC file no. 000-33203)

 

 

10.7

 

Indenture dated as of December 19, 2003 between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company

 

the registrant’s report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2003, filed with the Commission on March 30, 2004 (SEC file no. 000-33203)

 

 

10.8

 

Form of employment agreement between Mark J. Oliphant and the Company

 

The registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2005 (SEC file no. 000-33203)

 

 

10.9

 

Form of 2001 Landmark Bancorp, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan Option Grant Agreement

 

the registrant’s report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2004, filed with the Commission on March 30, 2005 (SEC file no. 000-33203)

 

 

 

41



 

10.10

 

Landmark Bancorp, Inc. Bonus/Profit Sharing Plan

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.11

 

Form of Landmark Bancorp, Inc. Deferred Compensation Agreements

 

the registrant’s report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2004, filed with the Commission on March 30, 2005 (SEC file no. 000-33203

 

 

10.12

 

Summary of director’s fees

 

 

 

X

10.13

 

Indenture dated as of December 30, 2005 between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company

 

 

 

X

13.1

 

2005 Annual Report to Stockholders

 

 

 

X

21.1

 

Subsidiaries of the Company

 

 

 

X

23.1

 

Consent of KPMG LLP

 

 

 

X

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)

 

 

 

X

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)

 

 

 

X

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

X

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

X

 

42


EX-10.10 2 a06-2144_1ex10d10.htm MATERIAL CONTRACTS

 

EXHIBIT 10.10

 

The Landmark Bancorp, Inc. Compensation Committee oversees the bonuses for all executive officers.  The bonuses are determined based on our financial performance (including return on assets, return on equity and earnings per share growth) while also taking into consideration individual employee’s performance in achieving our short and long term goals.

 

1


EX-10.12 3 a06-2144_1ex10d12.htm MATERIAL CONTRACTS

 

EXHIBIT 10.12

 

The Company’s directors received a monthly fee of $1,400 for serving on the board of directors in 2005 and 2006.

 

1


 

EX-10.13 4 a06-2144_1ex10d13.htm MATERIAL CONTRACTS

 

Exhibit 10.13

 

 

 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.,

as Issuer

 

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of December 30, 2005

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

 

as Trustee

 

 

FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES

 

DUE 2036

 

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

 

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS

1

Section 1.1.

Definitions.

1

 

 

ARTICLE II. DEBENTURES

9

 

 

 

Section 2.1.

Authentication and Dating.

9

Section 2.2.

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

9

Section 2.3.

Form and Denomination of Debentures.

9

Section 2.4.

Execution of Debentures.

10

Section 2.5.

Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures.

10

Section 2.6.

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures.

12

Section 2.7.

Temporary Debentures.

13

Section 2.8.

Payment of Interest and Additional Interest.

13

Section 2.9.

Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc.

14

Section 2.10.

Computation of Interest.

14

Section 2.11.

Extension of Interest Payment Period.

16

Section 2.12.

CUSIP Numbers.

17

 

 

ARTICLE III. PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

17

 

 

Section 3.1.

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

17

Section 3.2.

Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.

17

Section 3.3.

Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office.

18

Section 3.4.

Provision as to Paying Agent.

18

Section 3.5.

Certificate to Trustee.

19

Section 3.6.

Additional Sums.

19

Section 3.7.

Compliance with Consolidation Provisions.

19

Section 3.8.

Limitation on Dividends.

19

Section 3.9.

Covenants as to the Trust.

20

Section 3.10.

Additional Junior Indebtedness.

20

 

 

 

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

20

 

 

Section 4.1.

Securityholders’ Lists.

20

Section 4.2.

Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.

20

 

 

 

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

21

 

 

Section 5.1.

Events of Default.

21

Section 5.2.

Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor.

23

Section 5.3.

Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee.

24

Section 5.4.

Proceedings by Securityholders.

25

Section 5.5.

Proceedings by Trustee.

25

Section 5.6.

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

25

 

i



 

Section 5.7.

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

25

Section 5.8.

Notice of Defaults.

26

Section 5.9.

Undertaking to Pay Costs.

26

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI. CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

27

 

 

Section 6.1.

Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

27

Section 6.2.

Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.

27

Section 6.3.

No Responsibility for Recitals, etc.

28

Section 6.4.

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

29

Section 6.5.

Moneys to be Held in Trust.

29

Section 6.6.

Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.

29

Section 6.7.

Officers’ Certificate as Evidence.

29

Section 6.8.

Eligibility of Trustee.

30

Section 6.9.

Resignation or Removal of Trustee

30

Section 6.10.

Acceptance by Successor Trustee.

31

Section 6.11.

Succession by Merger, etc.

32

Section 6.12.

Authenticating Agents.

32

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII. CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

33

 

 

Section 7.1.

Action by Securityholders.

33

Section 7.2.

Proof of Execution by Securityholders.

33

Section 7.3.

Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners.

34

Section 7.4.

Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding.

34

Section 7.5.

Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound.

34

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII. SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

34

 

 

Section 8.1.

Purposes of Meetings.

34

Section 8.2.

Call of Meetings by Trustee.

35

Section 8.3.

Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders.

35

Section 8.4.

Qualifications for Voting.

35

Section 8.5.

Regulations.

35

Section 8.6.

Voting.

36

Section 8.7.

Quorum; Actions.

36

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

37

 

 

Section 9.1.

Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders.

37

Section 9.2.

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.

38

Section 9.3.

Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

38

Section 9.4.

Notation on Debentures.

39

Section 9.5.

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

39

 

 

 

ARTICLE X. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

39

 

 

Section 10.1.

Optional Redemption.

39

Section 10.2.

Special Event Redemption.

39

Section 10.3.

Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures.

40

Section 10.4.

Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption.

40

 

ii



 

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

41

 

 

Section 11.1.

Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

41

Section 11.2.

Successor Entity to be Substituted.

41

Section 11.3.

Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee.

41

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

41

 

 

Section 12.1.

Discharge of Indenture.

41

Section 12.2.

Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee.

42

Section 12.3.

Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.

42

Section 12.4.

Return of Unclaimed Moneys.

42

 

 

 

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

43

 

 

Section 13.1.

Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations.

43

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

43

 

 

Section 14.1.

Successors.

43

Section 14.2.

Official Acts by Successor Entity.

43

Section 14.3.

Surrender of Company Powers.

43

Section 14.4.

Addresses for Notices, etc.

43

Section 14.5.

Governing Law.

43

Section 14.6.

Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.

43

Section 14.7.

Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

44

Section 14.8.

Execution in Counterparts.

44

Section 14.9.

Separability.

44

Section 14.10.

Assignment.

44

Section 14.11.

Acknowledgment of Rights.

44

 

 

 

ARTICLE XV. SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES

44

 

 

Section 15.1.

Agreement to Subordinate.

44

Section 15.2.

Default on Senior Indebtedness.

45

Section 15.3.

Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy.

45

Section 15.4.

Subrogation.

46

Section 15.5.

Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.

47

Section 15.6.

Notice by the Company.

47

Section 15.7.

Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.

47

Section 15.8.

Subordination May Not Be Impaired.

48

 

 

Exhibit A

Form of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture

 

Exhibit B

Form of Certificate to Trustee

 

 

iii



 

THIS INDENTURE, dated as of December 30, 2005, between Landmark Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as debenture trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2036 (the “Debentures”) under this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the execution and authentication, delivery and administration thereof, and the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and

 

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

 

NOW, THEREFORE, This Indenture Witnesseth:

 

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

 

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS

 

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

 

Acceleration Event of Default” means an Event of Default under Section 5.1(a), (d), (e) or (f), whatever the reason for such Acceleration 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.

 

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

 

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

 

1



 

(including the Debentures) in excess of the amount which may qualify for treatment as Tier 1 capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Debentures in connection with the liquidation of the Trust shall not in and of itself constitute a Capital Treatment Event unless such liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event.

 

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

 

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

 

Company” means Landmark Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and, subject to the provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and assigns.

 

Comparable Treasury Issue” means with respect to any Special Redemption Date the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life. If no United States Treasury security has a maturity which is within a period from three months before to three months after the Interest Payment Date in March 2011, the two most closely corresponding fixed, non-callable United States Treasury securities, as selected by the Quotation Agent, shall be used as the Comparable Treasury Issue, and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month using such securities.

 

Comparable Treasury Price” means (a) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Special Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations.

 

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

 

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

 

Debenture Register” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Distribution Period” means (i) with respect to interest paid on the first Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in March 2006 and (ii) thereafter, with respect to interest paid on each successive Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the preceding Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) such current Interest Payment Date.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life” means, with respect to any Debenture, the period from the Special Redemption Date for such Debenture to the Interest Payment Date in March 2011.

 

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

 

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

 

Interest Payment Date” means March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year during the term of this Indenture, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing in March 2006.

 

Interest Rate” means for the Distribution Period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in March 2006 the rate per annum of 5.98055%, and for each Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in March 2006, the Coupon Rate for such Distribution Period.

 

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

 

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

 

Maturity Date” means March 15, 2036.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Primary Treasury Dealer” means either a nationally recognized primary United States Government securities dealer or an entity of recognized standing in matters pertaining to the quotation of treasury securities that is reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Trustee.

 

Principal Office of the Trustee,” or other similar term, means the office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which at the time of the execution of this Indenture shall be Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware  19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.

 

Quotation Agent” means a designee of the Institutional Trustee who shall be a Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

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

 

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

 

Reference Treasury Dealer” means (i) the Quotation Agent and (ii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Company, (i) the principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company for all borrowed and purchased money and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement; (iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker’s acceptance, any security purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement, any interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any obligation under options or any similar credit or other transaction; (v) all obligations of the Company associated with derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts, and similar arrangements; (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise including, without limitation, similar obligations arising from off-balance sheet guarantees and direct credit substitutes; and (vii) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above of other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Senior Indebtedness” shall not include (1) any Additional Junior Indebtedness, (2) Debentures issued pursuant to this Indenture and guarantees in respect of such Debentures, (3) trade accounts payable of the Company arising in the ordinary course of business (such trade accounts payable being pari passu in right of payment to the Debentures), or (4) obligations with respect to which (a) in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are pari passu, junior or otherwise not superior in right of payment to the Debentures and (b) the Company, prior to the issuance thereof, has notified (and, if then required under the applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received approval from) the Federal Reserve (if the Company is a bank holding company) or the OTS (if the Company is a savings and loan holding company). Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

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

 

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

 

Special Redemption Price” means (A) if the Special Redemption Date occurs before the Interest Payment Date in March 2011, the sum of (i) the product of (a) 62.5% times (b) the price set forth in the following table for any Special Redemption Date that occurs on the date indicated below (or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day), expressed as the percentage of the principal amount of the Debentures:

 

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Month in which Special
Redemption Date Occurs

 

Special Redemption Price

March 2006

 

104.625%

June 2006

 

104.300%

September 2006

 

104.000%

December 2006

 

103.650%

March 2007

 

103.350%

June 2007

 

103.000%

September 2007

 

102.700%

December 2007

 

102.350%

March 2008

 

102.050%

June 2008

 

101.700%

September 2008

 

101.400%

December 2008

 

101.050%

March 2009

 

100.750%

June 2009

 

100.450%

September 2009

 

100.200%

December 2009 and thereafter

 

100.000%

 

plus (ii) the product of 37.5% times the greater of (y) 107.5% of the principal amount of the Debentures, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest) on the Debentures to the Special Redemption Date, or (z) as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Debentures during the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life of the Debentures (assuming the Debentures matured on the Interest Payment Date in March 2011) discounted to the Special Redemption Date on a quarterly basis (based on the actual number of days) at the Treasury Rate, plus (iii) in each case, accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest) on the Debentures to such Special Redemption Date, or (B) if the Special Redemption Date occurs on or after the Interest Payment Date in March 2011, 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Special Redemption Date.

 

Subsidiary” means with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or similar interests of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general

 

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partner. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Treasury Rate” means (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the week immediately prior to the date of calculation, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated H.15 (519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Federal Reserve and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life (if no maturity is within three months before or after the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life shall be determined and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Special Redemption Date. The Treasury Rate shall be calculated by the Quotation Agent on the third Business Day preceding the Special Redemption Date.

 

Trust” shall mean Landmark Capital Trust II, a Delaware statutory trust, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of issuing Capital Securities in connection with the issuance of Debentures under this Indenture, of which the Company is the sponsor.

 

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

 

Trustee” means Wilmington Trust Company, and, subject to the provisions of Article VI hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder.

 

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ARTICLE II.
DEBENTURES

 

Section 2.1.                                Authentication and Dating. Upon the execution and delivery of this Indenture, or from time to time thereafter, Debentures in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $8,248,000.00 may be executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a written authentication order from the Company, shall thereupon authenticate and make available for delivery said Debentures to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, the President, one of its Managing Directors or one of its Vice Presidents without any further action by the Company hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon the aforementioned authentication order and written order in authenticating and delivering said Debentures. In authenticating such Debentures, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debentures, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee

 

By

 

 

Authorized Signer

 

Section 2.3.                                Form and Denomination of Debentures. The Debentures shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Debentures shall be in registered, certificated form without

 

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coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. Any attempted transfer of the Debentures in a block having an aggregate principal amount of less than $100,000.00 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever. Any such purported transferee shall be deemed not to be a holder of such Debentures for any purpose, including, but not limited to the receipt of payments on such Debentures, and such purported transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Debentures. The Debentures shall be numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plans as the officers executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof.

 

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

 

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

 

Every Debenture shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

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

 

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

 

All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a

 

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written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING

 

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“PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Every substituted Debenture issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.6 by virtue of the fact that any such Debenture is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debentures duly issued hereunder. All Debentures shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent

 

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permitted by applicable law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debentures and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

 

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

 

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

 

Each Debenture (A) shall bear interest for the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in March 2006 at a rate per annum of 5.98055%; (B) shall bear interest for each Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in March 2006 but prior to the Interest Payment Date in March 2011 at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the product of (a) 62.5% times (b) 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described in Section 2.10, plus 1.34% plus (ii) the product of (y) 37.5% times (z) 6.17%; and (C) shall bear interest for each Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in March 2011 at a rate per annum equal to 3-Month LIBOR plus 1.34% (the “Coupon Rate”), applied to the principal amount thereof, until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law (without duplication) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period compounded quarterly. Interest shall be payable (subject to any relevant Extension Period) quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date with the first installment of interest to be paid on the Interest Payment Date in March 2006.

 

Any interest on any Debenture, including Additional Interest, that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing at least 25 days prior to the date of the proposed payment of the

 

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amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debenture and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at its address as it appears in the Debenture Register, not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date and shall be no longer payable.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(1)                                  the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (as defined below). “Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Moneyline Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(e)                                  Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating to the payment and calculation of interest on the Debentures and distributions on the Capital Securities by the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee will (in the absence of willful default, bad faith

 

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and manifest error) be final, conclusive and binding on the Trust, the Company and all of the holders of the Debentures and the Capital Securities, and no liability shall (in the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) attach to the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by either of them or their respective powers, duties and discretion.

 

Section 2.11.                         Extension of Interest Payment Period. So long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an “Extension Period”), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as “Additional Interest”). At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further, however, that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s or such Affiliate’s capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (i) or (ii) above, (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (f) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 15 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been

 

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payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of the Company’s election to begin a new Extension Period to the Securityholders.

 

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

 

ARTICLE III.
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 3.2.                                Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. So long as any of the Debentures remain outstanding, the Company will maintain in Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for payment, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debentures or of this Indenture may be served. The Company will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of any such office or agency and of any change of location thereof. Until otherwise designated from time to time by the Company in a notice to the Trustee, or specified

 

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as contemplated by Section 2.5, such office or agency for all of the above purposes shall be the office or agency of the Trustee. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Principal Office of the Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 3.4.                                Provision as to Paying Agent.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(c)                                  Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Debentures, or for any other

 

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reason, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or any such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 3.6.                                Additional Sums. If and for so long as the Trust is the holder of all Debentures and the Trust is required to pay any additional taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Company will pay such additional amounts (“Additional Sums”) on the Debentures as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust after paying taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust would have received if no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges had been imposed. Whenever in this Indenture or the Debentures there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the Debentures, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of payments of the Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to the extent that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and express mention of the payment of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made; provided, however, that the deferral of the payment of interest during an Extension Period pursuant to Section 2.11 shall not defer the payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable.

 

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

 

Section 3.8.                                Limitation on Dividends. If Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or its Affiliates’ capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above,  (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered

 

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into prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (6) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee).

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 4.2.                                Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.

 

(a)                                  The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it

 

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as provided in Section 4.1 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Debentures registrar (if so acting) hereunder. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 5.1.                                Events of Default. ”Event of Default,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or

 

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involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

(a)                                  the Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any Debenture, including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, following the nonpayment of any such interest for twenty or more consecutive Distribution Periods; or

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

If an Acceleration Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of the Debentures and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default under Section 5.1(b) or (c) occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may proceed to remedy the default or breach thereunder by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee or such holders shall deem most effectual to remedy the defaulted

 

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covenant or enforce the provisions of this Indenture so breached, either by suit in equity or by action at law, for damages or otherwise.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right of any holder of any Debenture to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, on such Debenture when due, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Debenture hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Debenture with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Debentures shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing itself of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other Debentures, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Debentures. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 5.7.                                Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures affected (voting

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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ARTICLE VI.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(a)                                  the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order,

 

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bond, note, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 6.7.                                Officers’ Certificate as Evidence. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder,

 

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such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 6.9.                                Resignation or Removal of Trustee

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent

 

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hereunder, if such successor corporation is otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12 without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent.

 

Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent with respect to the Debentures by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 6.12, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under this Section 6.12, shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all holders of Debentures as the names and addresses of such holders appear on the Debenture Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent herein.

 

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

 

ARTICLE VII.
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

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

 

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

 

Section 7.2.                                Proof of Execution by Securityholders. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, 6.2 and 8.5, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debentures shall be

 

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proved by the Debenture Register or by a certificate of the Debenture registrar. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.

 

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

 

Section 7.3.                                Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture.

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE VIII.
SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, at any meeting each holder of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000.00 principal

 

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amount of Debentures held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Debenture challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Debentures held by him or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. Any meeting of Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.2 or 8.3 may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE IX.
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 9.3.                                Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and

 

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immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Debentures shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE X.
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 10.1.                         Optional Redemption. The Company shall have the right (subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval (i) if the Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or (ii) if the Company is a savings and loan holding company, from the OTS, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the OTS) to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in March 2011 (the “Redemption Date”), at the Redemption Price.

