SEC Filing | Southern States Bancshares, Inc

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Document

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 7, 2022

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Southern States Bancshares, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Alabama			26-2518085
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)			(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

615 Quintard Ave.

Anniston, AL 36201

(256) 241-1092

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Stephen W. Whatley

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Southern States Bancshares, Inc.

615 Quintard Ave.

Anniston, AL 36201

(256) 241-1092

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copy to:

Michael D. Waters

Clinton H. Smith

Jones Walker LLP

420 20th Street North

Suite 1100

Birmingham, AL 35203

(205) 244-5210

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

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


Large accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer	☐

Non-accelerated filer	☒	Smaller reporting company	☒

		Emerging growth company	☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

The registrants hereby amend this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state or jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED OCTOBER 7, 2022

PROSPECTUS

$150,000,000

Southern States Bancshares, Inc.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Debt Securities

Warrants

Units

We may offer and sell any combination of the securities listed above, in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount of $150,000,000. We may offer these securities separately or together, in separate series or classes and in amounts, at prices, and on terms described in one or more prospectus supplements. The debt securities, preferred stock, and warrants may be convertible or exercisable or exchangeable for debt or equity securities of the Company.

We will provide the specific terms of the securities offered in supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. Please read this prospectus, the applicable supplement, and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest in any of our securities.

Our common stock is quoted on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, under the symbol “SSBK.” On October 6, 2022, the last quoted sale price of our common stock was $27.64 per share. You are urged to obtain current market quotations of the common stock. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any listing on The Nasdaq Global Select Market or any securities market or other exchange of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement.

The securities may be offered and sold on a continuous or delayed basis, through agents, dealers, or underwriters, or directly to purchasers. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering. If agents or any dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of the securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the names of the agents, dealers, or underwriters and any applicable commissions or discounts. Net proceeds from the sale of securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the Risk Factors referred to on page 10 of this prospectus and set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference herein before making any decision to invest in our securities.

These securities are not savings accounts, deposits, or other obligations of any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is , 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS


			Page
GLOSSARY OF TERMS			2
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			3
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			4
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			7
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE			8
SOUTHERN STATES BANCSHARES, INC.			9
RISK FACTORS			10
REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS			11
USE OF PROCEEDS			12
DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK			13
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER			18
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			23
LEGAL MATTERS			25
EXPERTS			25

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Unless the context indicates otherwise, references in this filing to “we,” “our,” “us,” “Southern States Bancshares,” “Southern States,” and “the Company,” refer to Southern States Bancshares, Inc., an Alabama corporation, and all consolidated subsidiaries, including Southern States Bank, an Alabama banking corporation, unless the context indicates that we refer only to the parent company, Southern States Bancshares. All references in this filing to the “Bank” or “Southern States Bank” refer to Southern States Bank, our wholly-owned bank subsidiary. Other abbreviations or acronyms used in this filing are defined below.


ABBREVIATION OR ACRONYM			DEFINITION
ABCL			Alabama Business Corporation Law
ASBD			Alabama State Banking Department
Bank Secrecy Act			Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended
CFPB			Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Dodd-Frank Act			Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
Exchange Act			Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
FDIC			Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Federal Reserve			Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
GDP			Gross domestic product
LPO(s)			Loan production office(s)
OFAC			Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the U.S. Treasury
Securities Act			Securities Act of 1933, as amended
SEC			Securities and Exchange Commission
TIA			Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
U.S.			United States

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf registration process, using this prospectus, together with a prospectus supplement, we may sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, any number of the securities described in this prospectus with a total aggregate principal amount or initial purchase price amount of $150,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of that offering and the securities being offered. Each time we sell securities, we may also provide a free writing prospectus containing additional specific information about the securities being offered. You should read this prospectus, the prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus, and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus before making an investment in our securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for more information. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement and free writing prospectus, if applicable.

Our SEC registration statement containing this prospectus, including exhibits, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. The registration statement can be read at the SEC’s web site or at the SEC’s offices. The SEC’s website and street address are provided under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus that we may provide to you in connection with any offering of our securities described in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. This document may be used only in jurisdictions where offers and sales of these securities are permitted. You should not assume that information contained in this prospectus, in any supplement to this prospectus, in any free writing prospectus, or in any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front page of the document that contains the information, regardless of when this prospectus is delivered or when any sale of our securities occurs.

