ex3.htm

EX-3 2 ex3.htm EXHIBIT 3 ex3.htm

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Conformed Copy)

ARTICLE I

CORPORATE NAME

The name of the corporation is Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II

CORPORATE PURPOSE

The purpose for which the Corporation is organized is to engage in any activity within the purposes for which corporations may be organized under the New Jersey Business Corporation Act (the “Act”).

ARTICLE III

CAPITAL STOCK

(A) The total authorized capital stock of the Corporation shall be 21,500,000 shares, consisting of 21,000,000 shares of common stock and 500,000 shares of preferred stock which may be issued in one or more classes or series. The shares of common stock shall constitute a single class and shall be without nominal or par value. The shares of preferred stock of each class or series shall be without nominal or par value, except that the amendment authorizing the initial issuance of any class or series, adopted by the Board of Directors as provided herein, may provide that shares of any class or series shall have a specified par value per share, in which event all of the shares of such class or series shall have the par value per share so specified.

(B) The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized from time to time to adopt and to cause to be executed and filed without further approval of the shareholders amendments to this Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizing the issuance of one or more classes or series of preferred stock for such consideration as the Board of Directors may fix. In an amendment authorizing any class or series of preferred stock, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to determine:

(a) The distinctive designation of the class or series and the number of shares which will constitute the class or series, which number may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares then outstanding in that class or above the total shares authorized herein) from time to time by action of the Board of Directors;

(b) The dividend rate on the shares of the class or series, whether dividends will be cumulative, and, if so, from what date or dates;

(c) The price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the class or series may be redeemed at the option of the Corporation;

(d) Whether or not the shares of the class or series will be entitled to the benefit of a retirement or sinking fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares and, if so entitled, the amount of such fund and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;

(e) Whether or not the shares of the class or series will be convertible into, or exchangeable for, any other shares of stock of the Corporation or other securities, and if so convertible or exchangeable, the conversion price or prices, or the rates of exchange, and any adjustments thereof, at which such conversion or exchange may be made, and any other terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;

(f) The rights of the shares of the class or series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation;

(g) Whether or not the shares of the class or series will have priority over, parity with, or be junior to the shares of any other class or series in any respect, whether or not the shares of the class or series will be entitled to the benefit of limitations restricting the issuance of shares of any other class or series having priority over or on parity with the shares of such class or series and whether or not the shares of the class or series are entitled to restrictions on the payment of dividends on, the making of other distributions in respect of, and the purchase or redemption of shares of any other class or series of preferred stock or common stock ranking junior to the shares of the class or series;

(h) Whether the class or series will have voting rights, in addition to any voting rights provided by law, and if so, the terms of such voting rights; and

(i) Any other preferences, qualifications, privileges, options and other relative or special rights and limitations of that class or series.

(C) Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A. A series of preferred stock of the Corporation is created out of the authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock of the Corporation, and the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

(a) Designation and Number of Shares. The shares of such series shall be designated as the “Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A” (the “Senior Preferred Stock”). The authorized number of shares of Senior Preferred Stock shall be 28,685.

(b) Standard Provisions. The Standard Provisions contained in Annex A attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.

(c) Definitions. The following terms are used in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including the Standard Provisions in Annex A hereto) as defined below:

(i) “Common Stock” means the common stock, no par value per share, of the Corporation.

(ii) “Dividend Payment Date” means February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year.

(iii) “Junior Stock” means the Common Stock, and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation the terms of which expressly provide that it ranks junior to Senior Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

(iv) “Liquidation Amount” means $1,000 per share of Senior Preferred Stock.

(v) “Minimum Amount” means $7,171,250.

(vi) “Parity Stock” means any class or series of stock of the Corporation (other than Senior Preferred Stock) the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior or junior to Senior Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation (in each case without regard to whether dividends accrue cumulatively or non-cumulatively).

(vii) “Signing Date” means January 9, 2009.