 

Section 10.2.                         Special Event Redemption. If a Special Event shall occur and be continuing, the Company shall have the right (subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval (i) if the Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or (ii) if the Company is a savings and loan holding company, from the OTS, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the OTS) to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event (the “Special Redemption Date”) at the Special Redemption Price. If the Special Event redemption occurs prior to the Interest Payment Date in March 2011, the Company shall appoint a Quotation Agent, which shall be a designee of the Institutional Trustee, for the purpose of performing the services contemplated in, or by reference in, the definition of Special Redemption Price. Any error in the calculation of the Special Redemption Price by the Quotation Agent or the Trustee may be corrected at any time by notice delivered to the Company and the holders of the Debentures. Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating to the payment and calculation of the Special Redemption Price on the Debentures by the Trustee or the Quotation Agent, as the case may be, shall (in the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) be final, conclusive and binding on the holders of the Debentures and the Company, and no liability shall attach (except as provided above) to the Trustee or the Quotation Agent in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by any of them of their respective powers, duties and discretion.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 11.1.                         Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company, or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, that the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation, merger (where the Company is not the surviving corporation), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Debentures in accordance with their terms, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed by the Company, shall be expressly assumed by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE XII.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

Section 12.1.                         Discharge of Indenture. When

 

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

 

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(b)                                 all the Debentures not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within 1 year or are to be called for redemption within 1 year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds, which shall be immediately due and payable, sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Debentures (other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any moneys for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures (1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.4, or (2) paid to any state or to the District of Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws,

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 13.1.                         Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations. No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Debentures.

 

ARTICLE XIV.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 14.4.                         Addresses for Notices, etc. Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made, furnished or served by the Trustee or by the Securityholders on or to the Company may be given or served in writing by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company, with the Trustee for the purpose) to the Company, 230 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas  66502, Attention:  Mark A. Herpich. Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand by any Securityholder or the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of the Trustee, addressed to the Trustee, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware  19890-1600, Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration. Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand on or to any Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the address set forth in the Debenture Register.

 

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

 

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

 

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complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

 

Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE XV.
SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES

 

Section 15.1.                         Agreement to Subordinate. The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Debentures by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all

 

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Debentures shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XV; and each holder of a Debenture, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.

 

The payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on all Debentures shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Debentures is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holders of the Debentures, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holders of the Debentures the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the holders of the Debentures and creditors of the Company, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Debenture from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Signatures appear on the following page

 

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

 

 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By

    /s/ Patrick L. Alexander

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By

    /s/ Christopher J. Monigle

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE

 

[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture

 

of

 

Landmark Bancorp, Inc.

 

December 30, 2005

 

Landmark Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received promises to pay to Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee for Landmark Capital Trust II (the “Holder”) or registered assigns, the principal sum of eight million two hundred forty-eight thousand dollars ($8,248,000.00) on March 15, 2036, and to pay interest on said principal sum from December 30, 2005, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”) (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Interest Payment Date in March 2006, at: (A) for the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in March 2006, a rate per annum of 5.98055%; (B) for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Interest Payment Date in March 2006, and each succeeding Interest Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (each a “Distribution Period”) prior to the Interest Payment Date in March 2011, a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the product of (a) 62.5% times (b) 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 1.34%, plus (ii) the product of (y) 37.5% times (z) 6.17%; and (C) for each Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in March 2011, a rate per

 

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annum equal to 3-Month LIBOR plus 1.34% (the “Coupon Rate”), applied to the principal amount hereof, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest payable will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be fifteen Business Days prior to the day on which the relevant Interest Payment Date occurs. Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).

 

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

 

So long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an “Extension Period”), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as “Additional Interest”). At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further, however, that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to engage in any of the activities or transactions described on the reverse side hereof and in the Indenture. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 15 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period.

 

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

 

A-4



 

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

 

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

 

A-5



 

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

 

 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Officer

 

A-6



 

[FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE]

 

This Debenture is one of the floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture dated as of December 30, 2005 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered between the Company and the Trustee, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Debentures. The Debentures are limited in aggregate principal amount as specified in the Indenture.

 

Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event prior to the Interest Payment Date in March 2011, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, at the Special Redemption Price.

 

In addition, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in March 2011, at the Redemption Price.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

A-7



 

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

 

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

 

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

 

A-8



 

dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (6) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee).

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

A-9



 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO TRUSTEE

 

Pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Indenture between Landmark Bancorp, Inc., as the Company (the “Company”), and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, dated as of December 30, 2005 (the “Indenture”), the undersigned hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.                                       In my capacity as an officer of the Company, I would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company during the last fiscal year in the performance of any covenants of the Company contained in the Indenture.

 

2.                                       [To my knowledge, the Company is not in default in the performance of any covenants contained in the Indenture.

 

or, alternatively:

 

I am aware of the default(s) in the performance of covenants in the Indentures, as specified below.]

 

Capitalized terms used herein, and not otherwise defined herein, have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate.

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

B-1


EX-13.1 5 a06-2144_1ex13d1.htm ANNUAL REPORT TO SECURITY HOLDERS

Exhibit 13.1

 

To our Stockholders, Customers and Friends

 

Landmark Bancorp, Inc. continued its tradition of growth in 2005 as total assets equaled $465 million at year end compared to $442 million in 2004. Net earnings of $3.9 million resulted in a return on average equity of 9.0 percent and a return on average assets of .87 percent. Fully diluted earnings per share were $1.75 for 2005 with book value per share equaling $19.78 at year end. We continued our annual practice of a five percent stock dividend which has effectively increased our declared cash dividend by five percent in 2005 compared to 2004. We acquired two bank branches in Great Bend, Kansas which dramatically increased our market share and simultaneously upgraded our bank facilities within that community. In September 2005, we announced a definitive agreement to acquire First Manhattan Bancorporation, Inc., which has banking offices in Manhattan, Lawrence, and Junction City, Kansas. Landmark is poised to continue its track record of growth and we are well positioned to leverage our past successes into continued growth and enhanced financial performance in 2006 and beyond. In the following paragraphs, I will recap the challenges and success we experienced in 2005 and describe the opportunities that lie before us in 2006.

 

We were not satisfied to see net earnings in 2005 of $3.9 million compared to $4.3 million in 2004. However, there were some significant factors that contributed to this 8.3 percent decline in net earnings and reason to be optimistic about enhanced performance in the future. Gains on sale of loans decreased approximately $348 thousand in 2005 compared to 2004 as residential mortgage refinancing activity continued to slow to a more normal level. Additionally, we witnessed a decline of $312 thousand in gain on sale of investments compared to 2004 due to decreased sale of equity investments in your company’s bank stock portfolio. On the positive side, we experienced a $293 thousand increase in net interest income after provision for loan losses in 2005 compared to 2004. At the same time, fees and service charges increased 6.6 percent, or $216 thousand, in 2005 compared to 2004. Our balance sheet structure was improved in the third quarter when we prepaid $10 million in higher cost funding associated with Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings acquired in the First Kansas transaction. Our net interest margin increased from 3.16 percent in the fourth quarter of 2004 to 3.28 percent in the fourth quarter of 2005. We plan on continuing to study and take advantage of opportunities when appropriate to further restructure our balance sheet to eliminate low yielding assets and high cost liabilities in a manner which will enhance earnings and net interest margin going forward. Finally, we have been able to reduce our effective income tax rate from 32 percent to 30 percent through the increased utilization of tax exempt investment securities and  investment tax credits. We always welcome the opportunity to take advantage of extraordinary levels of gains on sale of loans and gains on sale of investments as we did in 2004. However, we are focused on continuing to increase the core earnings that come from the basic banking principles of increased net interest income, increased income from fees and service charges, controlled expense levels, and prudent use of tax exempt investments. We made significant progress on these fundamentals in 2005.

 

Short term interest rates continued to increase in 2005 as long term interest rates remained relatively stable. This flattening of the yield curve has continued to the degree that we have even seen the beginning of an inverted yield curve in the early part of 2006. This type of environment has typically not been favorable for bank earnings as most deposits are relatively short term and banks traditionally have made many of their loans with maturities in the one to five year range. A flat or inverted yield curve has the effect of compressing net interest margins as the cost of deposits increase and the opportunity to pass this increased cost along to borrowers is difficult due to rates on intermediate maturities not increasing as much as the shorter term rates. In spite of this movement in interest rates, we were able to increase our net interest margin from 3.16 percent in the fourth quarter of 2004 to 3.28 percent in the fourth quarter of 2005. Our efforts to continue to expand core deposit transaction accounts has continued to be successful as non-interest demand deposits increased from $28.5 million in 2004 to $38.4 million in 2005. At the same time, money market and NOW deposits increased from $96.6 million in 2004 to $103.7 million in 2005. Savings accounts increased from $23.2 million in 2004 to $26.1 million in 2005. Increases in these core deposit accounts make us less susceptible to interest rate fluctuations and enhance our liquidity management capabilities. Continued growth in core deposit transaction accounts also fuels growth in non-interest income from fees and service charges. Our continued efforts in this area should pay dividends when the yield curve reverts back to a more traditional upward slope.

 

Your company continues to focus its efforts on the generation of commercial and consumer loans and reduction of the concentration of one to four family residential loans within its loan portfolio. Commercial loans increased from $51.8 million at December 31, 2004 to $63.5 million at December 31, 2005. Commercial and agricultural real estate loans increased from $88.4 million to $90.4 million in the same time period. At the same time, residential mortgage loans decreased from $131.1 million to $114.9 million. While total loans decreased approximately $2.6 million due to the runoff of residential loans, we continued our

 

1



 

long term plan to expand commercial lending assets and achieved significant progress in that area. Activity in our markets appears to be strong and we anticipate that we will continue to see this growth as we go forward in 2006. We have been able to grow our commercial lending portfolio and, at the same time, maintain our high standards for credit quality. This credit quality is reflected with net loan charge-offs in 2005 equaling $127 thousand compared to $234 thousand in 2004. Even with our focus to expand our commercial loan portfolio, we remain a leader within our markets in the origination of residential mortgage loans, the majority of which are sold into the secondary market.

 

Considerable efforts expended in 2005 leave your company poised for additional growth and enhanced financial performance in 2006. Effective January 1, 2006 we completed the acquisition of First Manhattan Bancorporation, Inc. the holding company of First Savings Bank F.S.B. First Savings Bank was a Manhattan, Kansas based financial institution with banking offices located in Manhattan, Lawrence, and Junction City, Kansas. This acquisition presents numerous opportunities for your company. We are consolidating our main banking office and branch bank in Manhattan with the former First Savings Bank facilities which will allow us significant savings in occupancy, operational, and personnel expenses. We anticipate these expense savings will be approximately $1.2 million before taxes. Because of the consolidation, we were able to sell our former main banking facility in Manhattan and the transaction should provide a gain of approximately $600 thousand upon closing. The acquisition doubles our market share in the Manhattan market and further complements our Manhattan and Wamego, Kansas locations with a banking facility in Junction City, Kansas. The Manhattan, Wamego and Junction City communities are experiencing significant growth in both non military and military population with the recent announcement of the expansion of the U.S. Army’s Fort Riley military installation and the relocation of the First Armored Division headquarters to Fort Riley accompanied by a planned increase of troops stationed at the installation. Additionally, the acquisition gives us a banking presence in Lawrence, Kansas, home of the University of Kansas, a rapidly growing community of approximately 80,000 people strategically located on Interstate 70 between Kansas City and Topeka, Kansas. This transaction simultaneously enhances our market share in the Manhattan market area, compliments our existing banking network, and provides the opportunity for significant expense reductions. At the same time, we were able to add to our team of associates several skilled and experienced bankers dedicated to the continuing success of the company. We are very excited about the expanded opportunities this strategic addition to your company presents for us.

 

Last year I spoke of the increasing regulatory burden we face as an industry. This burden has not abated nor do we expect it to relax. The Bank Secrecy Act, The USA Patriot Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other consumer protection legislation continue to be in the forefront and command significant management attention in order to meet regulatory expectations. We have expanded our efforts and resources in the areas of consumer compliance and internal audit. Internal controls have been further enhanced in order to meet the growth and regulatory needs of your company. These efforts have served us well and enabled us to meet the requirements within the industry. This will be an area that will continue to demand attention and resources as we grow. It is not inexpensive to meet the needs and expectations in these areas, but it is imperative that we continue to focus on these efforts in order to continue our strategic direction of being a leading financial institution within our market area.

 

Your company has experienced robust growth over the last four plus years. In September 2001, our asset size was approximately $200 million. As recently as March 2004, our asset size was right at $330 million. Since that time, we have grown to approximately $600 million effective January 1, 2006. We have never been stronger than we are now in the areas of personnel and systems. Over the last year, we have expanded our market share significantly in both the Manhattan and Great Bend markets. We have gained a presence in the dynamic Lawrence, Kansas market and are gathering momentum in Miami County. We intend to capitalize on these strengths in the months ahead. We will be looking internally at how we do business and ways in which we can improve our processes. We will also continue to explore better ways to serve our customers and maximize the services our customers utilize. Through business development efforts, we will be able to expand our customer base with individuals and businesses looking to take advantage of the benefits we can deliver. All of these efforts will pay dividends and allow us to continue to grow and enhance our financial performance.

 

It is an exciting time for your company. We are well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that lie before us. We have a team of banking associates that is first class and focused on delivering quality financial services to our customers. We have a strong capital base in excess of $40 million and a growing asset base which is diverse and of high quality. We are located within 16 Kansas communities that are economically diverse and with many of them experiencing periods of exciting economic growth. The future is bright and we

 

2



 

are looking forward to continued growth and profitability.

 

I would like to thank our shareholders for your continued support and confidence. We are continually striving to enhance our profitability and shareholder value. I am also indebted to my associates for all of their efforts throughout the years. They have worked tirelessly to improve the company and meet the needs of our customers. It is through their efforts that we have been able to enjoy the success we have accomplished over the past several years. And finally, I must thank our customers for their confidence, support, and patronage. We will continue to work to deliver quality financial services to enable you to succeed and prosper in your business and personal endeavors. We look forward to 2006 and the continued growth and success of Landmark Bancorp.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

Patrick L. Alexander

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

3



 

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA OF LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

 

 

 

At or for the years ended December 31,

 

At or for the three months ended
Dec. 31,

 

At or for
the year
ended
Sept. 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

2001

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Selected Financial Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

465,110

 

$

442,091

 

$

334,046

 

$

341,314

 

$

349,700

 

$

200,255

 

Loans (1)

 

275,729

 

278,260

 

215,030

 

229,112

 

240,979

 

144,473

 

Investments available-for-sale

 

140,131

 

133,604

 

99,746

 

89,296

 

75,311

 

30,889

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

21,491

 

7,845

 

7,708

 

11,449

 

22,163

 

20,001

 

Deposits

 

331,273

 

302,868

 

253,108

 

264,281

 

273,246

 

148,064

 

Borrowings

 

85,258

 

94,571

 

33,755

 

26,203

 

28,697

 

21,000

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

44,073

 

42,169

 

42,572

 

41,074

 

40,205

 

26,099

 

Selected Operating Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

$

22,125

 

$

19,949

 

$

17,276

 

$

19,562

 

$

5,224

 

$

16,438

 

Interest expense

 

8,957

 

7,000

 

5,655

 

7,111

 

2,475

 

9,909

 

Net interest income

 

13,167

 

12,949

 

11,622

 

12,451

 

2,749

 

6,529

 

Provision for loan losses

 

385

 

460

 

240

 

182

 

33

 

120

 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

12,782

 

12,489

 

11,382

 

12,269

 

2,716

 

6,409

 

Non-interest income

 

5,056

 

5,125

 

4,974

 

3,856

 

1,012

 

2,353

 

Severance and other costs related to merger with MNB Bancshares

 

 

 

 

 

2,705

 

 

Non-interest expense

 

12,282

 

11,353

 

9,229

 

9,184

 

4,796

 

4,277

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

5,556

 

6,261

 

7,127

 

6,941

 

(1,068

)

4,485

 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

1,659

 

2,010

 

2,275

 

2,363

 

(430

)

1,780

 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

(215

)

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

3,897

 

$

4,251

 

$

4,852

 

$

4,578

 

$

(638

)

$

2,490

 

Net earnings (loss) per share (2):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

1.75

 

$

1.87

 

$

2.09

 

$

1.90

 

$

(0.27

)

$

1.84

 

Diluted

 

1.75

 

1.85

 

2.06

 

1.84

 

(0.27

)

1.70

 

Dividends per share (2)

 

0.65

 

0.62

 

0.57

 

0.50

 

0.11

 

0.47

 

Book value per common share
outstanding (2)

 

19.78

 

19.03

 

18.50

 

17.64

 

15.90

 

18.56

 

Other Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets (3)

 

0.87

%

0.98

%

1.46

%

1.35

%

(0.72

)%

1.13

%

Return on average equity (3)

 

9.04

 

9.98

 

11.53

 

11.31

 

(6.29

)

10.17

 

Equity to total assets

 

9.48

 

9.54

 

12.74

 

12.03

 

11.50

 

13.03

 

Net interest rate spread (3)

 

2.89

 

2.93

 

3.35

 

3.44

 

2.82

 

2.57

 

Net yield on average interest-earning
assets (3)

 

3.16

 

3.19

 

3.71

 

3.86

 

3.22

 

3.09

 

Non-performing assets to total assets

 

0.88

 

0.37

 

0.45

 

0.41

 

0.37

 

0.50

 

Non-performing loans to net loans

 

1.21

 

0.41

 

0.56

 

0.42

 

0.43

 

0.53

 

Allowance for loan losses to total loans

 

1.14

 

1.04

 

1.07

 

1.12

 

1.10

 

0.99

 

Dividend payout ratio

 

37.14

 

33.33

 

27.63

 

27.57

 

NM

 

25.38

 

Number of full service banking offices

 

17

 

16

 

12

 

12

 

12

 

6

 

 

4



 


**                                  Our selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, our consolidated financial statements, including the related notes. In conjunction with the October 9, 2001, merger with MNB Bancshares, we changed our fiscal year end from September 30 to December 31. Our selected consolidated financial data presented above as of and for the three months ended December 31, 2001, include our accounts, and commencing October 9, 2001, MNB Bancshares. The selected consolidated financial data for periods prior to October 1, 2001 is Landmark Bancshares historical financial data. (NM: not meaningful)

 

(1)          Includes loans held for sale totaling $1.2 million, $846,000, $734,000, $5.1 million, $5.7 million, and $2.5 million at December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, and 2001, and September 30, 2001, respectively.