We may sell our securities to underwriters who will in turn sell the securities to the public on terms fixed at the time of sale. In addition, the securities may be sold by us directly or through dealers or agents that we may designate from time to time. If we, directly or through agents, solicit offers to purchase the securities, we reserve the sole right to accept and, together with our agents, to reject, in whole or in part, any of those offers.

A prospectus supplement will contain the names of the underwriters, dealers, or agents, if any, together with the terms of offering, the compensation of those underwriters, and the net proceeds to be received by the Company. Any underwriters, dealers, or agents participating in the offering may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, which reflect our current expectations and beliefs with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. This may be especially true given the current COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty about its continuation. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the dates made, we cannot give any assurance that such expectations will prove correct and actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict.

These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “can,” “should,” “could,” “to be,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “likely,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “target,” “project,” “would” and “outlook,” or the negative version of those words or other similar words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this prospectus and may include statements about business strategy and prospects for growth, operations, ability to pay dividends, competition, regulation and general economic conditions.

There are or may be important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following:

•potential risks and uncertainties relating to the effects of COVID-19, including the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, actions that have been and will be taken by governmental authorities to contain the COVID-19 outbreak or to treat its impact, and the potential negative impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and financial markets, including U.S. GDP decreases and increases in unemployment;

•our ability to execute and prudently manage our growth and execute our strategy, including expansion activities;

•our ability to adequately measure and limit our credit risk;

•business, market and economic conditions generally and in the financial services industry, nationally and within our local markets;

•factors that can impact the performance of our loan portfolio, including real estate values and liquidity in our markets and the financial health of our commercial borrowers;

•the failure of assumptions and estimates, as well as differences in, and changes to, economic, market, and credit conditions, including changes in borrowers’ credit risks and payment behaviors;

•compliance with governmental and regulatory requirements, including the Dodd-Frank Act and others relating to banking, consumer protection, securities and tax matters, and our ability to maintain licenses required in connection with mortgage origination, sale and servicing operations;

•compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act, OFAC rules and anti-money laundering laws and regulations;

•governmental monetary and fiscal policies;

•the effectiveness of our risk management framework, including internal controls;

•the composition of and future changes in our management team and our ability to attract and retain key personnel;

•geographic concentration of our business in certain Alabama and Georgia markets;

•our ability to attract and retain customers;

•the risks of changes in interest rates on the levels, composition and costs of deposits, loan demand, and the values and liquidity of loan collateral, securities, and interest-sensitive assets and liabilities, and the risks and uncertainty of the amounts realizable;

•changes in the availability and cost of credit and capital in the financial markets, and the types of instruments that may be included as capital for regulatory purposes;

•changes in the prices, values and sales volumes of residential and commercial real estate;

•the effects of competition from a wide variety of local, regional, national and other providers of financial, investment, trust and other wealth management services and insurance services, including the disruption effects of financial technology and other competitors who are not subject to the same regulations as the Company and the Bank;

•the failure of assumptions and estimates underlying the establishment of allowances for possible loan losses and other asset impairments, losses, valuations of assets and liabilities and other estimates;

•the risks of any mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, including, without limitation, the related time and costs of implementing such transactions, integrating operations as part of these transactions and possible failures to achieve expected gains, revenue growth and/or expense savings from such transactions;

•changes in technology or products that may be more difficult, costly, or less effective than anticipated;

•systems failures or interruptions involving our risk management framework, our information technology and telecommunications systems or third-party servicers;

•unauthorized data access, cyber-crime and other threats to data security and customer privacy;

•our ability to maintain our historical rate of growth;

•our ability to identify potential candidates for, consummate, and achieve synergies resulting from, potential future acquisitions;

•deterioration of our asset quality or the value of collateral securing loans;

•changes in the laws, rules, regulations, interpretations or policies relating to financial institutions, accounting, tax, trade, monetary and fiscal matters and appropriate compliance with applicable law and regulation;

•operational risks associated with our business;

•volatility and direction of market interest rates and the shape of the yield curve;

•our ability to maintain important deposit customer relationships, maintain our reputation or otherwise avoid liquidity risks;

•the obligations associated with being a public company;

•the commencement and outcome of litigation and other legal proceedings against us or to which we may become subject;

•natural disasters and adverse weather, acts of terrorism, an outbreak of hostilities or other international or domestic calamities as well as national and international economic conditions and health issues, such as COVID-19, and other matters beyond our control; and

•the “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in our other public filings and press releases.