(d) Certain Voting Matters. Holders of shares of Senior Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each such share on any matter on which holders of Senior Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, including any action by written consent.

ARTICLE IV

REGISTERED AGENT AND REGISTERED ADDRESS

The address of the Corporation's current registered office is 158 Route 206 North, Gladstone, New Jersey 07934, and the name of the Corporation’s current registered agent at such address is Frank A. Kissel.

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The number of directors constituting the current Board of Directors of the Corporation is eleven (11), and the names and addresses of the persons who are currently serving as such directors are:

Name	Address

Anthony J. Consi, II	158 Route 206 North
	Gladstone, NJ 07934

Pamela Hill	158 Route 206 North
	Gladstone, NJ 07934

Frank A. Kissel	158 Route 206 North
	Gladstone, NJ 07934

John D. Kissel	158 Route 206 North
	Gladstone, NJ 07934

James R. Lamb	158 Route 206 North
	Gladstone, NJ 07934

Edward A. Merton	158 Route 206 North
	Gladstone, NJ 07934

F. Duffield Meyercord	158 Route 206 North
	Gladstone, NJ 07934

John R. Mulcahy	158 Route 206 North
	Gladstone, NJ 07934

Robert M. Rogers	158 Route 206 North
	Gladstone, NJ 07934

Philip W. Smith, III	158 Route 206 North
	Gladstone, NJ 07934

Craig C. Spengeman	158 Route 206 North
	Gladstone, NJ 07934

The number of directors shall be governed by the by-laws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VI

EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

No director or officer of the Corporation, or of a subsidiary of the Corporation, shall be personally liable to the Corporation or to its shareholders for damages for breach of any duty owed to the Corporation

or its shareholders unless such breach of duty is based on an act or omission (a) in breach of such person’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation (and/or its subsidiary) or its shareholders; (b) not in good faith or involving a knowing violation of law; or (c) resulting in receipt by such person of an improper benefit.

Unless expressly prohibited by law, the Corporation shall indemnify a director or officer of the Corporation or of a subsidiary of the Corporation against his reasonable expenses and all liabilities in connection with any proceeding involving that director or officer of the Corporation or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation, including a proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation or its wholly-owned subsidiary, unless such breach of duty is based on an act or omission (a) in breach of such person’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders; (b) not in good faith or involving a knowing violation of law; or (c) resulting in receipt by such person of an improper personal benefit. The Corporation shall advance or pay those reasonable expenses incurred by such director or officer in a proceeding as and when incurred, provided, however, that the director or officer shall, as a condition to receipt of such advances, undertake to repay all amounts advanced if it shall finally be adjudicated that the breach of duty by the director or officer was based upon an act or omission (a) in breach of such person’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation (and/or its subsidiary) or its stockholders; (b) not in good faith or involving a knowing violation of law; or (c) resulting in receipt by such person of an improper personal benefit.

ARTICLE VII

SHAREHOLDER VOTE ON CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

In addition to any affirmative vote required by law or this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and except as set forth below, the affirmative vote of the holders of 80% of each class of stock of the Corporation, entitled to vote in elections of directors, shall be required for all of the following:

(i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other corporation, banking institution, person or entity; or

(ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or series of transactions) of assets or of the deposit liabilities of the Corporation which, in the case of either assets or of deposit liabilities, total 10% or more of the value of the assets or of the deposit liabilities of the Corporation on a consolidated basis to any other corporation, banking institution, person or entity; or

(iii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to the Corporation of any assets of any other corporation, banking institution, person or entity in exchange for voting securities (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for voting securities or any options, warrants or rights to purchase any of the same) of the bank constituting (after giving effect to any conversion, exchange or right) 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation; or

(iv) any reclassification of securities, or recapitalization of the Corporation proposed by, on behalf of or pursuant to any arrangement with any other corporation, banking institution, person or entity which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding securities of the Corporation of which that other corporation, banking institution, person or entity is the beneficial owner; or