 

(2)          All per share amounts have been adjusted to give effect to the 5% stock dividends paid in December 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, and 2001.

 

(3)          Amounts for the three months ended December 31, 2001 have been annualized as a result of the merger in 2001 and the change in our fiscal year.

 

5



 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

CORPORATE PROFILE AND OVERVIEW

 

Landmark Bancorp, Inc. is a one-bank holding company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and is engaged in the banking business through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Landmark National Bank. Landmark Bancorp is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “LARK”. Landmark National Bank is dedicated to providing quality financial and banking services to its local communities. Our strategy includes continuing a tradition of quality assets while growing our commercial and commercial real estate loan portfolios. We are committed to developing relationships with our borrowers and providing a total banking service.

 

Landmark National Bank is principally engaged in the business of attracting deposits from the general public and using such deposits, together with Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) borrowings and funds from operations, to originate commercial real estate and non-real estate loans and one-to-four family residential mortgage loans. Landmark National Bank also originates consumer loans, small business loans, multi-family residential mortgage loans, and home equity loans. Although not our primary business function, we do invest in certain investment and mortgage-related securities using deposits and other funds as funding sources.

 

Our results of operations are primarily dependent on net interest income, which is the difference between interest income from interest-earning assets and interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income is affected by regulatory, economic and competitive factors that influence interest rates, loan demand and deposit flows. In addition, we are subject to interest rate risk to the degree that our interest-earning assets mature or reprice at different times, or at different speeds, than our interest-bearing liabilities.

 

Our results of operations are also affected by non-interest income, such as service charges, loan fees and gains and losses from the sale of newly originated loans and investments. Our operating expenses, aside from interest expense, principally consist of compensation and employee benefits, occupancy costs, federal deposit insurance costs, data processing expenses and provisions for potential loan losses.

 

We are significantly impacted by prevailing economic conditions including federal monetary and fiscal policies and federal regulations of financial institutions. Deposit balances are influenced by numerous factors such as competing personal investments, the level of personal income and the personal rate of savings within our market areas. Factors influencing lending activities include the demand for housing and the interest rate pricing competition from other lending institutions.

 

Currently, including the acquisition of First Manhattan Bancorporation, Inc. (“FMB”), our business consists of ownership of Landmark National Bank, with its main office in Manhattan, Kansas and eighteen branch offices in eastern, central and southwestern Kansas.

 

On August 19, 2005, the Company acquired two branch locations in Great Bend, Kansas from UMB Financial Corporation. Pursuant to the purchase agreement, the Company assumed approximately $33.3 million in deposits and acquired the related branch premises and equipment. The Company received cash of approximately $30.4 million. The Company recorded a core deposit intangible of $1.4 million which is not deductible for tax purposes. On January 1, 2006, we moved forward with our plans of growth and expansion when we completed the cash acquisition of FMB. FMB was a single thrift holding company based in Manhattan, Kansas, with locations in Manhattan, Junction City and Lawrence, Kansas.

 

6



 

On April 1, 2004, we completed the cash acquisition of First Kansas Financial Corporation (“First Kansas”), which had total assets of approximately $150 million, including loans and deposits of $74 million and $84 million, respectively. First Kansas had branches in Osawatomie, Paola, Louisburg, Fort Scott, Beloit, and Phillipsburg, Kansas. This acquisition expanded our presence in high-growth market areas in eastern Kansas, presenting us with potential for revenue generation and asset growth. The cost in excess of the tangible and identifiable intangible net assets acquired has been recorded as goodwill. In connection with the acquisition and the subsequent sale of our branches as described below, we recorded a core deposit intangible of $605,000, which is being amortized on an accelerated basis over ten years, and goodwill attributable to the acquisition of First Kansas of $5.7 million, none of which is deductible for tax purposes. The results for the year ended December 31, 2004, include First Kansas’ results of operations since April 1, 2004.

 

During the third quarter of 2004, we sold the Beloit and Phillipsburg branches we had acquired earlier in the First Kansas transaction primarily because these small branches were outside our current geographic range of operations. Upon consummation of the transactions, we sold approximately $7.7 million in deposits and approximately $2.4 million in loans and premises and equipment associated with the Beloit branch and approximately $4.7 million in deposits and approximately $846,000 in loans and premises and equipment related to the Phillipsburg branch. The net proceeds received from the buyers of these branches were recorded as a reduction of goodwill and the core deposit intangible.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Critical accounting policies are those which are both most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations, and require our management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Our critical accounting policies relate to the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of investment securities, and accounting for income taxes, all of which involve significant judgment by our management.

 

We perform periodic and systematic detailed reviews of our lending portfolio to assess overall collectability. The level of the allowance for loan losses reflects our estimate of the collectability of the loan portfolio. While these estimates are based on substantive methods for determining allowance requirements, nevertheless, actual outcomes may differ significantly from estimated results. Additional explanation of the methodologies used in establishing this reserve is provided in the “Asset Quality and Distribution” section.

 

We report our available for sale investment securities at estimated fair values based on readily ascertainable values which are obtained from independent sources. Our management performs periodic reviews of the investment securities to determine if any investment securities have declined in value which might be considered other than temporary. Although we believe that our estimates of the fair values of investment securities to be reasonable, economic and market factors may affect the amounts that will ultimately be realized from these investments.

 

The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in an entity’s financial statements or tax returns. Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Fluctuations in the actual outcome of these future tax consequences, including the effects of IRS examinations and examinations by other state agencies, could materially impact our financial position and results of operations.

 

7



 

COMPARISON OF OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005 AND DECEMBER 31, 2004

 

SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE. Net earnings for 2005 decreased $354,000, or 8.3%, to $3.9 million as compared to 2004. This decline in net earnings was generally attributable to reduced gains on sales of loans and investments and an increased non-interest expense which was partially offset by gains on repayment of FHLB borrowings and an improvement in net interest income. The gains on sales of loans decreased as residential mortgage refinancing activity continues to slow as interest rates have increased since the beginning of 2004. The increases in non-interest expense and the improvement of net interest income primarily resulted from our acquisition of First Kansas on April 1, 2004, as we incurred additional expenses associated with operating these new branches and as our average earning assets increased.

 

The year ended December 31, 2005 resulted in diluted earnings per share of $1.75 compared to $1.85 for 2004. Return on average assets was 0.87% for 2005, compared to 0.98% for 2004. Return on average stockholders’ equity was 9.04% for 2005, compared to 9.98% for 2004.

 

We distributed a 5% stock dividend for the fifth consecutive year in December 2005. All per share and average share data in this section reflects the 2005 stock dividend.

 

INTEREST INCOME. Interest income for 2005 increased $2.2 million, or 10.9%, to $22.1 million from $19.9 million for 2004. This increase was partially the result of the increase in interest earning assets as 2005 was the first full year for the First Kansas acquisition in addition to the rise in interest rates experienced during 2005. Average loans for 2005 increased to $275.2 million from $267.0 million for the same period in 2004. Interest income on loans increased $1.6 million, or 10.3%, to $17.3 million for 2005. Average investment securities increased from $135.3 million for 2004, to $138.8 million for 2005. Interest income on investment securities increased $483,000, or 11.4%, to $4.7 million for 2005, due to the increase in interest rates which allowed the yields on our investments purchased in 2005 to exceed the yields on our maturing investments.

 

INTEREST EXPENSE. Interest expense for 2005 increased to $9.0 million from $7.0 million for 2004, or 28.0%. Interest expense on deposits increased to $5.6 million, or 41.2%, from $3.9 million in 2005 as average deposits increased from $306.1 million at December 31, 2004, to $313.4 million at December 31, 2005. The increase in interest expense on deposits resulted primarily from the increase in interest rates and the repricing of maturing deposits at these higher rates. Interest expense on borrowings increased $331,000, or 10.8%. The increase in interest expense on borrowings resulted primarily from additional advances from the FHLB of approximately $56.4 million which we assumed through the acquisition of First Kansas, and the $7.0 million that we borrowed in April 2004 to consummate the acquisition of First Kansas. These increases were partially offset by the repayment of $10.0 million of FHLB advances prior to their scheduled maturities in August 2005.

 

NET INTEREST INCOME. Net interest income represents the difference between income derived from interest-earning assets and the expense incurred on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income is affected by both the difference between the rates of interest earned on interest-earnings assets and the rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities (“interest rate spread”) as well as the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

 

Net interest income for 2005 totaled $13.2 million, a 1.7% increase, as compared to $12.9 million for 2004, due primarily to a higher level of net interest earning assets obtained through  the First Kansas acquisition in April 2004. Average earning assets increased during 2005 to $417.0 million from $405.9 million for 2004. The net interest margin on earning assets was 3.16% for 2005, down from 3.19% for the same period of 2004. The

 

8



 

decline in our net interest margin was primarily the result of the increased FHLB advances acquired with the First Kansas acquisition which are priced relatively higher than deposit rates. Additionally, the residential mortgage loans acquired with the First Kansas acquisition are also at rates that are relatively lower than the average of our loan portfolio prior to the acquisition. Also contributing to the decline in the net interest margin was a continued reduction in loans arising from payoffs and refinancing in the one-to-four family residential loan portfolio exceeding our ability to generate new commercial and consumer loans. We believe the increase in Federal Funds rates over the past two years by the Federal Open Market Committee will have a positive impact on our net interest margin during 2006 as our interest rates on earning assets reprice to higher rates and at a faster rate than our liabilities reprice. We have already experienced the improvement as our net interest margin increased from 3.16% in the fourth quarter of 2004 to 3.28% in the fourth quarter of 2005.

 

PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES. We maintain, and our Board of Directors monitors, an allowance for losses on loans. The allowance is established based upon management’s periodic evaluation of known and inherent risks in the loan portfolio, review of significant individual loans and collateral, review of delinquent loans, past loss experience, adverse situations that may affect the borrowers’ ability to repay, current and expected market conditions, and other factors management deems important. Determining the appropriate level of reserves involves a high degree of management judgment and is based upon historical and projected losses in the loan portfolio and the collateral value of specifically identified problem loans. Additionally, allowance strategies and policies are subject to periodic review and revision in response to a number of factors, including current market conditions, actual loss experience and management’s expectations.

 

The provision for loan losses decreased to $385,000 for 2005, compared to $460,000 for 2004. Our continuous review of the loan portfolio prompted a decrease in our provision, primarily as a result of improvement in the asset quality of the commercial loan portfolio. At December 31, 2005, the allowance for loan losses was $3.2 million, or 1.1% of gross loans outstanding, compared to $2.9 million, or 1.0% of gross loans outstanding, at December 31, 2004. For further discussion of the provision for loan losses, refer to the “Asset Quality and Distribution” section.

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME. Non-interest income remained relatively flat, decreasing $69,000, or 1.4%, for 2005 to $5.1 million. The decrease in non-interest income reflected a 35.3% decline in the gains on sale of loans from $987,000 for 2004, to $639,000 for 2005 as our residential mortgage financing activities slowed to a more normal level. Also contributing to this decrease was decreased gains on sale of investments of $312,000 for 2005 as compared to the same period of 2004, resulting from fewer equity security sales from our holding company’s investment portfolio. Offsetting these decreases in non-interest income was a $407,000 gain on the repayment of $10.0 million of FHLB advances. Also offsetting this decrease was increased fees and service charges of $216,000 for 2005, as compared to 2004, relating primarily to increased deposit service charges associated with increased retail checking accounts.

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE. Non-interest expense increased $929,000, or 8.2%, to $12.3 million for 2005, as compared to 2004. The increase in non-interest expense for 2005 as compared to 2004 resulted primarily from a $276,000 increase in compensation and benefits, a $155,000 increase in occupancy and equipment, a $128,000 increase in data processing expenses, and a $75,000 increase in amortization expense, all of which was associated primarily with the operations of the branches acquired from First Kansas and the two branches in Great Bend. Also contributing to the increase in non-interest expense for 2005, was an increase of $102,000 in advertising expenses related to a marketing initiative that was introduced during 2004.

 

INCOME TAXES. Income tax expense decreased $351,000, or 17.5%, to $1.7 million for 2005, from $2.0 million for 2004. The decrease in income tax expense for 2005, resulted primarily from a decrease in taxable

 

9



 

income along with an increase in the utilization of tax exempt investments. The effective tax rate for 2005, was 29.9% as compared to 32.1% for 2004.

 

10



 

COMPARISON OF OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND DECEMBER 31, 2003

 

SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE. Net earnings for 2004, decreased $601,000, or 12.4%, to $4.3 million as compared to 2003. This decline in net earnings was generally attributable to an increase in non-interest expense which was offset by an improvement   of net interest income. Also contributing to the decline in net earnings was an increase of our loan loss provision during 2004. The increases in non-interest expense and the improvement of net interest income primarily resulted from our acquisition of First Kansas on April 1, 2004, as we incurred additional expenses associated with operating these new branches and as our average earning assets increased. The increase in our loan loss provision during the year primarily related to our commercial loan growth.

 

The year ended December 31, 2004, resulted in diluted earnings per share of $1.85 compared to $1.97 for 2003. Return on average assets was 0.98% for 2004, compared to 1.46% for 2003. Return on average stockholders’ equity was 9.98% for 2004, compared to 11.53% for 2003.

 

We continued our stock repurchase program during 2004, resulting in the repurchase of an additional 102,338 shares. As of December 31, 2004, we held 121,630 shares as treasury stock at an average cost per share of $26.36. We also distributed a 5% stock dividend for the fourth consecutive year in December 2004. All per share and average share data in this section reflects the 2004 stock dividend.

 

INTEREST INCOME. Interest income for 2004, increased $2.7 million, or 15.5%, to $19.9 million from $17.3 million for 2003. This increase was primarily the result of the increase in interest earning assets from the First Kansas acquisition, being offset by the decrease in interest rates experienced as interest earning assets repriced during 2003 and 2004. Average loans for 2004 increased to $267.0 million from $217.3 million for 2003. The increase in average loans was primarily the result of the acquisition of First Kansas. Interest income on loans increased $1.4 million, or 9.6%, to $15.7 million for 2004. Average investment securities also increased as a result of the First Kansas acquisition, from $93.3 million for 2003, to $135.3 million for 2004. Interest income on investment securities increased $1.3 million, or 43.9%, to $4.2 million for 2004.

 

INTEREST EXPENSE. Interest expense for 2004, increased to $7.0 million from $5.7 million for 2003, or 23.8%. Interest expense on deposits declined to $3.9 million, or 11.3%, from $4.4 million during this period, despite an increase in average deposits from $254.8 million at December 31, 2003, to $306.1 million at December 31, 2004. The decrease in interest expense on deposits resulted primarily from the decline in interest rates and the repricing of maturing deposits at these lower rates. Interest expense on borrowings increased $1.8 million, or 152.8%. The increase in interest expense on borrowings resulted primarily from additional advances from the FHLB of approximately $56.4 million which we assumed through the acquisition of First Kansas, the $8.2 million in trust preferred securities that we issued in December 2003, and the $7.0 million that we borrowed in April 2004 to consummate the acquisition of First Kansas.

 

NET INTEREST INCOME. Net interest income for 2004, totaled $12.9 million, a 11.4% increase, as compared to $11.6 million for 2003, primarily as a result of the First Kansas acquisition. Average earning assets also increased for 2004, as a result of the acquisition of First Kansas, increasing to $405.9 million from $313.2 million for 2003. The net interest margin on earning assets was 3.19% for 2004, down from 3.71% for 2003. The refinancings and paydowns in the residential mortgage portfolio exceeded the commercial loan growth during 2003, resulting in the excess liquidity being invested into lower yielding investment securities. In addition, the prolonged low-rate environment has caused the net interest margin to compress as assets have continued to reprice with little room left for liability repricing.

 

11



 

PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES. The provision for loan losses increased to $460,000 during 2004, compared to $240,000 for 2003. Our continuous review of the loan portfolio prompted an increase in our provision, relating primarily to our commercial loan growth. First Kansas had an allowance for loan losses approximating $352,000, or 0.47% of outstanding loans, at March 31, 2004, which increased our allowance following the acquisition. At December 31, 2004, the allowance for loan losses was $2.9 million, or 1.0% of gross loans outstanding, compared to $2.3 million, or 1.1% of gross loans outstanding, at December 31, 2003. For further discussion of the provision for loan losses, refer to the “Asset Quality and Distribution” section.

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME. Non-interest income remained relatively flat, increasing $151,000, or 3.0%, for 2004, to $5.1 million compared to $5.0 million for 2003. The increase in non-interest income reflected an increase of $1.2 million, or 60.0%, in fees and service charges from $2.0 million for  2003, to $3.3 million for 2004. This significant increase in fees and service charges was the result of substantially increasing the number of our retail checking accounts opened through new marketing initiatives that were introduced in early 2004 and through the acquisition of First Kansas on April 1, 2004. Also contributing to the increase in non-interest income was a $174,000 increase in other fee income for 2004, as compared to 2003, primarily resulting from the sale of non-deposit investment and life insurance products.

 

Offsetting the increases in fees and service charges and other income experienced during 2004 were decreases in gains on sale of loans and gains on sale of investments. Our gains on sale of loans declined $1.1 million, or 51.6%, from $2.0 million for 2003, to $987,000 for 2004, as residential mortgage financing activity slowed. Mortgage refinancing and prepayments were much lower during 2004 as compared to 2003, as expected, as many mortgage holders had already taken advantage of the low interest rates favorable for mortgage refinancing and because mortgage rates rose in the second half of 2004.

 

The gains on sale of investments decreased $193,000, or 35.0%, for 2004, as compared to 2003, and resulted from fewer equity securities sales from our holding company’s investment portfolio. We periodically sell equity securities based on performance and other indicators, and we may sell additional equity securities in future periods.