The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements and the “Risk Factors” included in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein. Additional information on these and other risk factors can be found in “Part II - Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in “Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what we anticipate. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which will arise. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information about issuers, including the Company, that file electronically with the SEC. You may read any documents we have filed with the SEC on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and our website www.southernstatesbank.net. Information on our website does not constitute part of and is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and the information we later file with the SEC that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus will automatically update information previously contained in this prospectus and any incorporated document. Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed modified or superseded to the extent that a later statement contained in this prospectus or in an incorporated document modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. We are not, however, incorporating by reference any document or portions thereof, whether specifically listed below or filed in the future, that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or certain exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC (excluding any portion of these documents that has been furnished to and deemed not to be filed with the SEC):


Report(s)						Period(s) of Report(s) or Date(s) Filed
•Annual Report on Form 10-K						For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (including information specifically incorporated by reference into such Annual Report on Form 10-K from our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed on March 30, 2022)
•Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q						For the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022
•Current Reports on Form 8-K						Filed January 20, 2022, February 8, 2022, February 17, 2022, April 21, 2022, May 23, 2022, July 21, 2022 and August 16, 2022
•The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A.						Filed August 10, 2021

We also incorporate by reference any future documents we may file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, excluding any document or portion thereof that has been furnished to and deemed not to be filed with the SEC, including those filed after the date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement and until we have sold all of the securities to which this prospectus relates or each offering under this prospectus is otherwise terminated.

These documents are available without charge to you on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.southernstatesbank.net or if you call or write to: Investor Relations, 615 Quintard Avenue, Anniston, Alabama 36201, or (256) 241-1092. Information on our website is not part of, and we are not incorporating the contents of our website into, this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

We have also filed a registration statement with the SEC relating to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information presented or incorporated by reference in the registration statement and its exhibits. You may obtain from the SEC a copy of the registration statement and exhibits that we filed with the SEC as described above. The registration statement may contain additional information that may be important to you.

SOUTHERN STATES BANCSHARES, INC.

Southern States Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Anniston, Alabama. We operate primarily through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Southern States Bank, an Alabama banking corporation formed in 2007. We provide banking services from 15 offices in Alabama and Georgia and two LPOs in Georgia. The Bank is a full service community banking institution, which offers an array of deposit, loan and other banking-related products and services to businesses and individuals in our communities. Our principal business activities include commercial and retail banking.

Our principal executive office is located at 615 Quintard Avenue, Anniston, Alabama 36201, and our telephone number is (256) 241-1092. We maintain an Internet website at www.southernstatesbank.net. The information contained on our website shall not be considered part of this prospectus, and the reference to our website does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on the website.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves significant risks. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider those risk factors described under, but not limited to, the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, in any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are incorporated by reference herein, and those risk factors that may be included in any applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference herein or therein, in evaluating an investment in our securities. If any of these risks were actually to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. Other risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may materially affect our business if they occur. Moreover, new risks emerge from time to time. Further, our business may also be affected by additional factors that apply to all companies operating in the U.S., which have not been included. Please read “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS

The U.S. banking industry is highly regulated under federal and state law. Consequently, our growth and earnings performance will be affected not only by management decisions and general and local economic conditions, but also by the statutes administered by, and the regulations and policies of, various governmental regulatory authorities. These authorities include the Federal Reserve, FDIC, ASBD, CFPB, Internal Revenue Service, and state taxing authorities. The effect of these statutes, regulations, and policies and any changes to such statutes, regulations, and policies can be significant and cannot be predicted.