(v) the issuance (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to any other corporation, banking institution, person or entity, of voting securities (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for voting securities or any options, warrants or rights to purchase any of the same) of the Corporation

constituting (after giving effect to any conversion, exchange or right) 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation; or

(vi) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation proposed by, on behalf of or pursuant to any arrangement with any other corporation, banking institution, person or entity;

if, in any such case, as of the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice thereof and to vote thereon or consent thereto, such other corporation, banking institution, person or entity is: (a) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors or the assignee of, or otherwise the successor to, any shares of such stock of the Corporation from a corporation, banking institution, person or entity which within the two-year period immediately prior to such record date was a more than 5% beneficial owner (where any such assignment or succession occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public offering within the meaning of that term under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended); or (b) is an affiliate (as defined subsequently in this Article) of the Corporation and at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to such record date was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors. Such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that a lesser percentage may be specified, by law or in an agreement, if any, with any national securities exchange or otherwise.

For the purpose, but only for the purpose of determining whether a corporation, banking institution, person or other entity is “the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in elections of directors,” within this Article: (x) any corporation, banking institution, person or other entity shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any shares of stock of the Corporation (i) which it has the right to acquire pursuant to any agreement, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, or (ii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly (including shares deemed owned through application of clause (i), above), by any other corporation, person or entity with which it or its “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined below) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of stock of the Corporation, or which is its “affiliate” or “associate” as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect on August 14, 1997; and (y) the outstanding shares of any class of stock of the Corporation shall include shares deemed owned through application of clauses (i) and (ii) above.

The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Article on the basis of information known to the Corporation, whether: (i) such other corporation, banking institution, person or other entity beneficially owns more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in elections of directors, (ii) a corporation, banking institution, person or entity is an “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined above) of another, and (iii) the value of any assets or of deposit liabilities of the Corporation’s proposed sales, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition exceed 10% of the Corporation’s assets or deposit liabilities, as the case may be. Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Article.

The provisions of this Article shall not be applicable to: (i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other banking institution or corporation, or any sale or lease of assets or deposit liabilities of the Corporation to, or any sale or lease to the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof in exchange for securities of the Corporation of any assets of, any other corporation, banking institution, person or entity, if at least two-thirds of the members of the entire Board of Directors of the Corporation

shall, by resolution, have approved such transaction prior to the time that such other corporation, banking institution, person or entity shall have become the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in elections of directors; or (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof into or with, or any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of the assets of the Corporation to, any other banking institution or corporation of which a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes of stock entitled to vote in elections of directors is owned of record or beneficially by the Corporation and its subsidiaries (if any) and so long as, if the Corporation is not the surviving banking institution, each beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation receives the same type of consideration in such transaction and the provisions of this Article are continued in effect or adopted by such surviving banking institution as part of its certificate of incorporation (and its certificate of incorporation has no provisions inconsistent with this Article as continued or adopted) or (iii) any transaction involving the Corporation or its assets or deposit liabilities required or ordered by any Federal or state regulatory agency; provided the Board of Directors referred to in (i) of this paragraph passing upon such transaction shall be comprised of a majority of continuing directors, i.e., members of such Board who were elected by the stockholders of the Corporation prior to that time, that any such stockholder became the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 5% of any class of the stock of the Corporation, entitled to vote in elections of directors, or who were appointed to succeed a continuing director by a majority of continuing directors.

No amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall amend, alter, change or repeal any of the provisions of this Article unless the amendment effecting such amendment, alteration, change or repeal shall receive the affirmative vote of the holders of 80% of each class of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in elections of directors.

ANNEX A

STANDARD PROVISIONS

Section 1. General Matters. Each share of Senior Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Senior Preferred Stock. The Senior Preferred Stock shall be perpetual, subject to the provisions of Section 5 of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations. The Senior Preferred Stock shall rank equally with Parity Stock and shall rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation.