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE. Non-interest expense increased $2.1 million, or 23.0%, to $11.4 million for 2004, as compared to 2003. The increase in non-interest expense for 2004 as compared to 2003 resulted primarily from a $1.0 million increase in compensation and benefits, a $400,000 increase in occupancy and equipment and a $104,000 increase in data processing expenses, all of which was associated primarily with the operations of the branches acquired from First Kansas. The acquisition of First Kansas added over 40 employees to our staff. Also contributing to the increase in non-interest expense for 2004, was an increase of $122,000 in advertising expenses related to our new marketing initiative that was introduced in early 2004. Offsetting these increases in non-interest expense was a $52,000 decrease in amortization expense and a $41,000 decrease in professional fees for 2004, compared to 2003. Amortization expense decreased as prepayment speeds on our mortgage servicing portfolio have slowed. Professional fees were higher in 2003 as we incurred an increase in legal fees relating to our intellectual property rights and trade name.

 

INCOME TAXES. Income tax expense decreased $265,000, or 11.7%, to $2.0 million for 2004, from $2.3 million for 2003. The decrease in income tax expense for 2004, resulted primarily from a decrease in taxable income. The effective tax rate for 2004, was 32.1% as compared to 31.9% for 2003.

 

12



 

AVERAGE ASSETS/LIABILITIES. The following table sets forth information relating to average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003. The assets and liabilities of First Kansas were recorded at their respective fair market values at the acquisition date. Based on the relatively low interest rates prevailing at the acquisition date, the effective yields on First Kansas’ interest-earning assets and rates on First Kansas’ interest bearing liabilities were significantly reduced, thus causing our post acquisition blended yields and cost of funds to decline in comparison to the periods presented prior to the acquisition. This table reflects the average yields on assets and average costs of liabilities for the periods indicated (derived by dividing income or expense by the monthly average balance of assets or liabilities, respectively) as well as the “net interest margin” (which reflects the effect of the net earnings balance) for the periods shown.

 

AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS – AVERAGE YIELD AND RATES

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005

 

Year ended December 31, 2004

 

Year ended December 31, 2003

 

 

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest

 

Average
Yield/Rate

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest

 

Average
Yield/Rate

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest

 

Average
Yield/Rate

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment securities (1)

 

$

141,790

 

$

4,830

 

3.41

%

$

139,008

 

$

4,276

 

3.08

%

$

95,923

 

$

2,973

 

3.10

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans receivable, net (2)

 

275,183

 

17,294

 

6.28

%

266,938

 

15,673

 

5.87

%

217,327

 

14,303

 

6.58

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

416,973

 

22,124

 

5.31

%

405,946

 

19,949

 

4.91

%

313,250

 

17,276

 

5.52

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest-earning assets

 

32,347

 

 

 

 

 

27,766

 

 

 

 

 

17,899

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

449,320

 

 

 

 

 

$

433,712

 

 

 

 

 

$

331,149

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$

162,442

 

$

4,369

 

2.69

%

$

160,251

 

$

2,849

 

1.78

%

$

141,877

 

$

3,706

 

2.61

%

Money market and NOW accounts

 

95,010

 

1,129

 

1.19

%

93,640

 

811

 

0.87

%

76,316

 

678

 

0.89

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savings accounts

 

24,520

 

73

 

0.30

%

20,304

 

285

 

1.40

%

15,033

 

62

 

0.41

%

FHLB advances and other borrowings

 

88,599

 

3,386

 

3.82

%

80,109

 

3,055

 

3.81

%

27,887

 

1,209

 

4.34

%

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

370,571

 

8,957

 

2.42

%

354,304

 

7,000

 

1.98

%

261,113

 

5,655

 

2.17

%

Non-interest-bearing liabilities

 

35,644

 

 

 

 

 

36,796

 

 

 

 

 

27,603

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

43,105

 

 

 

 

 

42,612

 

 

 

 

 

42,433

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

499,320

 

 

 

 

 

$

433,712

 

 

 

 

 

$

331,149

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

 

 

$

13,167

 

 

 

 

 

$

12,949

 

 

 

 

 

$

11,621

 

 

 

Interest rate spread (3)

 

 

 

 

 

2.89

%

 

 

 

 

2.93

%

 

 

 

 

3.35

%

Net interest margin (4)

 

 

 

 

 

3.16

%

 

 

 

 

3.19

%

 

 

 

 

3.71

%

Ratio of average interest- earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

112.52

%

 

 

 

 

114.58

%

 

 

 

 

119.97

%

 


(1)          Income on investment securities includes all securities and interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions.

(2)          Includes loans classified as non-accrual.

(3)          Interest rate spread represents the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities

(4)          Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

 

13



 

Quarterly Results of Operations

 

 

 

Fiscal 2005 Quarters Ended

 

 

 

March 31

 

June 30

 

September 30

 

December 31

 

Interest income

 

$

5,151,585

 

$

5,450,664

 

$

5,717,033

 

$

5,805,333

 

Interest expense

 

2,040,791

 

2,230,316

 

2,348,756

 

2,337,411

 

Net interest income

 

3,110,794

 

3,220,348

 

3,368,277

 

3,467,922

 

Provision for loan losses

 

120,000

 

105,000

 

100,000

 

60,000

 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

2,990,794

 

3,115,348

 

3,268,277

 

3,407,922

 

Non-interest income

 

1,060,415

 

1,277,020

 

1,584,377

 

1,134,249

 

Non-interest expense

 

2,898,242

 

3,010,929

 

3,075,021

 

3,298,129

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

1,152,967

 

1,381,439

 

1,777,633

 

1,244,042

 

Provision for income taxes

 

349,591

 

431,775

 

544,377

 

333,174

 

Net earnings

 

$

803,376

 

$

949,664

 

$

1,233,256

 

$

910,868

 

Earnings per share(1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.36

 

$

0.43

 

$

0.55

 

$

0.41

 

Diluted

 

0.36

 

0.43

 

0.55

 

0.41

 

 

Quarterly Results of Operations

 

 

 

Fiscal 2004 Quarters Ended

 

 

 

March 31

 

June 30

 

September 30

 

December 31

 

Interest income

 

$

4,047,166

 

$

5,346,342

 

$

5,325,004

 

$

5,230,694

 

Interest expense

 

1,282,245

 

1,915,993

 

1,911,855

 

1,890,203

 

Net interest income

 

2,764,921

 

3,430,349

 

3,413,149

 

3,340,491

 

Provision for loan losses

 

60,000

 

120,000

 

130,000

 

150,000

 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

2,704,921

 

3,310,349

 

3,283,149

 

3,190,491

 

Non-interest income

 

946,808

 

1,294,185

 

1,378,711

 

1,505,717

 

Non-interest expense

 

2,257,321

 

3,000,461

 

2,982,473

 

3,113,093

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

1,394,408

 

1,604,073

 

1,679,387

 

1,583,115

 

Provision for income taxes

 

445,647

 

529,286

 

543,456

 

491,836

 

Net earnings

 

$

948,761

 

$

1,074,787

 

$

1,135,931

 

$

1,091,279

 

Earnings per share(1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.41

 

$

0.48

 

$

0.49

 

$

0.48

 

Diluted

 

0.41

 

0.47

 

0.49

 

0.48

 

 


(1) All per share amounts have been adjusted to give effect to the 5% stock dividend in December 2005.

 

14



 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

ASSET QUALITY AND DISTRIBUTION. Total assets increased to $465.1 million at December 31, 2005, compared to $442.1 million at December 31, 2004. Our primary ongoing sources of funds are deposits, proceeds from principal and interest payments on loans and investment securities and proceeds from the sale of mortgage loans and investment securities. While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans are a predictable source of funds, deposit flows and mortgage prepayments are greatly influenced by general interest rates, economic conditions, competition, and the restructuring of the financial services industry.

 

Net loans, excluding loans held for sale, decreased $2.8 million to $274.6 million as of December 31, 2005 from $277.4 million as of December 31, 2004. The decline was primarily the result of refinancings and paydowns in our residential mortgage portfolio as a result of the increases in interest rates over the past two years. As of December 31, 2005, our one-to-four family residential loans comprised 41.4% of total loans, down from 46.8% at December 31, 2004. We anticipate continuing to diversify our loan portfolio composition through our continued planned expansion of commercial lending activities. The acquisition of FMB effective January 1, 2006 will increase our one-to-four family residential loan totals as the majority of FMB’s loans were residential loans.

 

Our primary investing activities are the origination of mortgage, consumer, and commercial loans and the purchase of investment and mortgage-backed securities. Generally, we originate fixed-rate, residential mortgage loans with maturities in excess of ten years for sale in the secondary market. We do not originate and warehouse these fixed-rate residential loans for resale in order to speculate on interest rates. As of December 31, 2005, our residential mortgage loan portfolio consisted of $38.2 million with fixed rates and $76.7 million with variable rates.

 

The allowance for losses on loans is established through a provision for losses on loans based on our evaluation of the risk inherent in the loan portfolio and changes in the nature and volume of its loan activity. Such evaluation, which includes a review of all loans with respect to which full collectibility may not be reasonably assured, considers the fair value of the underlying collateral, economic conditions, historical loan loss experience, level of classified loans and other factors that warrant recognition in providing for an adequate allowance for losses on loans.

 

We believe that the quality of the loan portfolio continues to be strong as evidenced by our low levels of past due and non-accrual loans. Loans past due more than one month and less than 90 days as of December 31, 2005, totaled $1.5 million. As of December 31, 2005, loans with a balance of $3.3 million were on non-accrual status, or 1.21% of total loans, compared to a balance of $1.1 million loans on non-accrual status, or 0.41% of total loans, as of December 31, 2004. This increase was primarily related to a $1.6 million commercial real estate loan past due for payments in excess of 90 days at December 31, 2005. Given the collateral value associated with the loan, management does not anticipate any significant loss exposure. The ratio of non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets remained low at 0.88% at December 31, 2005 and 0.36% at December 31, 2004. Net charge offs were $127,000 for 2005, compared to net charge offs of $234,000 for 2004.

 

Residential home loans comprised 35.6% of the $3.3 million non-accrual balance at December 31, 2005. These loans have been underwritten according to our residential lending policies and are well secured by real estate collateral, and in many instances, private mortgage insurance or government guarantees. We have historically incurred minimal losses on mortgage loans based on collateral values and underlying insurance or guarantees.

 

15



 

We are pleased that there appears to be numerous indications of emerging strength in the economy, including the Federal Open Market Committee raising the target for the Federal Funds rate by 350 basis points since June 30, 2004. The outlook of the economy for 2006, however, depends on whether the strengthening will be sustainable and how quickly consumer confidence responds to the positive effects, if any, on the economy. Based on the outcomes, these events could adversely affect cash flows for both commercial and individual borrowers, as a result of which, we could experience increases in problem assets, delinquencies and losses on loans. Many financial institutions have experienced an increase in non-performing assets during the recent difficult economic period, as even well-established business borrowers developed cash flow, profitability and other business-related problems. We believe that the allowance for losses on loans at December 31, 2005, was adequate, however, there can be no assurances that losses will not exceed the estimated amounts. While we believe that we use the best information available to determine the allowance for losses on loans, unforeseen market conditions could result in adjustment to the allowance for losses on loans. In addition, net earnings could be significantly affected if circumstances differ substantially from the assumptions used in establishing the allowance for losses on loans.

 

LIABILITY DISTRIBUTION. Total deposits increased $28.4 million to $331.3 million at December 31, 2005 from $302.9 million at December 31, 2004, resulting primarily from the acquisition of two branch locations in Great Bend on August 19, 2005. Borrowings decreased $9.3 million to $85.3 million at December 31, 2005 from $94.6 million at December 31, 2004, resulting primarily from the deposits purchased from UMB offset by $8.2 million borrowed at December 31, 2005 to fund the First Manhattan acquisition on January 1, 2006.

 

Non-interest bearing deposits at December 31, 2005 were $38.4 million, or 11.6% of deposits, compared to $28.5 million, or 9.4% of deposits, at December 31, 2004. Money market and NOW deposit accounts were 31.3% of the portfolio and totaled $103.7 million at December 31, 2005, compared to $96.6 million, or 31.9% of deposits, at December 31, 2004. Savings accounts increased to $26.1 million, or 7.9% of deposits, at December 31, 2005, from $23.2 million, or 7.7% of deposits, at December 31, 2004. Certificates of deposit increased to $163.1 million, or 49.2% of deposits, at December 31, 2005, from $154.5 million, or 51% of deposits, at December 31, 2004.

 

Certificates of deposit at December 31, 2005 which were scheduled to mature in one year or less totaled $124.8 million. Historically, maturing deposits have generally remained with our Bank and we believe that a significant portion of the deposits maturing in one year or less will remain with us upon maturity.

 

CASH FLOWS. During the year ended December 31, 2005, our cash and cash equivalents increased by $13.6 million. Our operating activities during 2005 provided us net cash of $5.8 million. Our investing activities in 2005 provided us net cash of $21.7 million, primarily from the cash received in the acquisition of two branch locations in Great Bend, Kansas. Offsetting this was $8.7 million of cash outflows relating to the purchase of investment securities. We used net cash of $13.9 million in financing activities during 2005, primarily due to a $4.9 million decrease in our deposits portfolio, the payment of $1.4 million in dividends, and the payment of $27.8 million of debt which was offset by $20.0 million in borrowings. These outflows of cash for financing activities were also offset by $233,000 of proceeds from the issuance of common stock associated with the exercise of stock options.

 

16



 

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMERCIAL COMMITMENTS. The following table presents contractual obligations, defined as operating lease obligations and principal payments due on non-deposit obligations with maturities in excess of one year as of December 31, 2005, for the periods indicated.

 

Contractual Cash

 

 

 

One Year

 

One to

 

Four to

 

More than

 

Obligations

 

Total

 

or Less

 

Three Years

 

Five Years

 

Five Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating leases

 

$

214,200

 

$

55,760

 

$

101,520

 

$

56,920

 

$

 

Service contracts

 

1,965,333

 

1,056,000

 

909,333

 

 

 

FHLB advances

 

63,212,318

 

5,500,000

 

4,000,000

 

48,228,750

 

5,483,568

 

Other borrowings

 

22,046,000

 

2,250,000

 

 

3,300,000

 

16,496,000

 

Total contractual Obligations

 

$

87,437,851

 

$

8,861,760

 

$

5,010,853

 

$

51,585,670

 

$

21,979,568

 

 

LIQUIDITY. Our most liquid assets are cash and cash equivalents and investment securities available for sale. The level of these assets is dependent on our operating, financing, lending and investing activities during any given period. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the carrying value of these liquid assets totaled $161.6 million and $141.4 million, respectively. During periods in which we are not able to originate a sufficient amount of loans and/or periods of high principal prepayments, we increase our liquid assets by investing in short-term U.S. Government and agency securities or high-grade municipal securities.

 

Liquidity management is both a daily and long-term function of our strategy. Excess funds are generally invested in short-term investments. In the event we require funds beyond our ability to generate them internally, additional funds are available through the use of FHLB advances, a line of credit with the FHLB or through sales of securities. At December 31, 2005, we had outstanding FHLB advances of $63.2 million and had no borrowings on our line of credit with the FHLB. At December 31, 2005, our total borrowing capacity with the FHLB was $89.2 million. We also had other borrowings of $22.0 million at December 31, 2005, which included $16.5 million of subordinated debentures, $3.3 million of long-term debt and $2.2 million in repurchase agreements.

 

As a provider of financial services, we routinely issue financial guarantees in the form of financial and performance standby letters of credit. Standby letters of credit are contingent commitments issued by us generally to guarantee the payment or performance obligation of a customer to a third party. While these standby letters of credit represent a potential outlay by us, a significant amount of the commitments may expire without being drawn upon. We have recourse against the customer for any amount the customer is required to pay to a third party under a standby letter of credit. The letters of credit are subject to the same credit policies, underwriting standards and approval process as loans made by us. Most of the standby letters of credit are secured, and in the event of nonperformance by the customers, we have the right to the underlying collateral, which could include commercial real estate, physical plant and property, inventory, receivables, cash and marketable securities. The contract amount of these standby letters of credit, which represents the maximum potential future payments guaranteed by us, was $2.9 million at December 31, 2005.

 

At December 31, 2005, we had outstanding loan commitments, excluding standby letters of credit, of $54.1 million. We anticipate that sufficient funds will be available to meet current loan commitments. These commitments consist of letters of credit, unfunded lines of credit and commitments to finance real estate loans.

 

17



 

CAPITAL. The Federal Reserve has established capital requirements for bank holding companies which generally parallel the capital requirements for national banks under the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regulations. The regulations provide that such standards will generally be applied on a consolidated (rather than a bank-only) basis in the case of a bank holding company with more than $150 million in total consolidated assets.

 

At December 31, 2005, we continued to maintain a sound leverage capital ratio of 17% and a total risk based capital ratio of 19%. As shown by the following table, our capital exceeded the minimum capital requirements at December 31, 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Actual

 

Actual

 

Required

 

Required

 

 

 

Amount

 

Percent

 

Percent

 

Amount

 

Leverage

 

$

51,678

 

17

%

4

%

$

11,823

 

Tier 1 Capital

 

$

51,678

 

12

%

4

%

$

17,800

 

Total Risk Based Capital

 

$

54,829

 

19

%

8

%

$

23,647

 

 

At December 31, 2005, our subsidiary bank continued to maintain a sound leverage ratio of 15% and a total risk based capital ratio of 16%. As shown by the following table, Landmark National Bank’s capital exceeded the minimum capital requirements at December 31, 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Actual

 

Actual

 

Required

 

Required

 

 

 

Amount

 

Percent

 

Percent

 

Amount

 

Leverage

 

$

44,920

 

15

%

4

%

$

11,784

 

Tier 1 Capital

 

$

44,920

 

10

%

4

%

$

17,728

 

Total Risk Based Capital

 

$

48,071

 

16

%

8

%

$

23,568

 

 

Banks and bank holding companies are generally expected to operate at or above the minimum capital requirements. The above ratios are well in excess of regulatory minimums and should allow us to operate without capital adequacy concerns. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 establishes a bank rating system based on the capital levels of banks. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, we were rated “well capitalized”, which is the highest rating available under this capital-based rating system. During December 2005, we obtained $8.2 million in trust preferred securities in addition to $8.2 million existing trust preferred securities. In accordance with current capital guidelines, this amount has been included in our Tier 1 capital ratios as of December 31, 2005. Cash distributions on the securities are payable quarterly, are deductible for income tax purposes and are included in interest expense in the consolidated financial statements.