The primary goals of the bank regulatory plan are to maintain a safe and sound banking system, facilitate the conduct of sound monetary policy, and promote fairness and transparency for financial products and services. The system of supervision and regulation applicable to us and the Bank establishes a comprehensive framework for their respective operations and is intended primarily for the protection of the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund, the Bank’s depositors, and the public, rather than our stockholders or creditors. For a discussion of the material elements of the regulatory framework applicable to bank holding companies and their subsidiaries and specific information relevant to us, please refer to the “Item 1 and Item 2. Business and Properties—Supervision and Regulation” section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and to the subsequent reports we have filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include, among other purposes, contribution to the capital of the Bank to support its lending and investing activities; the repayment of our debt; to support or fund acquisitions of other institutions or branches, if opportunities for such transactions become available; and investments in activities that are permitted for bank holding companies. We may temporarily invest funds that we do not immediately need for these purposes in investment securities or use them to make payments on our borrowings. The applicable prospectus supplement will provide details on the use of proceeds of any specific offering.

DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a summary of our common stock and certain terms of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each as restated or amended and restated. This discussion summarizes some of the important rights of our stockholders but does not purport to be a complete description of these rights and may not contain all of the information regarding our common stock that is important to you. The descriptions herein are qualified in their entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which are filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement to which this prospectus forms a part, and applicable law.

General

We are incorporated in the state of Alabama. Accordingly, the rights of our stockholders are generally covered by Alabama law, including the ABCL, and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as the same may be amended from time to time. Our certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue a total of 30,000,000 shares of voting common stock, $5.00 par value per share, 5,000,000 shares of non-voting common stock, $5.00 par value per share, and 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

Common Stock

Voting Rights. Except for holders of our non-voting common stock, each holder of voting common stock is entitled to one vote per share on any issue requiring a vote of stockholders at any meeting. At each annual meeting, the holders of our common stock will elect nominees to the board of directors by a plurality vote. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors. If a quorum is present, the transaction of any business at a stockholders’ meeting, other than the election of directors, is approved if the votes cast favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action.

Dividend Rights. Our stockholders are entitled to receive dividends on common stock only if, when and as declared by our board of directors from funds legally available therefor under Alabama corporate law and as limited by our banking regulators. Our voting common stock ranks pari passu with our non-voting common stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions. The principal source of the payment of dividends by Southern States is the payment of dividends to it by Southern States Bank. Please see “Item 1 and Item 2. Business and Properties—Supervision and Regulation” and “Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities—Dividends and Dividend Policy” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and to the subsequent reports we have filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, for a description of certain limitations and restrictions on the payment of dividends applicable to us and Southern States Bank.

Liquidation and Dissolution Rights. In the event of any liquidation or dissolution of Southern States, the holders of the common stock are entitled to receive, in cash or in kind, the assets of Southern States available for distribution that are remaining after payment or provision for payment of Southern States’ debts and liabilities and the preference of any outstanding preferred stock. Our voting common stock ranks pari passu with our non-voting common stock with respect to rights upon liquidation and dissolution.

Non-voting Common Stock. The non-voting common stock has no voting rights except as otherwise required by law. A holder of non-voting common stock may convert shares of non-voting common stock into shares of voting common stock at any time or from time to time, provided the holder and its affiliates do not own or control more than 9.9% of the Company’s voting securities of any class or series. Upon the sale or transfer of the non-voting stock to any person unaffiliated with the holder who holds or controls less than 9.9% of Southern States’ voting securities of any class or series, such transferred shares automatically will become an identical number of shares of voting common stock, as provided in Southern States certificate of incorporation.

Other Matters. There is no redemption right, sinking fund provision, or right of conversion, except for our non-voting common stock, with respect to Southern States’ common stock. Holders of the shares of common stock do not have preemptive rights to subscribe for additional shares when additional shares are offered for sale by Southern States.

Preferred Stock

The complete terms of the preferred stock will be contained in a prospectus supplement and in the applicable amendment to our certificate of incorporation creating one or more series of preferred stock that may be adopted by our board of directors in the future. You should read the applicable amendment to our certificate of incorporation and the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information, and which may update or modify some of the information below.

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, in one or more classes or series as determined by our board of directors from time to time as necessary without further action by the holders of our common stock. Our board of directors has the power to issue preferred stock and establish for each series of preferred stock the number of shares, voting rights, dividend rights, preferences as to dividends and liquidation, and other relative, participating or other rights, if any, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions, including redemption features and rights on liquidation or dissolution of Southern States. See “—Anti-takeover Effect of Governing Documents and Applicable Law” below.