Section 2. Standard Definitions. As used herein with respect to Senior Preferred Stock:

(a) “Applicable Dividend Rate” means (i) during the period from the Original Issue Date to, but excluding, the first day of the first Dividend Period commencing on or after the fifth anniversary of the Original Issue Date, 5% per annum and (ii) from and after the first day of the first Dividend Period commencing on or after the fifth anniversary of the Original Issue Date, 9% per annum.

(b) “Appropriate Federal Banking Agency” means the “appropriate Federal banking agency” with respect to the Corporation as defined in Section 3(q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1813(q)), or any successor provision.

(c) “Business Combination” means a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar transaction that requires the approval of the Corporation’s stockholders.

(d) “Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.

(e) “Bylaws” means the bylaws of the Corporation, as they may be amended from time to time.

(f) “Certificate of Designations” means the Certificate of Designations or comparable instrument relating to the Senior Preferred Stock, of which these Standard Provisions form a part, as it may be amended from time to time.

(g) “Charter” means the Corporation’s certificate or articles of incorporation, articles of association, or similar organizational document.

(h) “Dividend Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

(i) “Dividend Record Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

(j) “Liquidation Preference” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

(k) “Original Issue Date” means the date on which shares of Senior Preferred Stock are first issued.

(l) “Preferred Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

(m) “Preferred Stock” means any and all series of preferred stock of the Corporation, including the Senior Preferred Stock.

(n) “Qualified Equity Offering” means the sale and issuance for cash by the Corporation to persons other than the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries after the Original Issue Date of shares of perpetual Preferred Stock, Common Stock or any combination of such stock, that, in each case, qualify as and may be included in Tier 1 capital of the Corporation at the time of issuance under the applicable risk-based capital guidelines of the Corporation’s Appropriate Federal Banking Agency (other than any such sales and issuances made pursuant to agreements or arrangements entered into, or pursuant to financing plans which were publicly announced, on or prior to November 17, 2008).

(o) “Share Dilution Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).

(p) “Standard Provisions” mean these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations relating to the Senior Preferred Stock.

(q) “Successor Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

(r) “Voting Parity Stock” means, with regard to any matter as to which the holders of Senior Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as specified in Sections 7(a) and 7(b) of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations, any and all series of Parity Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable with respect to such matter.

Section 3. Dividends.

(a) Rate. Holders of Senior Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, on each share of Senior Preferred Stock if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, but only out of assets legally available therefor, cumulative cash dividends with respect to each Dividend Period (as defined below) at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Dividend Rate on (i) the Liquidation Amount per share of Senior Preferred Stock and (ii) the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends for any prior Dividend Period on such share of Senior Preferred Stock, if any. Such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from the Original Issue Date, shall compound on each subsequent Dividend Payment Date (i.e., no dividends shall accrue on other dividends unless and until the first Dividend Payment Date for such other dividends has passed without such other dividends having been paid on such date) and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date, commencing with the first such Dividend Payment Date to occur at least 20 calendar days after the Original Issue Date. In the event that any Dividend Payment Date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, the dividend payment due on that date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day and no additional dividends will accrue as a result of that postponement. The period from and including any Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date is a “Dividend Period”, provided that the initial Dividend Period shall be the period from and including the Original Issue Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date.

Dividends that are payable on Senior Preferred Stock in respect of any Dividend Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The amount of dividends payable on Senior Preferred Stock on any date prior to the end of a Dividend Period, and for the initial Dividend Period, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, and actual days elapsed over a 30-day month.

Dividends that are payable on Senior Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date will be payable to holders of record of Senior Preferred Stock as they appear on the stock register of the Corporation on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15th calendar day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date or such other record date fixed by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors that is not more than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). Any such day that is a Dividend Record Date shall be a Dividend Record Date whether or not such day is a Business Day.

Holders of Senior Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, securities or other property, other than dividends (if any) declared and payable on Senior Preferred Stock as specified in this Section 3 (subject to the other provisions of the Certificate of Designations).