 

On March 1, 2005, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System issued a final rule regarding the continued inclusion of trust preferred securities in the Tier 1 capital of bank holding companies, subject to stricter standards. As a result of the final rule, the Federal Reserve will limit the aggregate amount of a bank holding company’s cumulative perpetual preferred stock, trust preferred securities and other minority interests to 25% of a company’s core capital elements, net of goodwill. Regulations in place at the time the Company placed its currently outstanding trust preferred securities did not require the deduction of goodwill. The rule also provides that amounts of qualifying trust preferred securities and certain minority interests in excess of the 25% limit may be included in Tier 2 capital but will be limited, together with subordinated debt and limited-life preferred stock, to 50% of Tier 1 capital. The final rule provides a five-year transition period for bank holding companies to meet these quantitative limitations. While management does not anticipate that the final rule will

 

18



 

have an impact on the Company when the five-year transition period expires, it is not possible to predict the final impact of the rule on the Company.

 

DIVIDENDS

 

During the year ended December 31, 2005, we paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.17 per share to our stockholders. Additionally, we distributed a 5% stock dividend for the fifth consecutive year on December 31, 2005.

 

The payment of dividends by any financial institution or its holding company is affected by the requirement to maintain adequate capital pursuant to applicable capital adequacy guidelines and regulations. As described above, Landmark National Bank exceeded its minimum capital requirements under applicable guidelines as of December 31, 2005. The National Bank Act imposes limitations on the amount of dividends that a national bank may pay without prior regulatory approval. Generally, the amount is limited to the bank’s current year’s net earnings plus the adjusted retained earnings for the two preceding years. As of December 31, 2005, approximately $2.3 million was available to be paid as dividends to Landmark Bancorp by Landmark National Bank without prior regulatory approval.

 

RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS

 

In December 2003, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position (SOP) 03-03, Accounting for Certain Loans and Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer. SOP 03-03 addresses the accounting for acquired loans that show evidence of having deteriorated in terms of credit quality since their origination (i.e. impaired loans). SOP 03-03 requires acquired loans to be recorded as their fair value defined as the present value of future cash flows. SOP 03-03 prohibits the carryover of an allowance for loan loss on certain acquired loans as credit losses are considered in the future cash flows assessment. SOP 03-03 is effective for loans that are acquired in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2004. The adoption of this Statement did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. The Company will evaluate the applicability of the SOP for all prospective loans acquired.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised), Shared-Based Payment. The revision disallows the expense recognition alternatives permitted in the original statement and requires entities to recognize stock-based compensation cost in their statements of income. The revision contains additional guidance in several areas including award modifications and forfeitures, measuring fair value, classifying an award as equity or as a liability, and attributing compensation cost to reporting periods. It also contains additional disclosure requirements. The Company does not expect that adoption of the revised Statement in 2006 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on criteria to evaluate whether to record a loss and disclose additional information about unrealized losses relating to debt and equity securities under EITF Issue No. 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments. The consensus applies to investments in debt and marketable equity securities that are accounted under FAS 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. After many organizations, including banks, which could be impacted by this guidance, asked for clarification on the meaning of other-than-temporary impairment and its application to certain investments, the FASB postponed the implementation. In July 2005, the FASB decided not to provide additional guidance on the meaning of other-than-temporary impairment, but instead issued FASB staff position (“FSP”) EITF 03-1-a, Implementation Guidance for the Application of Paragraph 16 of EITF Issue No. 03-1, as final. The final position supersedes several previously issued EITF topics and replaces guidance set forth in several others. The final position, titled FAS 115-1, The

 

19



 

Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments, codifies guidance set forth in EITF Topic D-44, Recognition of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment upon the Planned Sale of a Security Whose Cost Exceeds Fair Value, and clarifies that an investor should recognize an impairment loss no later than when the impairment is deemed other than temporary, even if a decision to sell has not been made. The effective date of the FSP will be reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company does not expect that adoption of 115-1 will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2005, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections”. The Statement changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. This Statement requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of changes in accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. This statement applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle. It also applies to changes required by an accounting pronouncement in the unusual instance that the pronouncement does not include specific transition provisions. The Statement carries forward previously issued guidance on reporting changes in accounting estimate (which shall be accounted for in the period of change and future periods, if affected) and errors in previously issued financial statements (which shall be reported as a prior period adjustment by restating the prior period financial statements). For calendar year companies, the Statement is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made after January 1, 2006. The Company does not expect that adoption of the Statement will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

EFFECTS ON INFLATION

 

Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, which generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without consideration for changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The impact of inflation can be found in the increased cost of our operations because our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary and interest rates have a greater impact on our performance than do the effects of inflation.

 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Our assets and liabilities are principally financial in nature and the resulting net interest income thereon is subject to changes in market interest rates and the mix of various assets and liabilities. Interest rates in the financial markets affect our decision on pricing our assets and liabilities which impacts our net interest income, a significant cash flow source for us. As a result, a substantial portion of our risk management activities relates to managing interest rate risk.

 

Our Asset/Liability Management Committee monitors the interest rate sensitivity of our balance sheet using earnings simulation models and interest sensitivity GAP analysis. We have set policy limits of interest rate risk to be assumed in the normal course of business and monitor such limits through our simulation process.

 

We have been successful in meeting the interest rate sensitivity objectives set forth in our policy. Simulation models are prepared to determine the impact on net interest income for the coming twelve months, including using rates at December 31, 2005, and forecasting volumes for the twelve month projection. This position is then subjected to a shift in interest rates of 100 and 200 basis points rising and 100 and 200 basis points falling with an impact to our net interest income on a one year horizon as follows:

 

20



 

Scenario

 

$ change in net
interest income

 

% of net
interest income

 

100 basis point rising

 

$

459,000

 

3.3

%

200 basis point rising

 

$

903,000

 

6.4

%

100 basis point falling

 

$

(655,000

)

(4.7

)%

200 basis point falling

 

$

(1,646,000

)

(11.7

)%

 

We believe that no significant changes in our interest rate sensitivity position have occurred since December 31, 2005. We believe we are appropriately positioned for future interest rate movements, although we may experience some fluctuations in net interest income due to short term timing differences between the repricing of assets and liabilities.

 

ASSET/LIABILITY MANAGEMENT

 

We are emphasizing the origination of adjustable rate mortgages for portfolio retention along with shorter-term consumer and commercial loans to reduce the sensitivity of our earnings to interest rate fluctuations. Interest rate “gap” analysis is a common, though imperfect, measure of interest rate risk which measures the relative dollar amounts of interest-earning assets and interest bearing liabilities which reprice within a specific time period, either through maturity or rate adjustment. The “gap” is the difference between the amounts of such assets and liabilities that are subject to such repricing. A “positive” gap for a given period means that the amount of interest-earning assets maturing or otherwise repricing within that period exceeds the amount of interest-bearing liabilities maturing or otherwise repricing during that same period. In a rising interest rate environment, an institution with a positive gap would generally be expected, absent the effects of other factors, to experience a greater increase in the yield of its assets relative to the cost of its liabilities. Conversely, the cost of funds for an institution with a positive gap would generally be expected to decline less quickly than the yield on its assets in a falling interest rate environment. Changes in interest rates generally have the opposite effect on an institution with a “negative” gap.

 

Following is our “static gap” schedule. One-to-four family and consumer loans included prepayment assumptions, while all other loans assume no prepayments. The mortgage-backed securities included published prepayment assumptions, while all other investments assume no prepayments.

 

Certificates of deposit reflect contractual maturities only. Money market accounts are rate sensitive and accordingly, a higher percentage of the accounts have been included as repricing immediately in the first period. Savings and NOW accounts are not as rate sensitive as money market accounts and for that reason a significant percentage of the accounts are reflected in the more than 1 to 5 years category.

 

We have been successful in meeting the interest sensitivity objectives set forth in our policy. This has been accomplished primarily by managing the assets and liabilities while maintaining our traditional high credit standards.

 

21



 

INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS AND INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES REPRICING SCHEDULE (“GAP” TABLE)

 

At December 31, 2005

 

 

 

3 months
or less

 

More than 3
to 12
months

 

More than 1
to 5 years

 

Over 5
years

 



Total

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overnight investments

 

$

17,393

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

17,393

 

Investment securities

 

21,084

 

27,662

 

49,799

 

41,586

 

140,131

 

Loans

 

67,568

 

99,503

 

95,583

 

15,058

 

277,712

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

$

106,045

 

$

127,165

 

$

145,382

 

$

56,644

 

$

435,236

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$

44,701

 

$

80,147

 

$

39,978

 

$

255

 

$

163,081

 

Money market and NOW accounts

 

23,579

 

 

80,149

 

 

103,728

 

Savings accounts

 

4,959

 

 

21,139

 

 

26,098

 

Borrowed money

 

16,555

 

5,027

 

52,148

 

11,528

 

85,258

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

$

89,794

 

$

85,174

 

$

191,414

 

$

11,783

 

$

378,165

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest sensitivity gap per period

 

$

16,251

 

$

41,991

 

$

(46,032

)

$

44,861

 

$

57,071

 

Cumulative interest sensitivity gap

 

$

16,251

 

$

58,242

 

$

12,210

 

$

57,071

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative gap as a percent of total interest-earning assets

 

3.73

%

13.38

%

2.81

%

13.11

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative interest sensitive assets as a percent of cumulative interest sensitive liabilities

 

118.10

%

133.29

%

103.33

%

115.09

%

 

 

 

22



 

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This document (including information incorporated by reference) contains, and future oral and written statements by us and our management may contain, forward-looking statements, within the meaning of such term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, with respect to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of our management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events.

 

Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on operations and future prospects by us and our subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

                                         The strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct our operations which may be less favorable than expected and may result in, among other things, a deterioration in the credit quality and value of our assets.

 

                                         The economic impact of past and any future terrorist attacks, acts of war or threats thereof, and the response of the United States to any such threats and attacks.

 

                                         The effects of, and changes in, federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies affecting banking, securities, insurance and monetary and financial matters.

 

                                         The effects of changes in interest rates (including the effects of changes in the rate of prepayments of our assets) and the policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

                                         Our ability to compete with other financial institutions as effectively as we currently intend due to increases in competitive pressures in the financial services sector.

 

                                         Our inability to obtain new customers and to retain existing customers.

 

                                         The timely development and acceptance of products and services, including products and services offered through alternative delivery channels such as the Internet.

 

                                         Technological changes implemented by us and by other parties, including third party vendors, which may be more difficult or more expensive than anticipated or which may have unforeseen consequences to us and our customers.

 

                                         Our ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems.

 

                                         Our ability to retain key executives and employees and the difficulty that we may experience in replacing key executives and employees in an effective manner.

 

23



 

                                         Consumer spending and saving habits which may change in a manner that affects our business adversely.

 

                                         Business combinations and the integration of acquired businesses which may be more difficult or expensive than expected.

 

                                         The costs, effects and outcomes of existing or future litigation.

 

                                         Changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory agencies and the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

 

                                         Our ability to manage the risks associated with the foregoing as well as anticipated.

 

These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Additional information concerning us and our business, including other factors that could materially affect our financial results, is included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” section in our Form 10-K.

 

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures. An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operations of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of December 31, 2005. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ending December 31, 2005 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

24



 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Board of Directors
Landmark Bancorp, Inc.:

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Landmark Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiary (the Company) as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2005.  These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP

 

Kansas City, Missouri
March 29, 2006

 

25



 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31, 2005 and 2004

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

4,097,402

 

2,910,297

 

Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions

 

17,393,110

 

4,935,141

 

Total cash and cash equivalents

 

21,490,512

 

7,845,438

 

Investment securities available-for-sale

 

140,130,512

 

133,604,335

 

Loans, net

 

274,565,855

 

277,413,963

 

Loans held for sale

 

1,163,211

 

846,003

 

Premises and equipment, net

 

8,412,235

 

5,864,258

 

Goodwill

 

7,535,584

 

7,651,892

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

2,418,213

 

1,339,832

 

Accrued interest and other assets

 

9,393,839

 

7,525,173

 

Total assets

 

$

465,109,961

 

442,090,894

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits:

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest bearing demand

 

$

38,365,040

 

28,549,224

 

Money market and NOW

 

103,728,104

 

96,607,511

 

Savings

 

26,098,127

 

23,221,065

 

Time, $100,000 and greater

 

42,540,949

 

31,121,564

 

Time, other

 

120,540,511

 

123,368,357

 

Total deposits

 

331,272,731

 

302,867,721

 

Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings

 

63,212,318

 

81,053,321

 

Other borrowings

 

22,046,000

 

13,518,000

 

Accrued interest and expenses, taxes, and other liabilities

 

4,506,305

 

2,482,875

 

Total liabilities

 

421,037,354

 

399,921,917

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par. Authorized 5,000,000 shares;
issued 2,244,327 and 2,232,218, respectively

 

22,443

 

22,322

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

19,868,567

 

19,969,551

 

Retained earnings

 

25,322,019

 

25,228,826

 

Treasury stock, at cost; 15,736 and 121,630 shares, respectively

 

(414,514

)

(3,205,823

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

(725,908

)

154,101

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

44,072,607

 

42,168,977

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

465,109,961

 

442,090,894

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

26



 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

Years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans

 

$

17,294,186

 

15,672,834

 

14,303,182

 

Investment securities

 

4,720,266

 

4,237,362

 

2,945,302

 

Other

 

110,163

 

39,010

 

27,818

 

Total interest income

 

22,124,615

 

19,949,206

 

17,276,302

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

5,571,410

 

3,945,344

 

4,446,050

 

Borrowings

 

3,385,864

 

3,054,952

 

1,208,522

 

Total interest expense

 

8,957,274

 

7,000,296

 

5,654,572

 

Net interest income

 

13,167,341

 

12,948,910

 

11,621,730

 

Provision for loan losses

 

385,000

 

460,000

 

240,000

 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

12,782,341

 

12,488,910

 

11,381,730

 

Non-interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fees and service charges

 

3,486,923

 

3,270,509

 

2,048,482

 

Gains on sales of loans

 

638,780

 

986,864

 

2,039,102

 

Gains on sales of investment securities

 

46,865

 

358,385

 

551,038

 

Gains on prepayments of FHLB borrowings

 

406,572

 

 

 

Other

 

476,921

 

509,663

 

335,569

 

Total non-interest income

 

5,056,061

 

5,125,421

 

4,974,191

 

Non-interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation and benefits

 

6,120,365

 

5,844,352

 

4,834,982

 

Occupancy and equipment

 

2,010,875

 

1,855,542

 

1,455,799

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

449,460

 

374,758

 

426,442

 

Professional fees

 

322,587

 

301,870

 

343,208

 

Advertising

 

401,701

 

300,006

 

177,899

 

Data processing

 

542,780

 

415,175

 

311,364

 

Other

 

2,434,553

 

2,261,645

 

1,679,061

 

Total non-interest expense

 

12,282,321

 

11,353,348

 

9,228,755

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

5,556,081

 

6,260,983

 

7,127,166

 

Income tax expense

 

1,658,917

 

2,010,225

 

2,275,469

 

Net earnings

 

$

3,897,164

 

4,250,758

 

4,851,697

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

1.75

 

1.87

 

2.09

 

Diluted

 

$

1.75

 

1.85

 

2.06

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

27



 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income

Years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

Unearned

 

comprehensive

 

 

 

 

 

Common

 

paid-in

 

Retained

 

Treasury

 

employee

 

income

 

 

 

 

 

stock

 

capital

 

earnings

 

stock

 

benefits

 

(loss)

 

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2002

 

21,578

 

18,269,582

 

24,295,211

 

(3,266,359

)

(145,207

)

1,898,970

 

41,073,775

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

4,851,697

 

 

 

 

4,851,697

 

Change in fair value of investment securities available-for-sale, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,102,038

)

(1,102,038

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

4,851,697

 

 

 

(1,102,038

)

3,749,659

 

Dividends paid ($0.57 per share)

 

 

 

(1,331,146

)

 

 

 

(1,331,146

)

Amortization of unearned employee benefits

 

 

82,731

 

 

 

145,207

 

 

227,938

 

Exercise of stock options, 49,942 shares, including tax benefit of $241,775

 

500

 

720,857

 

 

 

 

 

721,357

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

1,727

 

 

 

 

 

1,727

 

Purchase of 72,228 treasury shares

 

 

 

 

(1,871,207

)

 

 

(1,871,207

)

5% stock dividend, 100,602 shares

 

 

257,233

 

(2,602,574

)

2,345,341

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2003

 

22,078

 

19,332,130

 

25,213,188

 

(2,792,225

)

 

796,932

 

42,572,103

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

4,250,758

 

 

 

 

4,250,758

 

Change in fair value of investment securities available-for-sale and interest-rate swap, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

(642,831

)

(642,831

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

4,250,758

 

 

 

(642,831

)

3,607,927

 

Dividends paid ($0.62 per share)

 

 

 

(1,420,885

)

 

 

 

(1,420,885

)

Stock based compensation

 

 

107,975

 

 

 

 

 

107,975

 

Exercise of stock options, 24,411 shares, including tax benefit of $135,511

 

244

 

356,818

 

 

 

 

 

357,062

 

Purchase of 102,338 treasury shares

 

 

 

 

(3,055,205

)

 

 

(3,055,205

)

5% stock dividend, 100,365 shares

 

 

172,628

 

(2,814,235

)

2,641,607

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2004

 

$

22,322

 

19,969,551

 

25,228,826

 

(3,205,823

)

 

154,101

 

42,168,977

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

3,897,164

 

 

 

 

3,897,164

 

Change in fair value of investment securities available-for-sale and interest-rate swap, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

(880,009

)

(880,009

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

3,897,164

 

 

 

(880,009

)

3,017,155

 

Dividends paid ($0.65 per share)

 

 

 

(1,444,252

)

 

 

 

(1,444,252

)

Stock based compensation

 

 

97,826

 

 

 

 

 

97,826

 

Exercise of stock options, 12,109 shares, including tax benefit of $37,344

 

121

 

233,311

 

 

 

 

 

233,432

 

Purchase of 18 treasury shares

 

 

 

 

(531

)

 

 

(531

)

5% stock dividend, 105,912 shares

 

 

(432,121

)

(2,359,719

)

2,791,840

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2005

 

$

22,443

 

19,868,567

 

25,322,019

 

(414,514

)

 

(725,908

)

44,072,607

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

28



 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

3,897,164

 

4,250,758

 

4,851,697

 

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for loan losses

 

385,000

 

460,000

 

240,000

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

449,460

 

374,758

 

426,442

 

Depreciation

 

700,789

 

650,082

 

461,836

 

Stock-based compensation

 

97,826

 

107,975

 

1,727

 

Deferred income taxes

 

879,613

 

625,904

 

364,465

 

Net gains on sales of investment securities, premises and equipment, and foreclosed assets

 

(113,032

)

(502,114

)

(561,155

)

Net gain on sales of loans

 

(638,780

)

(986,864

)

(2,039,102

)

Proceeds from sale of loans

 

34,325,244

 

39,598,536

 

97,351,328

 

Origination of loans held for sale

 

(34,003,672

)

(38,723,219

)

(90,996,079

)

Gains on prepayments of FHLB borrowings

 

(406,572

)

 

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued interest and other assets

 

(1,523,646

)

1,200,310

 

63,920

 

Accrued expenses, taxes, and other liabilities

 

1,773,946

 

(2,318,289

)

(4,689,368

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

5,823,340

 

4,737,837

 

5,475,711

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in loans

 

1,553,190

 

6,104,388

 

9,304,074

 

Maturities and prepayments of investment securities

 

46,035,450

 

32,936,261

 

52,601,851

 

Net cash received in branch acquisitions

 

30,410,720

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash paid in First Kansas acquisition

 

 

(9,140,845

)

 

Net cash paid in branch sales

 

 

(8,714,311

)

 

Purchases of investment securities

 

(54,933,641

)

(6,502,342

)

(66,450,936

)

Proceeds from sale of investment securities

 

160,235

 

971,571

 

1,203,725

 

Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment and foreclosed assets

 

445,467

 

1,419,456

 

433,969

 

Purchases of premises and equipment, net

 

(1,921,843

)

(1,232,019

)

(337,967

)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

21,749,578

 

15,842,159

 

(3,245,284

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in deposits

 

(4,867,797

)

(21,606,877

)

(11,172,650

)

Federal Home Loan Bank advance borrowings

 

8,000,000

 

 

 

Federal Home Loan Bank advance repayments

 

(20,876,696

)

(1,036,768

)

(3,015,350

)

Federal Home Loan Bank line of credit, net

 

(3,500,000

)

1,300,000

 

2,200,000

 

Proceeds from other borrowings

 

11,998,000

 

9,555,000

 

8,498,000

 

Repayments on other borrowings

 

(3,470,000

)

(4,535,000

)

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock under stock option plans

 

196,088

 

221,551

 

479,582

 

Net tax benefit related to stock option plans

 

37,344

 

135,511

 

241,775

 

Payment of dividends

 

(1,444,252

)

(1,420,885

)

(1,331,146

)

Purchase of treasury stock

 

(531

)

(3,055,205

)

(1,871,207

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(13,927,844

)

(20,442,673

)

(5,970,996

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

13,645,074

 

137,323

 

(3,740,569

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

7,845,438

 

7,708,115

 

11,448,684

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

21,490,512

 

7,845,438

 

7,708,115

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the year for income taxes

 

$

 

1,494,000

 

1,985,000

 

Cash paid during the year for interest

 

8,583,000

 

6,652,000

 

5,690,000

 

Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfer of loans to real estate owned

 

649,000

 

1,044,000

 

303,000

 

Acquisition of branches:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of liabilities assumed

 

33,299,000

 

 

 

Fair value of assets acquired

 

2,888,000

 

 

 

First Kansas acquisition:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of liabilities assumed

 

 

140,619,000

 

 

Fair value of assets acquired, including goodwill

 

 

149,760,000

 

 

Branch sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of liabilities transferred

 

 

(12,489,000

)

 

Fair value of assets sold

 

 

(3,774,000

)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

29



 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARY

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003

 

(1)         Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

(a)                      Principles of Consolidation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Landmark Bancorp, Inc. (the Company) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Landmark National Bank (the Bank). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Bank, considered a single segment, is principally engaged in the business of attracting deposits from the general public and using such deposits, together with borrowings and other funds, to originate commercial real estate and non-real estate loans, one-to-four family residential mortgage loans, consumer loans, and home equity loans.

 

(b)                      Investment Securities

 

The Company classifies its investment securities portfolio as available-for-sale, which are recorded at fair value, determined principally based on quoted market prices, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of stockholders’ equity until realized. Purchased premiums and discounts on investment securities are amortized/accreted into interest income over the estimated lives of the securities using a method which approximates the interest method. Declines in the fair value of individual securities below their cost that are deemed to be other than temporary result in write-downs of individual securities to their estimated fair value, and a new cost basis is established. The related write-downs are included in earnings as realized losses. Gains and losses on sales of available-for-sale securities are recorded on a trade date basis and are calculated using the specific identification method.

 

(c)                       Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses

 

Loans receivable that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off are reported at their outstanding principal balances, net of undisbursed loan proceeds, the allowance for loan losses, and any deferred fees or costs on originated loans.

 

Mortgage loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value, determined on an aggregate basis. Net unrealized losses are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income. Origination fees and costs received on such loans are deferred and recognized in income as part of the gain or loss on sale. Origination fees received on other loans held in portfolio in excess of amounts representing the estimated costs of origination are deferred and credited to interest income using the interest method.

 

The Company maintains an allowance to absorb probable loan losses inherent in the portfolio. The allowance for loan losses is increased by charges to income and decreased by charge-offs (net of recoveries). Management’s periodic evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance is based on the Bank’s past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, the current level of nonperforming assets, and current economic conditions. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.

 

30



 

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. Impairment is measured on a loan-by-loan basis for commercial, commercial real estate and construction loans by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s obtainable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.

 

Large groups of smaller individual balance homogeneous loans that are considered impaired are collectively evaluated for impairment. Accordingly, the Company does not separately identify individual consumer and residential loans for impairment disclosures.

 

The accrual of interest on nonperforming loans is discontinued at the time the loan is ninety days delinquent, unless the credit is well-secured and in process of collection. Loans are placed on non-accrual or are charged off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful.

 

All interest accrued but not collected for loans that are placed on nonaccrual or charged off is reversed against interest income. The interest on these loans is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Loans are evaluated individually and are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

 

(d)                      Premises and Equipment

 

Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line or accelerated methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives of the assets are as follows:

 

Buildings and improvements

 

10 – 50 years

Furniture, fixtures, and equipment

 

1 – 15 years

Automobiles

 

2 – 5 years

 

Major replacements and betterments are capitalized while maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred. Gains or losses on dispositions are reflected in operations as incurred.

 

31



 

(e)                       Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

The Company’s goodwill and core deposit intangible resulted from the acquisition of MNB Bancshares, Inc. (MNB) by Landmark Bancorp, Inc. on October 9, 2001, the acquisition of First Kansas Financial Corporation (First Kansas) on April 1, 2004, and from the acquisition of two branches in Great Bend, Kansas on August 19, 2005. Goodwill resulting from the merger with MNB and from the acquisition of First Kansas is not amortized; however, it is tested for impairment. During 2005, goodwill associated with the MNB acquisition was reduced by $116,000 realted to the resolution of outstanding tax matters. Goodwill impairment tests are performed at each calendar year end or when events or circumstances dictate. The Company’s impairment test performed as of December 31, 2005 indicated that there was no impairment.

 

The core deposit intangibles are being amortized over their estimated useful life of ten years on an accelerated basis. When facts and circumstances indicate potential impairment of amortizable intangible assets, the Company will evaluate the recoverability of the asset carrying value, using estimates of undiscounted future cash flows over the remaining asset life. Any impairment loss is measured by the excess of carrying value over fair value. Amortization expense related to the core deposit intangible asset was $283,000, $194,000, and $124,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively.

 

Mortgage servicing assets are recognized as separate assets when rights are acquired through the sale of financial assets. Capitalized servicing rights are reported in other intangible assets and are amortized into non-interest expense in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying financial assets. Servicing assets are recorded at the lower of cost or fair value, and are evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the retained rights as compared to amortized cost. Amortization expense related to the mortgage servicing assets was $166,000, $181,000, and $302,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively.

 

(f)                         Income Taxes

 

Amounts provided for income tax expense are based on income reported for financial statement purposes and do not necessarily represent amounts currently payable under tax laws. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective income tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates applied to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities, of a change in tax rates, is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

(g)                      Use of Estimates

 

Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

32



 

(h)                      Comprehensive Income

 

The Company’s other comprehensive income (loss) consists of unrealized holding gains and losses on available-for-sale securities and an unrealized gain on an interest rate swap as shown below:

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Unrealized holding losses on securities

 

$

(1,450,504

)

(736,440

)

(1,226,442

)

Less reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income

 

46,865

 

358,385

 

551,038

 

Net unrealized losses on securities

 

(1,497,369

)

(1,094,825

)

(1,777,480

)

Unrealized gain on interest rate swap

 

78,000

 

58,000

 

 

Income tax benefit

 

(539,360

)

(393,994

)

(675,442

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

$

(880,009

)

(642,831

)

(1,102,038

)

 

(i)                         Foreclosed Assets

 

Assets acquired through, or in lieu of, foreclosure are to be sold and are initially recorded at the date of foreclosure at the lower of carrying value or fair value through a charge to the allowance for loan losses, establishing a new cost basis. Subsequent to foreclosure, management periodically performs valuations, and an allowance for losses is established by a charge to operations if the carrying value of a property exceeds the fair value less estimated costs to sell. Revenue and expenses from operations and changes in the valuation allowance are included in other non-interest expense on the income statement.

 

(j)                         Stock Based Compensation

 

The Company has a stock-based employee compensation plan, which is described more fully in note 11. The Company utilizes the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. SFAS 123 establishes a fair-value method of accounting for employee stock options or similar equity instruments. The fair value of stock-based awards to employees is calculated through the use of option pricing models. These models also require subjective assumptions, including future stock price volatility and expected time to exercise, which greatly affect the calculated values. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the grant date fair value of its stock options. The fair value is recognized as additional compensation expense, on an accelerated method over the option vesting period, which is typically five years.

 

In December 2004, The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 123 (revised), Shared-Based Payment. The revision disallows the expense recognition alternatives permitted in the original statement and requires entities to recognize stock-based compensation cost in their

 

33



 

statements of earnings. The revision contains additional guidance in several areas including award modifications and forfeitures, measuring fair value, classifying an award as equity or as a liability, and attributing compensation cost to reporting periods. It also contains additional disclosure requirements. The Company does not expect the adoption of the revised SFAS No. 123 in January 2006 to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

(k)                      Earnings per Share

 

Basic earnings per share represents net earnings divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share reflect additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued, as well as any adjustment to income that would result from the assumed issuance. Potential common shares that may be issued by the Company relate solely to outstanding stock options and are determined using the treasury stock method. Earnings per share for all periods presented have been adjusted to give effect to the 5% stock dividends paid by the Company in December 2005, 2004, and 2003.

 

The shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share, which have been adjusted for the 5% stock dividends declared in December 2005, 2004, and 2003, are shown below:

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic

 

2,222,996

 

2,278,093

 

2,318,471

 

Stock options

 

9,764

 

13,772

 

32,128

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

 

2,232,760

 

2,291,865

 

2,350,599

 

 

(l)                         Treasury Stock

 

Purchases of the Company’s common stock are recorded at cost. Upon reissuance, treasury stock is reduced based upon the average cost basis of shares held.

 

(m)                   Cash and cash equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks, interest-bearing deposits, and fed funds sold.

 

(n)                      Derivatives

 

The Company is exposed to market risk, including changes in interest rates and currency exchange rates. To manage the volatility relating to these exposures, the Company’s risk management policies permit its use of derivative products. The Company uses derivatives on a limited basis mainly to stabilize interest rate margins. The Company more often manages normal asset and liability positions by altering the terms of the products it offers.

 

34



 

Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended, requires that all derivative financial instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value, with the adjustment to fair value recorded in current earnings. Derivatives that qualify under the Statement in a hedging relationship are designated, based on the exposure being hedged, as fair value or cash flow hedges. Under the cash flow hedging model, the effective portion of the gain or loss related to the derivative is recognized as a component of other comprehensive income. The ineffective portion is recognized in current earnings. The Company had one outstanding interest rate swap accounted for as a cash flow hedge of December 31, 2005 and 2004.

 

(o)                      Reclassifications

 

Certain reclassifications to prior year amounts have been made to conform to the current year presentation.

 

(2)                     Acquisitions

 

On April 1, 2004, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of First Kansas Financial Corporation (“First Kansas”) for cash of $19.00 per share. First Kansas was a single thrift holding company based in Osawatomie, Kansas. The thrift was merged into the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Landmark National Bank, immediately following the acquisition. This acquisition expanded the Company’s presence in high-growth market areas, presenting the Company with potential for revenue generation and asset growth. At March 31, 2004, First Kansas had total assets of approximately $150 million, including loans and deposits of approximately $74 million and $84 million, respectively. The acquisition cost in excess of the tangible and identifiable intangible net assets acquired has been recorded as goodwill. In connection with the acquisition and the subsequent sale of two branches as described below, the Company recorded a core deposit intangible asset of $605,000, which is being amortized on an accelerated basis over ten years, and goodwill of approximately $5.7 million, none of which is deductible for tax purposes.

 

The Company sold its branches in Beloit and Phillipsburg, Kansas on August 13, 2004, and September 10, 2004, respectively. These branches had been acquired in the acquisition of First Kansas. Upon consummation of these transactions, the Company sold approximately $7.7 million in deposits and approximately $2.4 million in loans and premises and equipment associated with the Beloit branch and approximately $4.7 million in deposits and approximately $846,000 in loans and premises and equipment related to the Phillipsburg branch. The net proceeds received were recorded as an adjustment to the fair value of the net assets acquired from First Kansas, resulting in a reduction of goodwill and the core deposit intangible.

 

On August 19, 2005, the Company acquired two bank branches in Great Bend, Kansas resulting in the assumption of approximately $33.3 million in deposits and the related branch premises and equipment. The Company recorded a core deposit intangible asset of approximately $1.4 million, which is being amortized on an accelerated basis over 10 years.

 

35



 

(3)                     Investment Securities Available-for-Sale

 

A summary of investment securities information is as follows:

 

 

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

unrealized

 

unrealized

 

Estimated

 

 

 

cost

 

gains

 

losses

 

fair value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U. S. Government and agency obligations

 

$

44,231,752

 

1,739

 

(605,646

)

43,627,845

 

Municipal obligations

 

32,834,778

 

103,053

 

(557,732

)

32,380,099

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

53,587,668

 

259,285

 

(954,090

)

52,892,863

 

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

 

5,655,200

 

 

 

5,655,200

 

Common stocks

 

298,826

 

484,247

 

(8,325

)

774,748

 

Federal Reserve Bank stock

 

1,347,850

 

 

 

1,347,850

 

Corporate bonds

 

3,064,486

 

6,065

 

(35,414

)

3,035,137

 

Other investments

 

416,770

 

 

 

416,770

 

Total

 

$

141,437,330

 

854,389

 

(2,161,207

)

140,130,512

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

unrealized

 

unrealized

 

Estimated

 

 

 

cost

 

gains

 

losses

 

fair value

 

U. S. Government and agency obligations

 

$

33,703,700

 

38,250

 

(276,457

)

33,465,493

 

Municipal obligations

 

13,801,603

 

295,860

 

(82,624

)

14,014,839

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

74,667,732

 

733,185

 

(897,298

)

74,503,619

 

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

 

5,413,000

 

 

 

5,413,000

 

Common stocks

 

302,646

 

407,763

 

(754

)

709,655

 

Federal Reserve Bank stock

 

1,341,600

 

 

 

1,341,600

 

Corporate bonds

 

1,790,154

 

 

(27,375

)

1,762,779

 

Other investments

 

2,393,350

 

 

 

2,393,350

 

Total

 

$

133,413,785

 

1,475,058

 

(1,284,508

)

133,604,335

 

 

Included in investment securities available-for-sale are restricted stock investments in the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) and Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) that are required to be maintained by the Bank for regulatory purposes and borrowing availability. The cost of such investments represents their redemption value.

 

36



 

The tables above show that some of the securities in the available for sale investment portfolio had unrealized losses, or were temporarily impaired, as of December 31, 2005. This temporary impairment represents the estimated amount of loss that would be realized if the securities were sold on the valuation date. Securities which were temporarily impaired at December 31, 2005 are shown below, along with the length of the impairment period.

 

 

 

Less than 12 months

 

12 months or longer

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

Losses

 

Fair Value

 

Losses

 

Fair Value

 

Losses

 

U. S. Government and agency obligations

 

$

23,181,123

 

(344,658

)

19,050,775

 

(260,988

)

42,231,898

 

(605,646

)

Municipal obligations

 

22,637,470

 

(494,056

)

2,814,241

 

(63,676

)

25,451,711

 

(557,732

)

Mortgage-backed securities

 

13,108,237

 

(207,556

)

25,010,609

 

(746,534

)

38,118,846

 

(954,090

)

Corporate bonds

 

 

 

506,307

 

(35,414

)

506,307

 

(35,414

)

Common stocks

 

75,000

 

(8,325

)

 

 

75,000

 

(8,325

)

Total

 

$

59,001,830

 

(1,054,595

)

47,381,932

 

(1,106,612

)

106,383,762

 

(2,161,207

)

 

At December 31, 2005, the total investment portfolio consisted of over 430 securities. The table above includes 209 securities that were in an unrealized loss position. The decrease in fair value of the securities in an unrealized loss position is related to interest rate changes. None of the unrealized losses are related to credit deterioration. The Company has the intent and ability to hold these securities until market values recover, including up to the maturity date.

 

Maturities of investment securities at December 31, 2005 are as follows:

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Estimated

 

 

 

cost

 

fair value

 

Due in less than one year

 

$

22,543,137

 

22,348,466

 

Due after one year but within five years

 

33,667,275

 

33,227,646

 

Due after five years

 

23,920,604

 

23,466,969

 

Mortgage-backed securities, FHLB stock, FRB stock, common stock, and other investments

 

61,306,314

 

61,087,431

 

Total

 

$

141,437,330

 

140,130,512

 

 

For mortgage-backed securities, actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to prepay obligations with or without prepayment penalties. At December 31, 2005, the Company’s mortgage-backed securities portfolio consisted of securities predominantly underwritten to the standards and guaranteed by the government-sponsored agencies of FHLMC, FNMA and GNMA.