(b) Priority of Dividends. So long as any share of Senior Preferred Stock remains outstanding, no dividend or distribution shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock (other than dividends payable solely in shares of Common Stock) or Parity Stock, subject to the immediately following paragraph in the case of Parity Stock, and no Common Stock, Junior Stock or Parity Stock shall be, directly or indirectly, purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of Senior Preferred Stock have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid in full (or have been declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside for the benefit of the holders of shares of Senior Preferred Stock on the applicable record date). The foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan in the ordinary course of business (including purchases to offset the Share Dilution Amount (as defined below) pursuant to a publicly announced repurchase plan) and consistent with past practice, provided that any purchases to offset the Share Dilution Amount shall in no event exceed the Share Dilution Amount; (ii) purchases or other acquisitions by a broker-dealer subsidiary of the Corporation solely for the purpose of market-making, stabilization or customer facilitation transactions in Junior Stock or Parity Stock in the ordinary course of its business; (iii) purchases by a broker-dealer subsidiary of the Corporation of capital stock of the Corporation for resale pursuant to an offering by the Corporation of such capital stock underwritten by such broker-dealer subsidiary; (iv) any dividends or distributions of rights or Junior Stock in connection with a stockholders’ rights plan or any redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant to any stockholders’ rights plan; (v) the acquisition by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries of record ownership in Junior Stock or Parity Stock for the beneficial ownership of any other persons (other than the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries), including as trustees or custodians; and (vi) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock or of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock (with the same or lesser aggregate liquidation amount) or Junior Stock, in each case, solely to the extent required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into prior to the Signing Date or any subsequent agreement for the accelerated exercise, settlement or exchange thereof for Common Stock. “Share Dilution Amount” means the increase in the number of diluted shares outstanding (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, and as measured from the date of the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements most recently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to the Original Issue Date) resulting from the grant, vesting or exercise of equity-based compensation to employees and equitably adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar transaction.

When dividends are not paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for payment thereof set aside for the benefit of the holders thereof on the applicable record date) on any Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a

dividend payment date falling within a Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) in full upon Senior Preferred Stock and any shares of Parity Stock, all dividends declared on Senior Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock and payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) shall be declared pro rata so that the respective amounts of such dividends declared shall bear the same ratio to each other as all accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of Senior Preferred Stock (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) and all Parity Stock payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) (subject to their having been declared by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors out of legally available funds and including, in the case of Parity Stock that bears cumulative dividends, all accrued but unpaid dividends) bear to each other. If the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors determines not to pay any dividend or a full dividend on a Dividend Payment Date, the Corporation will provide written notice to the holders of Senior Preferred Stock prior to such Dividend Payment Date.

Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, securities or other property) as may be determined by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors may be declared and paid on any securities, including Common Stock and other Junior Stock, from time to time out of any funds legally available for such payment, and holders of Senior Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.

Section 4. Liquidation Rights.

(a) Voluntary or Involuntary Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Senior Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive for each share of Senior Preferred Stock, out of the assets of the Corporation or proceeds thereof (whether capital or surplus) available for distribution to stockholders of the Corporation, subject to the rights of any creditors of the Corporation, before any distribution of such assets or proceeds is made to or set aside for the holders of Common Stock and any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior to Senior Preferred Stock as to such distribution, payment in full in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), whether or not declared, to the date of payment (such amounts collectively, the “Liquidation Preference”).

(b) Partial Payment. If in any distribution described in Section 4(a) above the assets of the Corporation or proceeds thereof are not sufficient to pay in full the amounts payable with respect to all outstanding shares of Senior Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Corporation ranking equally with Senior Preferred Stock as to such distribution, holders of Senior Preferred Stock and the holders of such other stock shall share ratably in any such distribution in proportion to the full respective distributions to which they are entitled.