 

37



 

Gross realized gains and losses on sales of available-for-sale securities are as follows:

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Realized gains

 

$

47,075

 

358,385

 

551,038

 

Realized losses

 

(210

)

 

 

Total

 

$

46,865

 

358,385

 

551,038

 

 

At December 31, 2005 and 2004, securities pledged to secure public funds on deposit had a carrying value of approximately $84.0 million and $84.2 million, respectively. Except for U. S. government and agency obligations, no investment in a single issuer exceeded 10% of stockholders’ equity.

 

(4)                     Loans

 

Loans consist of the following:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Real estate loans:

 

 

 

 

 

One-to-four family residential

 

$

114,935,068

 

131,077,310

 

Commercial

 

78,085,127

 

77,207,618

 

Construction

 

12,355,759

 

11,233,964

 

Commercial loans

 

63,494,252

 

51,826,283

 

Consumer loans

 

8,841,766

 

9,014,411

 

Total

 

277,711,972

 

280,359,586

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred loan fees and loans in process

 

(5,256

)

52,020

 

Allowance for loan losses

 

3,151,373

 

2,893,603

 

Loans, net

 

$

274,565,855

 

277,413,963

 

 

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet customers’ financing needs. These financial instruments consist principally of commitments to extend credit. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. In the normal course of business, there are various commitments and contingent liabilities, such as guarantees, commitments to extend credit, letters of credit, and lines of credit, which are properly not recorded in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The Company generally requires collateral or other security on unfunded loan commitments and irrevocable letters of credit. Unfunded commitments to extend credit, excluding standby letters of credit, aggregated $54.1 million and

 

38



 

$38.5 million at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Standby letters of credit totaled $2.9 million and $2.2 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

The Company is exposed to varying risks associated with concentrations of credit relating primarily to lending activities in specific geographic areas. The Company’s principal lending area consists of the cities of Manhattan, Auburn, Dodge City, Garden City, Great Bend, Hoisington, LaCrosse, Osage City, Topeka, Wamego, Paola, Osawatomie, Louisburg, and Fort Scott, Kansas and the surrounding communities, and substantially all of the Company’s loans are to residents of or secured by properties located in its principal lending area. Accordingly, the ultimate collectibility of the Company’s loan portfolio is dependent in part upon market conditions in those areas. These geographic concentrations are considered in management’s establishment of the allowance for loan losses.

 

A summary of the activity in the allowance for loan losses is as follows:

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

2,893,603

 

2,315,870

 

2,565,201

 

Allowance of acquired bank

 

 

352,113

 

 

Provision for loan losses

 

385,000

 

460,000

 

240,000

 

Charge-offs

 

(222,379

)

(294,624

)

(553,768

)

Recoveries

 

95,149

 

60,244

 

64,437

 

Balance at end of year

 

$

3,151,373

 

2,893,603

 

2,315,870

 

 

At December 31, 2005 and 2004, impaired loans, including nonaccrual loans, aggregated $3.3 million and $1.1 million, respectively. The amount of interest income recorded on such loans during their impairment periods was not significant. There were no loans 90 days delinquent and still accruing interest at December 31, 2005 and 2004. Average impaired loans were $2.0 million for 2005, $1.5 million for 2004, and $1.1 million for 2003. Specific reserves related to these impaired loans at December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003 were $264,000, $157,000, and 120,000, respectively.

 

The Company serviced loans for others with outstanding principal balances of $107.2 million and $111.1 million at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Gross service fee income related to such loans was $276,000, $277,000, and $274,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively, and is included in fees and service charges in the consolidated statements of earnings.

 

39



 

The following is an analysis of the changes in mortgage servicing rights:

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

446,332

 

477,350

 

525,311

 

Additions

 

94,240

 

150,058

 

254,390

 

Amortization

 

(166,373

)

(181,076

)

(302,351

)

Balance at end of year

 

$

374,199

 

446,332

 

477,350

 

 

The Company had loans to directors and officers at December 31, 2005 and 2004, which carry terms similar to those for other loans. Management believes such outstanding loans do not represent more than a normal risk of collection. A summary of such loans is as follows:

 

Balance at December 31, 2004

 

$

5,569,097

 

New loans

 

64,802

 

Repayments

 

(662,500

)

Balance at December 31, 2005

 

$

4,971,399

 

 

(5)                     Premises and Equipment

 

Premises and equipment consisted of the following:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Land

 

$

1,608,351

 

1,306,023

 

Work in progress

 

1,801,835

 

179,620

 

Office buildings and improvements

 

6,418,709

 

5,498,984

 

Furniture and equipment

 

4,378,271

 

4,304,450

 

Automobiles

 

260,199

 

258,855

 

Total

 

14,467,365

 

11,547,932

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

6,055,130

 

5,683,674

 

Total

 

$

8,412,235

 

5,864,258

 

 

40



 

The Company has multi-year operating lease agreements for several of its branch locations. The following is the Company’s minimum lease commitments for the years ending December 31:

 

Year:

 

Amount

 

2006

 

$

55,760

 

2007

 

50,760

 

2008

 

50,760

 

2009

 

50,760

 

2010

 

6,160

 

Total

 

$

214,200

 

 

Total rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 was $134,000, $125,000, and $117,000, respectively, and was included in occupancy and equipment on the consolidated statements of earnings.

 

(6)                      Deposits

 

Maturities of time deposits were as follows at December 31, 2005:

 

Year:

 

Amount

 

2006

 

$

124,846,655

 

2007

 

17,163,698

 

2008

 

14,685,641

 

2009

 

3,012,031

 

2010

 

3,115,887

 

Thereafter

 

257,548

 

Total

 

$

163,081,460

 

 

Regulations of the Federal Reserve System require reserves to be maintained by all banking institutions according to the types and amounts of certain deposit liabilities. These requirements restrict a portion of the amounts shown as consolidated cash and due from banks from everyday usage in operation of the banks. The minimum reserve requirements for the Bank totaled $25,000 at December 31, 2005.

 

41



 

(7)                     Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings

 

Advances from the FHLB at December 31, 2005 and 2004, amounted to $63,212,318 and $77,553,321, respectively. Maturities of such borrowings at December 31, 2005, are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

Amount

 

Rates

 

Year ending December 31:

 

 

 

 

 

2006

 

$

5,500,000

 

4.25%– 5.62

%

2007

 

 

 

2008

 

4,000,000

 

4.36%– 4.74

%

2009

 

37,178,293

 

2.74%– 5.77

%

2010

 

11,050,457

 

2.47%– 2.47

%

Thereafter

 

5,483,568

 

3.76%– 6.37

%

 

 

$

63,212,318

 

 

 

 

Additionally, the Bank also has a line of credit, renewable annually each September, with the FHLB under which there were outstanding borrowings of $0 and $3.5 million at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Interest on any outstanding balances on the line of credit accrues at the federal funds rate plus 0.15% (4.40% at December 31, 2005).

 

Included in the table above is a $2.0 million advance with the FHLB which has a variable rate, adjustable quarterly, and matures in 2008 with no prepayment penalties. All of the Bank’s remaining advances with the FHLB have fixed rates and prepayment penalties. However, certain borrowings contain a convertible provision at which date the FHLB may exercise an option to convert the borrowing to a variable rate equal to the FHLB one month short-term advance rate. The Bank would then have the option to prepay the advances without penalty. Interest would adjust monthly through maturity upon conversion. The Bank may refinance the advance at each respective conversion date if the FHLB first exercises its option to convert the fixed-rate borrowing.

 

On August 22, 2005, the Company repaid FHLB advances with $10 million in outstanding principal acquired in the First Kansas acquisition prior to their scheduled maturities. The repayment resulted in $407,000 of gains on the repayment of borrowings as an adjustment to the fair value adjustment recorded on the date of acquisition from First Kansas. On September 26, 2005, the Company repaid another $5.0 million FHLB advance according to its scheduled maturity, resulting in no gain or loss.

 

Although no loans are specifically pledged, the FHLB requires the Bank to maintain eligible collateral (qualifying loans and investment securities) that has a lending value at least equal to its required collateral. At December 31, 2005, the Bank’s total borrowing capacity with the FHLB was approximately $89.2 million.

 

(8)                     Other Borrowings

 

In 2003, the Company issued $8.2 million of subordinated debentures. These debentures, which are due in 2034 and are redeemable beginning in 2009, were issued to a wholly owned grantor trust (“the Trust”) formed to issue preferred securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.

 

42



 

The Trust then invested the gross proceeds of such preferred securities in the debentures. The Trust’s preferred securities and the subordinated debentures require quarterly interest payments and have variable rates, adjustable quarterly. Interest accrues at LIBOR plus 2.85%. The interest rates at December 31, 2005 and 2004 were 7.09% and 5.01%, respectively.

 

In 2005, the Company issued an additional $8.2 million of subordinated debentures. These debentures, which are due in 2036 and are redeemable beginning in 2011, were issued to a wholly owned grantor trust (“Trust II”) formed to issue preferred securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Trust II. Trust II then invested the gross proceeds of such preferred securities in the debentures. Trust II’s preferred securities and the subordinated debentures require quarterly interest payments and have variable rates, adjustable quarterly. Interest accrues at LIBOR plus 1.34% on $5.2 million of the subordinated debentures, while the remaining $3.0 million of the subordinated debentures has a fixed rate of 6.17%. The blended interest rate at December 31, 2005 was 5.98%.

 

While these Trusts are accounted for as unconsolidated equity investments under the requirements of Financial Accounting Interpretation No. 46R, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, a portion of the trust preferred securities issued by the Trust qualifies as Tier 1 Capital for regulatory purposes.

 

The Company has a $9.0 million loan commitment from an unrelated financial institution. On April 1, 2004, the Company borrowed $7.0 million against this commitment to consummate the acquisition of First Kansas. The $9.0 million commitment was comprised of a $6.0 million line of credit and a $3.0 million term note with the interest rate adjusting daily based on the prime rate less 0.50%, both of which mature on March 31, 2009. In December 2005, the line of credit was amended to accrue interest at prime rate less 0.75%. The balance of the line of credit at December 31, 2005 and 2004, was $300,000 and $2.0 million, respectively, and is included in other borrowings. The remaining unused balance on this line of credit at December 31, 2005 was $5.7 million.

 

The Company has an interest rate swap in place effectively fixing the interest rate on $3.0 million of the variable rate term debt to a rate of 5.68%. This contract expires on March 31, 2009. During 2005 and 2004, this agreement resulted in additional interest expense of $0 and $39,000, respectively. The Company has applied cash flow hedge accounting to the swap agreement. Its fair value, aggregating $136,000 and $58,000 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, is recorded as a component of other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Also, included in accumulated other comprehensive income is approximately $84,000 and $36,000 related to the swap, net of taxes, at December 31, 2005 and 2004.

 

Additionally, the Bank had $2,250,000 and $250,000 in repurchase agreements outstanding and included in other borrowings at December 31, 2005 and 2004.

 

43



 

(9)                      Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense attributable to income from operations consisted of:

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

$

779,304

 

1,384,321

 

1,911,004

 

Deferred

 

879,613

 

625,904

 

364,465

 

 

 

$

1,658,917

 

2,010,225

 

2,275,469

 

Federal

 

$

1,401,319

 

1,733,031

 

1,994,836

 

State

 

257,598

 

277,194

 

280,633

 

 

 

$

1,658,917

 

2,010,225

 

2,275,469

 

 

Total income tax expense, including amounts allocated directly to stockholders equity, was as follows:

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

$

1,658,917

 

2,010,225

 

2,275,469

 

Stockholders’ equity, recognition of tax benefit for stock options exercised

 

(37,344

)

(135,511

)

(241,775

)

Stockholders’ equity, recognition of unrealized (losses)/gains on available-for-sale securities and interest rate swap

 

(539,360

)

(393,994

)

(675,442

)

 

 

$

1,082,213

 

1,480,720

 

1,358,252

 

 

The reasons for the difference between actual income tax expense and expected income tax expense attributable to income from operations at the 34% statutory federal income tax rate were as follows:

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Computed “expected” tax expense

 

$

1,889,067

 

2,128,734

 

2,423,236

 

Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax-exempt interest income, net

 

(294,489

)

(189,782

)

(156,473

)

Contributions to employee stock ownership plan

 

 

 

28,129

 

State income taxes, net of federal benefit

 

170,015

 

182,496

 

186,586

 

Investment tax credits

 

(125,000

)

(75,000

)

(125,000

)

Other, net

 

19,324

 

(36,223

)

(81,009

)

 

 

$

1,658,917

 

2,010,225

 

2,275,469

 

 

44



 

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to the significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities at the following dates were as follows:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

FHLB advances

 

$

1,097,775

 

1,881,218

 

Loans, including allowance for loan losses

 

821,574

 

670,284

 

Unrealized loss on investment securities available-for-sale and interest rate swap

 

444,911

 

 

Net operating loss carry forwards

 

500,103

 

762,886

 

Deferred compensation arrangements

 

315,223

 

355,624

 

State taxes

 

63,230

 

86,806

 

Accrued expenses

 

47,469

 

74,601

 

Total deferred tax assets

 

3,290,285

 

3,831,419

 

Less valuation allowance

 

105,919

 

62,062

 

Net deferred tax assets

 

3,184,366

 

3,769,357

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain on investment securities available-for-sale and interest rate swap

 

 

94,449

 

FHLB stock dividends

 

672,740

 

590,392

 

Investments

 

113,817

 

261,045

 

Intangible assets

 

167,215

 

211,245

 

Premises and equipment, net of depreciation

 

138,889

 

182,194

 

Other, net

 

5,658

 

3,731

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

1,098,318

 

1,343,056

 

Net deferred tax asset

 

$

2,086,048

 

2,426,301

 

 

The Company has recorded deferred taxes for temporary differences related to fair value adjustments on loans, investment securities, deposits, and borrowings recorded at the date of acquisition. In addition, the Company has also recorded a deferred tax asset for future benefits of net operating losses and alternative minimum tax credit carry forwards. The net operating loss carry forwards will expire, if not utilized, between 2014 and 2024. The alternative minimum tax credit carry forward does not expire. The Company has recorded a valuation allowance to reduce certain state net operating loss carry forwards which expire at various times through 2024. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the Company believes it is more likely than not that these items will not be realized. A valuation allowance related to the remaining deferred tax assets has not been provided because management believes it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred tax assets.

 

Retained earnings at December 31, 2005 and 2004, includes approximately $6.3 million for which no provision for federal income tax had been made. This amount represents allocations of income to bad debt deductions in years prior to 1988 for tax purposes only. Reduction of amounts allocated for purposes other

 

45



 

than tax bad debt losses will create income for tax purposes only, which will be subject to the then current corporate income tax rate.

 

(10)              Employee Benefit Plans

 

Employee Retirement Plan

 

Substantially all employees are covered under 401(k) defined contribution savings plan. Contributions of $190,000, $104,000 and $78,000 were charged to operations for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively.

 

Deferred Compensation and Retirement Agreements

 

The Company entered into deferred compensation and retirement agreements with certain key employees that provided for cash payments to be made after their retirement. The liabilities under these arrangements have been recorded at the present values of accrued benefits using a 2% discount rate. The Company has also entered into agreements with certain directors and officers to defer portions of their compensation. The balance of estimated accrued benefits under all of these arrangements was $943,000 and $993,000 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and was included as a component of other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. To assist in funding benefits under each of these plans, the Bank has purchased certain assets including life insurance policies on covered employees in which the Bank is the beneficiary. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the cash surrender values on the policies and other assets were $2.9 million and $3.0 million, respectively, and were included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

 

The Company established an ESOP in connection with its formation in 1994. The original acquisition of stock by the ESOP was funded by a loan from the Company to the ESOP. The loan, together with interest, was repaid over a ten-year period through annual contributions by the Bank. The Bank made annual contributions to the ESOP equal to the ESOP’s debt service less dividends received by the ESOP. All dividends received by the ESOP were used to pay debt service. The ESOP shares initially were pledged as collateral for its debt. As the debt was repaid, shares were released from the collateral and allocated to active employees based on the proportion of debt service paid in each year. ESOP compensation expense was $70,000 for the year ended December 31, 2003. The debt was fully repaid in 2003. Effective January 1, 2005, the ESOP was merged into the Company’s 401(k) defined contribution savings plan.

 

(11)              Stock Option Plan

 

The Company has a stock option plan, the purpose of which is to provide additional incentive to certain officers, directors, and key employees by facilitating their purchase of a stock interest in the Company. The plan is administered by the board of directors who selects employees to whom options are granted and the number of shares granted. The option price may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the shares on the date of the grant, and no option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the grant date. In the case of any employee who owns more than 10% of the outstanding common stock at the time the option is granted, the option price may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the shares on the date of the grant, and the option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the

 

46



 

grant date. Options outstanding at December 31, 2005 were exercisable at prices ranging from $11.94 to $27.74.

 

The Company records the fair value of options issued under the plan as expense in accordance with SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation. The compensation cost that has been charged to compensation and benefits expense for the plan was $98,000, $108,000 and $1,700 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively. The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant. The fair value of options granted in 2005 were estimated utilizing the following assumptions: dividend rate of 4.8%, volatility of 18.0%, risk-free interest rate of 4.3%, and expected lives of five years, resulting in a fair value of $3.40 per option at grant date. The fair value of options granted in 2004 were estimated utilizing the following assumptions: dividend rate of 4.8%, volatility of 19.0%, risk-free interest rate of 3.2%, and expected lives of five years, resulting in a fair value of $3.14 per option at grant date. There were no options granted in 2003.

 

Certain information relative to stock options is as follows:

 

 

 

Year ended

 

Year ended

 

Year ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2005

 

December 31, 2004

 

December 31, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

average

 

 

 

average

 

 

 

average

 

 

 

 

 

exercise

 

 

 

exercise

 

 

 

exercise

 

 

 

Shares

 

price

 

Shares

 

price

 

Shares

 

price

 

Outstanding at beginning of year

 

131,287

 

$

24.04

 

61,366

 

$

13.17

 

109,274

 

$

11.97

 

Granted

 

2,100

 

29.13

 

87,996

 

29.20

 

 

 

Effect of 5% stock dividend

 

6,062

 

 

6,336

 

 

3,289

 

 

Expired

 

 

 

 

 

(1,255

)

16.76

 

Exercised

 

(12,109

)

16.19

 

(24,411

)

9.08

 

(49,942

)

9.60

 

Outstanding at end of year

 

127,340

 

$

23.73

 

131,287

 

$

24.04

 

61,366

 

$

13.17

 

Exercisable at end of year

 

47,016

 

$

19.07

 

37,921

 

$

15.07

 

59,977

 

$

13.10

 

Weighted-average contractual remaining life in years

 

 

 

7.38

 

 

 

7.98

 

 

 

3.94

 

 

The number of shares available for future grants at December 31, 2005 was 274,645.

 

47



 

(12)              Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Fair value estimates of the Company’s financial instruments as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, including methods and assumptions utilized, are set forth below:

 

 

 

December 31,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

 

 

Carrying

 

Estimated

 

Carrying

 

Estimated

 

 

 

amount

 

fair value

 

amount

 

fair value

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

21,490,512

 

21,491,000

 

7,845,438

 

7,845,000

 

Investment securities

 

$

140,130,512

 

140,131,000

 

133,604,335

 

133,604,000

 

Loans, net of unearned fees and allowance for loan losses

 

$

274,565,855

 

275,979,000

 

277,413,963

 

274,823,000

 

Loans held for sale

 

$

1,163,211

 

1,177,000

 

846,003

 

862,000

 

Non-interest bearing demand deposits

 

$

38,365,040

 

38,365,000

 

28,549,224

 

28,549,000

 

Money market and NOW deposits

 

103,728,104

 

103,728,000

 

96,607,511

 

96,608,000

 

Savings deposits

 

26,098,127

 

26,098,000

 

23,221,065

 

23,221,000

 

Time deposits

 

163,081,460

 

162,595,000

 

154,489,921

 

154,870,000

 

Total deposits

 

$

331,272,731

 

330,786,000

 

302,867,721

 

303,248,000

 

FHLB advances

 

$

63,212,318

 

63,281,000

 

81,053,321

 

79,963,000

 

Other borrowings

 

$

22,046,000

 

22,046,000

 

13,518,000

 

13,518,000

 

 

Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments

 

The fair value of letters of credit and commitments to extend credit is based on the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements. The aggregate of these fees is not material. These instruments are also discussed in note 17 on “Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees.”

 

Methods and Assumptions Utilized

 

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, repurchase agreements, federal funds sold, and accrued interest receivable and payable are considered to approximate fair value.

 

The estimated fair value of investment securities, except certain obligations of states and political subdivisions, is based on bid prices published in financial newspapers or bid quotations received from securities dealers. The fair value of certain obligations of states and political subdivisions is not readily available through market sources other than dealer quotations, so fair value estimates are based upon quoted market prices of similar instruments, adjusted for differences between the quoted instruments and the instruments being valued.

 

48



 

The estimated fair value of the Company’s loan portfolio is based on the segregation of loans by collateral type, interest terms, and maturities. In estimating the fair value of each category of loans, the carrying amount of the loan is reduced by an allocation of the allowance for loan losses. Such allocation is based on management’s loan classification system which is designed to measure the credit risk inherent in each classification category. The estimated fair value of performing variable rate loans is the carrying value of such loans, reduced by an allocation of the allowance for loan losses. The estimated fair value of performing fixed rate loans is calculated by discounting scheduled cash flows through the estimated maturity using estimated market discount rates that reflect the interest rate risk inherent in the loan, reduced by an allocation of the allowance for loan losses. The estimate of maturity is based on the Company’s historical experience with repayments for each loan classification, modified, as required, by an estimate of the effect of current economic and lending conditions. The fair value for nonperforming loans is the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral based on recent external appraisals or other available information, which generally approximates carrying value, reduced by an allocation of the allowance for loan losses.

 

The fair value of loans held for sale is estimated utilizing forward sales commitments or dealer quotations.

 

The estimated fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as non-interest bearing demand deposits, savings, money market accounts, and NOW accounts, is equal to the amount payable on demand. The fair value of interest-bearing time deposits is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows of such deposits. The discount rate is estimated using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.

 

The fair value of advances from the FHLB is estimated using current rates offered for similar borrowings. The fair values of other variable rate borrowings approximate the carrying value.

 

Limitations

 

Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market information and information about the financial instruments. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Company’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a significant portion of the Company’s financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment, and, therefore, cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates. Fair value estimates are based on existing balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments.

 

(13)              Regulatory Capital Requirements

 

Current regulatory capital regulations require financial institutions to meet certain regulatory capital requirements. Institutions are required to have minimum leverage capital equal to 4% of total average assets and total qualifying capital equal to 8% of total risk-weighted assets in order to be considered “adequately capitalized.” As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, the Company and the Bank were rated “well capitalized,” which is the highest rating available under this capital-based rating system. Management

 

49



 

believes that as of December 31, 2005, the Company and the Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject. The following is a comparison of the Bank’s regulatory capital to minimum capital requirements at December 31, 2005 and 2004, (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For capital

 

To be well-
capitalized under prompt

 

 

 

Actual

 

adequacy purposes

 

corrective action provisions

 

 

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

As of December 31, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)

 

$

48,071

 

16.32

%

$

>23,568

> 

8

%

$

>29,461

> 

10

%

Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

 

44,920

 

15.25

%

>11,784

> 

4

 

>17,676

> 

6

 

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

 

44,920

 

10.14

%

>17,728

> 

4

 

>22,160

> 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2004:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)

 

$

48,700

 

17.98

%

$

>21,673

> 

8

%

$

>27,091

> 

10

%

Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

 

45,806

 

16.91

%

>10,836

> 

4

 

>16,255

> 

6

 

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

 

45,806

 

10.40

%

>17,624

> 

4

 

>22,030

> 

5

 

 

The following is a comparison of the Company’s regulatory capital to minimum capital requirements at December 31, 2005 and 2004 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be well-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For capital

 

capitalized under prompt

 

 

 

Actual

 

adequacy purposes

 

corrective action provisions

 

 

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

As of December 31, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)

 

$

54,829

 

18.55

%

$

>23,647

> 

8

%

$

>29,559

> 

10

%

Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

 

51,678

 

17.48

%

>11,823

> 

4

 

>17,735

> 

6

 

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

 

51,678

 

11.61

%

>17,800

> 

4

 

>22,250

> 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2004:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)

 

$

44,567

 

16.42

%

$

>21,716

> 

8

%

$

>27,146

> 

10

%

Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

 

41,673

 

15.35

%

>10,858

> 

4

 

>16,287

> 

6

 

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

 

41,673

 

9.41

%

>17,714

> 

4

 

>22,143

> 

5

 

 

50



 

(14)              Parent Company Condensed Financial Statements

 

The following is condensed financial information of the parent company as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and for years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003 (dollars in thousands):

 

Condensed Balance Sheets

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

8,011

 

40

 

Investment securities

 

1,133

 

1,065

 

Investment in Bank

 

53,432

 

54,261

 

Other

 

1,800

 

571

 

Total assets

 

$

64,376

 

55,937

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowed funds

 

$

19,796

 

13,268

 

Other

 

507

 

500

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

44,073

 

42,169

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

64,376

 

55,937

 

 

Condensed Statements of Earnings

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Dividends from Bank

 

$

4,457

 

5,105

 

3,424

 

Interest income

 

43

 

70

 

75

 

Other income

 

53

 

316

 

559

 

Interest expense

 

(770

)

(542

)

(4

)

Other expense, net

 

(189

)

(196

)

(198

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before equity in undistributed earnings of Bank

 

3,594

 

4,753

 

3,856

 

(Decrease)/increase in undistributed equity of Bank

 

6

 

(625

)

1,097

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

3,600

 

4,128

 

4,953

 

Income tax (benefit)/expense

 

(297

)

(123

)

101

 

Net earnings

 

$

3,897

 

4,251

 

4,852

 

 

51



 

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

3,897

 

4,251

 

4,852

 

Decrease/(increase) in undistributed equity of Bank

 

(6

)

625

 

(1,097

)

Other

 

(1,247

)

1,364

 

(1,789

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

2,644

 

6,240

 

1,966

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of investment securities available-for-sale

 

(112

)

(551

)

 

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities available-for-sale

 

160

 

926

 

1,252

 

Cash paid in acquisition of First Kansas

 

 

(17,502

)

 

Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities

 

48

 

(17,127

)

1,252

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of shares under stock option plan

 

196

 

221

 

479

 

Proceeds from other borrowings

 

9,998

 

9,555

 

8,248

 

Repayments on other borrowings

 

(3,470

)

(4,535

)

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 

(1

)

(3,055

)

(1,871

)

Payment of dividends

 

(1,444

)

(1,421

)

(1,331

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

5,279

 

765

 

5,525

 

Net (decrease)/increase in cash

 

7,971

 

(10,122

)

8,743

 

Cash at beginning of year

 

40

 

10,162

 

1,419

 

Cash at end of year

 

$

8,011

 

40

 

10,162

 

 

Dividends paid by the Company are provided through subsidiary bank dividends. At December 31, 2005, the Bank could distribute dividends of up to $478,000 without regulatory approvals.

 

52



 

(15)              Stockholders’ Rights Plan

 

On October 11, 2001, the Company’s board of directors adopted a stockholders’ rights plan (the Rights Plan). The Rights Plan provided for the distribution of one right on February 13, 2002, for each share of the Company’s outstanding common stock as of February 1, 2002. The rights have no immediate economic value to stockholders because they cannot be exercised unless and until a person, group or entity acquires 15% or more of the Company’s common stock or announces a tender offer. The Rights Plan also permits the Company’s board of directors to redeem each right for one cent under various circumstances. In general, the Rights Plan provides that if a person, group or entity acquires a 15% or larger stake in the Company or announces a tender offer, and the Company’s board of directors chooses not to redeem the rights, all holders of rights, other than the 15% stockholder or the tender offeror, will be able to purchase a certain amount of the Company’s common stock for half of its market price.

 

(16)              Intangible Assets

 

The following table presents information about the Company’s intangible assets:

 

 

 

December 31, 2005

 

December 31, 2004

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

carrying

 

Accumulated

 

carrying

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

amount

 

amortization

 

amount

 

amortization

 

Amortizing intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Core deposit premium

 

$

2,818,602

 

(774,588

)

1,385,000

 

(491,501

)

Mortgage servicing rights

 

775,666

 

(401,467

)

766,891

 

(320,559

)

Total

 

$

3,594,268

 

(1,176,055

)

2,151,891

 

(812,060

)

 

Aggregate amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, was $449,000, $375,000 and $426,000, respectively. The following is estimated amortization expense for the years ending December 31:

 

Year:

 

Amount

 

2006

 

$

604,000

 

2007

 

553,000

 

2008

 

336,000

 

2009

 

271,000

 

2010

 

219,000

 

 

53



 

(17)              Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees

 

Commitments to extend credit are legally binding agreements to lend to a borrower providing there are no violations of any conditions established in the contract. The Company, as a provider of financial services, routinely issues financial guarantees in the form of financial and performance commercial and standby letters of credit. As many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment does not necessarily represent future cash requirements (see Note 4).

 

The Company guarantees payments to holders of certain trust preferred securities issued by wholly owned grantor trusts. The securities are due in 2034 and 2036 and are redeemable beginning in 2009 and 2011. The maximum potential future payments guaranteed by the Company, which includes future interest and principal payments through maturity, was approximately $48.2 million at December 31, 2005. At December 31, 2005, the Company had a recorded liability of $16.6 million of principal and accrued interest to date, representing amounts owed to the Trust.

 

There are no pending legal proceedings to which the Company or the Bank is a party other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the Bank’s business. While the ultimate outcome of current legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of management that the resolution of these legal actions should not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

(18)               Pending Acquisition

 

The Company announced the completion of the acquisition of First Manhattan Bancorporation, Inc. (FMB) effective January 1, 2006. The thrift was merged into the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Landmark National Bank, immediately following the acquisition. This acquisition expanded our market share in Manhattan and further expanded the Company’s presence in higher-growth market areas. At December 31, 2005, FMB had total assets of $129 million, including loans and deposits of $109 million and $107 million, respectively. The Company paid $12.9 million for all of the outstanding stock of FMB. In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded a core deposit intangible asset of $2.6 million, which is being amortized on an accelerated basis over 10 years, and goodwill of approximately $5.5 million, none of which is deductible for tax purposes. Pro forma information for the year ended December 31, 2005, as if the acquisition was consummated January 1, 2005 is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

 

Revenue

 

$

29,378

 

Net earnings

 

4,101

 

Basic earnings per share

 

1.84

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

1.84

 

 

54



 

CORPORATE INFORMATION

 

DIRECTORS OF LANDMARK BANCORP, INC. AND LANDMARK NATIONAL BANK

 

Larry Schugart, Chairman

Former President and Chief Executive Officer

Landmark Bancshares, Inc.

 

Patrick L. Alexander

President and Chief Executive Officer

Landmark Bancorp, Inc. and Landmark National Bank

 

Richard A. Ball

CPA

Ball Consulting Group, Ltd.

 

Brent A. Bowman

Vice President

Bowman Bowman and Novick, Inc.

   Architects and Landscape Architects

 

Joseph L. Downey

Retired Senior Vice President, Director and Executive Officer

Dow Chemical Company

 

Jim W. Lewis

Owner, Various Automobile Dealerships

 

Jerry R. Pettle

Retired Dentist

Dental Associates of Manhattan, P.A.

 

Susan E. Roepke

Retired Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, MNB Bancshares, Inc.

Retired Senior Vice President/Secretary/Cashier, Security National Bank

 

C. Duane Ross

President

High Plains Publishers, Inc.

 

David H. Snapp

Law Partner

Waite, Snapp & Doll

 

55



 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

 

Patrick L. Alexander

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Mark A. Herpich

Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF LANDMARK NATIONAL BANK

 

Patrick L. Alexander

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Mark A. Herpich

Executive Vice President, Secretary and Cashier

 

Michael E. Scheopner

Executive Vice President, Credit Risk Manager

 

Dean R. Thibault

Executive Vice President – Commercial Lending

 

Larry R. Heyka

Market President - Manhattan

 

Mark J. Oliphant

Market President - Dodge City

 

STOCK PRICE INFORMATION

 

Our common stock has traded on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol “LARK” since 2001. At December 31, 2005, the Company had approximately 1,090 stockholders, consisting of approximately 450 owners of record and approximately 640 beneficial owners of our common stock. Set forth below are the reported high and low bid prices of the common stock and dividends paid during the past two years. Information presented below has been adjusted to give effect to the 5% stock dividends declared in December 2005 and 2004.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005

 

High

 

Low

 

Dividends

 

First Quarter

 

$

29.04

 

$

27.14

 

$

0.1619

 

Second Quarter

 

29.05

 

23.43

 

0.1619

 

Third Quarter

 

25.20

 

22.63

 

0.1619

 

Fourth Quarter

 

24.95

 

21.00

 

0.1619

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

Year Ended December 31, 2004

 

High

 

Low

 

Dividends

 

First Quarter

 

$

27.87

 

$

24.67

 

$

0.1542

 

Second Quarter

 

28.44

 

25.40

 

0.1542

 

Third Quarter

 

28.44

 

25.24

 

0.1542

 

Fourth Quarter

 

28.13

 

25.68

 

0.1542

 

 

56



 

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS

 

701 Poyntz Avenue

Manhattan, Kansas 66502

 

ANNUAL MEETING

 

The annual meeting of stockholders will be held at the Kansas State University Alumni Center, 17th and Anderson Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas, on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 2:00 PM.

 

FORM 10-K

 

A copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may be obtained by stockholders without charge on written request to Patrick L. Alexander, President and Chief Executive Officer, Landmark Bancorp, Inc., P.O. Box 308, Manhattan, Kansas 66505-0308, or by accessing our website at www.landmarkbancorpinc.com or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT

 

Registrar and Transfer Company

10 Commerce Drive

Cranford, NJ 07016-3572

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

KPMG LLP

1000 Walnut, Suite 1000

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

 

57


EX-21.1 6 a06-2144_1ex21d1.htm SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

 

EXHIBIT 21.1

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

 

The only significant subsidiary of the Company is Landmark National Bank, a national banking association with its main office located in Manhattan, Kansas, and with branch offices, including the acquisition of FMB on January 1, 2006, located in Auburn, Dodge City (2), Fort Scott, Garden City, Great Bend (2), Hoisington, Junction City, LaCrosse, Lawrence, Louisburg, Manhattan, Osage City, Osawatomie, Paola, Topeka and Wamego, Kansas. The Company also owns all of the common securities of Landmark Capital Trust I and Landmark Capital Trust II, which were formed to issue trust preferred securities in a private placement.

 

1


EX-23.1 7 a06-2144_1ex23d1.htm CONSENTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

 

EXHIBIT 23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Board of Directors

Landmark Bancorp, Inc.:

 

We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement No. 333-103091 on Form S-8 of Landmark Bancorp, Inc. of our report dated March 29, 2006, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Landmark Bancorp, Inc. as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2005, which report appears in the December 31, 2005 annual report on Form 10-K of Landmark Bancorp, Inc.

 

 

/s/ KPMG LLP

 

 

 

Kansas City, Missouri

March 29, 2006

 

 

1


 

EX-31.1 8 a06-2144_1ex31d1.htm 302 CERTIFICATION

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Patrick L. Alexander, certify that:

 

1.                                       I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Landmark Bancorp, Inc.;

 

2.                                       Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

3.                                       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                                       The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)                                  designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)                                 [intentionally omitted]

 

(c)                                  evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)                                 disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.                                       The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)                                  all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)                                 any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:    March 29, 2006

 

/s/ Patrick L. Alexander

 

 

 

Patrick L. Alexander

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

1


 

EX-31.2 9 a06-2144_1ex31d2.htm 302 CERTIFICATION

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Mark A. Herpich, certify that:

 

1.                                       I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Landmark Bancorp, Inc.;

 

2.                                       Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

3.                                       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                                       The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)                                  designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)                                 [intentionally omitted]

 

(c)                                  evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)                                 disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.                                       The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)                                  all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)         any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:    March 29, 2006

/s/ Mark A. Herpich

 

 

Mark A. Herpich

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

1


 

EX-32.1 10 a06-2144_1ex32d1.htm 906 CERTIFICATION

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the annual report of Landmark Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Patrick L. Alexander, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

 

 

/s/ Patrick L. Alexander

 

Patrick L. Alexander

Chief Executive Officer

March 29, 2006

 

1


 

EX-32.2 11 a06-2144_1ex32d2.htm 906 CERTIFICATION

 

Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the annual report of Landmark Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Mark A. Herpich, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

 

 

/s/ Mark A. Herpich

 

Mark A. Herpich

Chief Financial Officer

March 29, 2006

 

1


 

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