(c) Residual Distributions. If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Senior Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Corporation ranking equally with Senior Preferred Stock as to such distribution has been paid in full, the holders of other stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation (or proceeds thereof) according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d) Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation. For purposes of this Section 4, the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation or other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Senior Preferred Stock receive cash, securities or other property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange (for cash, securities or other property) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

Section 5. Redemption.

(a) Optional Redemption. Except as provided below, the Senior Preferred Stock may not be redeemed prior to the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date. On or after the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Corporation, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, out of funds legally available therefore, the shares of Senior Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as provided in Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Corporation, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, the shares of Senior Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as provided in Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption; provided that (x) the Corporation (or any successor by Business Combination) has received aggregate gross proceeds of not less than the Minimum Amount (plus the “Minimum Amount” as defined in the relevant certificate of designations for each other outstanding series of preferred stock of such successor that was originally issued to the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Successor Preferred Stock”) in connection with the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase Program) from one or more Qualified Equity Offerings (including Qualified Equity Offerings of such successor), and (y) the aggregate redemption price of the Senior Preferred Stock (and any Successor Preferred Stock) redeemed pursuant to this paragraph may not exceed the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Corporation (or any successor by Business Combination) from such Qualified Equity Offerings (including Qualified Equity Offerings of such successor).

The redemption price for any shares of Senior Preferred Stock shall be payable on the redemption date to the holder of such shares against surrender of the certificate(s) evidencing such shares to the Corporation or its agent. Any declared but unpaid dividends payable on a redemption date that occurs subsequent to the Dividend Record Date for a Dividend Period shall not be paid to the holder entitled to receive the redemption price on the redemption date, but rather shall be paid to the holder of record of the redeemed shares on such Dividend Record Date relating to the Dividend Payment Date as provided in Section 3 above.

(b) No Sinking Fund. The Senior Preferred Stock will not be subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions. Holders of Senior Preferred Stock will have no right to require redemption or repurchase of any shares of Senior Preferred Stock.

(c) Notice of Redemption. Notice of every redemption of shares of Senior Preferred Stock shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation. Such mailing shall be at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice mailed as provided in this Subsection shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Senior Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Senior Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Senior Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or any other similar facility, notice of redemption may be given to the holders of Senior Preferred Stock at such time and in any manner permitted by such facility. Each notice of redemption given to a holder shall state: (1) the redemption date; (2) the number of shares of Senior Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (3) the redemption price; and (4) the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price.

(d) Partial Redemption. In case of any redemption of part of the shares of Senior Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or in such other manner as the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof may determine to be fair and equitable. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Senior Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time. If fewer than all the shares represented by any certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares without charge to the holder thereof.

(e) Effectiveness of Redemption. If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been deposited by the Corporation, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, with a bank or trust company doing business in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and having a capital and surplus of at least $500 million and selected by the Board of Directors, so as to be and continue to be available solely therefor, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date dividends shall cease to accrue on all shares so called for redemption, all shares so called for redemption shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from such bank or trust company, without interest. Any funds unclaimed at the end of three years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released to the Corporation, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.

(f) Status of Redeemed Shares. Shares of Senior Preferred Stock that are redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock (provided that any such cancelled shares of Senior Preferred Stock may be reissued only as shares of any series of Preferred Stock other than Senior Preferred Stock).

Section 6. Conversion. Holders of Senior Preferred Stock shares shall have no right to exchange or convert such shares into any other securities.

Section 7. Voting Rights.

(a) General. The holders of Senior Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law.

(b) Preferred Stock Directors. Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on the shares of Senior Preferred Stock have not been paid for an aggregate of six quarterly Dividend Periods or more, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by two and the holders of the Senior Preferred Stock shall have the right, with holders of shares of any one or more other classes or series of Voting Parity Stock outstanding at the time, voting together as a class, to elect two directors (hereinafter the “Preferred Directors” and each a “Preferred Director”) to fill such newly created directorships at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders (or at a special meeting called for that purpose prior to such next annual meeting) and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders until all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of Senior Preferred Stock have been declared and paid in full at which time such right shall terminate with respect to the Senior Preferred Stock, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned; provided that it shall be a qualification for election for any Preferred Director that the election of such Preferred Director shall not cause the Corporation to violate any corporate governance requirements of any securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the Corporation may then be listed or traded that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of shares of Senior Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock as a class to vote for directors as provided above, the Preferred Directors shall cease to be qualified as directors, the term of office of all Preferred Directors then in office shall terminate immediately and the authorized number of directors shall be reduced by the number of Preferred Directors elected pursuant hereto. Any Preferred Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, and any vacancy created thereby may be filled, only by the affirmative vote of the holders a majority of the shares of Senior Preferred Stock at the time outstanding voting separately as a class together with the holders of shares of Voting Parity Stock, to the extent the voting rights of such holders described above are then exercisable. If the office of any Preferred Director becomes vacant for any reason other than removal from office as aforesaid, the remaining Preferred Director may choose a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

(c) Class Voting Rights as to Particular Matters. So long as any shares of Senior Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of stockholders required by law or by the Charter, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares of Senior Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting as a separate class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating:

(i) Authorization of Senior Stock. Any amendment or alteration of the Certificate of Designations for the Senior Preferred Stock or the Charter to authorize or create or increase the authorized amount of, or any issuance of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of, any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking senior to Senior Preferred Stock with respect to either or both the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation;

(ii) Amendment of Senior Preferred Stock. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Certificate of Designations for the Senior Preferred Stock or the Charter (including, unless no vote on such merger or consolidation is required by Section 7(c)(iii) below, any amendment, alteration or repeal by means of a merger, consolidation or otherwise) so as to

adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Senior Preferred Stock; or

(iii) Share Exchanges, Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations. Any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Senior Preferred Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with another corporation or other entity, unless in each case (x) the shares of Senior Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (y) such shares remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, of Senior Preferred Stock immediately prior to such consummation, taken as a whole; provided, however, that for all purposes of this Section 7(c), any increase in the amount of the authorized Preferred Stock, including any increase in the authorized amount of Senior Preferred Stock necessary to satisfy preemptive or similar rights granted by the Corporation to other persons prior to the Signing Date, or the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, whether pursuant to preemptive or similar rights or otherwise, of any other series of Preferred Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any other series of Preferred Stock, ranking equally with and/or junior to Senior Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation will not be deemed to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers, and shall not require the affirmative vote or consent of, the holders of outstanding shares of the Senior Preferred Stock.

(d) Changes after Provision for Redemption. No vote or consent of the holders of Senior Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding shares of the Senior Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or shall have been called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust for such redemption, in each case pursuant to Section 5 above.

(e) Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Senior Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Charter, the Bylaws, and applicable law and the rules of any national securities exchange or other trading facility on which Senior Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.

Section 8. Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation and the transfer agent for Senior Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any share of Senior Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Corporation nor such transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

Section 9. Notices. All notices or communications in respect of Senior Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail, postage prepaid, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Certificate of Designations, in the Charter or Bylaws or by applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Senior Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Corporation or any similar facility, such notices may be given to the holders of Senior Preferred Stock in any manner permitted by such facility.

Section 10. No Preemptive Rights. No share of Senior Preferred Stock shall have any rights of preemption whatsoever as to any securities of the Corporation, or any warrants, rights or options issued or granted with respect thereto, regardless of how such securities, or such warrants, rights or options, may be designated, issued or granted.

Section 11. Replacement Certificates. The Corporation shall replace any mutilated certificate at the holder’s expense upon surrender of that certificate to the Corporation. The Corporation shall replace certificates that become destroyed, stolen or lost at the holder’s expense upon delivery to the Corporation of reasonably satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed, stolen or lost, together with any indemnity that may be reasonably required by the Corporation.

Section 12. Other Rights. The shares of Senior Preferred Stock shall not have any rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth herein or in the Charter or as provided by applicable law.