The terms of any particular series of preferred stock will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to that particular series of preferred stock, including, where applicable:

•the designation, stated value, and liquidation preference of such series of preferred stock and the number of shares offered;

•the offering price;

•the dividend rate or rates (or method of calculation), the date or dates from which dividends shall accrue, and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative and, if cumulative, the dates from which dividends shall commence to cumulate;

•any redemption or sinking fund provisions;

•the amount that shares of such series shall be entitled to receive in the event of our liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up;

•the terms and conditions, if any, on which shares of such series shall be convertible or exchangeable for shares of our stock of any other class or classes, such as our common stock, or other series of the same class;

•the voting rights, if any, of shares of such series;

•the status as to reissuance or sale of shares of such series redeemed, purchased or otherwise reacquired, or surrendered to us on conversion or exchange;

•the conditions and restrictions, if any, on the payment of dividends or on the making of other distributions on, or the purchase, redemption, or other acquisition by us or any subsidiary, of the common stock or of any other class of our shares ranking junior to the shares of such series as to dividends or upon liquidation;

•the conditions and restrictions, if any, on the creation of indebtedness of us or of any subsidiary, or on the issuance of any additional stock ranking on a parity with or senior to the shares of such series as to dividends or upon liquidation; and

•any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking, or retirement fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations, and restrictions of such series of preferred stock.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of preferred stock will, upon issuance, rank senior to the common stock and on a parity in all respects with each other outstanding series of preferred stock. The rights of the holders of our preferred stock will be subordinate to those of our general creditors. The description of any series of preferred stock that may be issued is qualified by reference to the provisions of the applicable certificate of amendment establishing the terms of such series.

The transfer agent and registrar for the preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Anti-Takeover Effect of Governing Documents and Applicable Law

Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could have the effect of delaying or deferring the removal of incumbent directors or delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us, even if such removal or acquisition would be viewed by our stockholders to be in their best interests. These provisions, summarized below, are intended to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. These provisions may also serve to discourage hostile takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. We believe that these provisions are beneficial because the negotiation they encourage could result in improved terms of any unsolicited proposal.

Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock. The authorized common stock of Southern States consists of 30,000,000 shares and 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Subject to the limitations of any exchange on which our capital stock is listed, the board of directors may authorize the issuance of one or more series of preferred stock without stockholder approval and may issue additional shares of common stock without stockholder approval, in each case from our authorized but unissued capital. These shares could be used by our board of directors to make it more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us through a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. In addition, the authorized but unissued shares of common stock may be issued for any proper purpose approved by the board of directors, except where such issuances are limited by the ABCL and rules of the NASDAQ. Although Southern States’ board of directors may issue additional shares of common stock or non-voting common stock, the Company intends to issue only voting common stock in the future.

Stockholder Proposals. Our bylaws include specific procedures for stockholder proposals, including proposed nominations for directors, to be brought at stockholder meetings, including that the stockholder must be a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice of such meeting by the board of directors and a stockholder of record for the record date of the annual meeting, and comply with the procedures set forth in our bylaws as to such nomination or other business. Notice of a stockholder proposal notice must generally be delivered to the secretary of Southern States no less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the stockholder meeting. The notice of the stockholder proposal must include certain information listed in our bylaws, including, but not limited to, the name and address of each stockholder making the proposal, the name and address of any nominee for director, the class and number of shares of our capital stock, any proxy used in connection with the proposal, a description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, and a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between the stockholder proposing the business to be brought before the meeting and any other affiliates and associates with whom the requesting stockholder is acting in concert in connection with the proposal.

Special Meeting and Action by Written Consent in Lieu of Meeting. Our certificate of incorporation allows for any action required by the ABCL to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders. However, stockholders may not act by written consent nor may stockholders call special meetings of stockholders. Southern States’ bylaws provide that only the board of directors may call a special meeting of stockholders at any time.

Amendments. Upon a proposal by Southern States’ board of directors, Southern States’ certificate of incorporation may be amended with the approval of the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum consisting of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the amendment exists. Southern States’ bylaws provide that only the board of directors may call a special meeting of stockholders at any time. The bylaws may not be amended or repealed by stockholders without the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the stockholders at any annual meeting.

Board Composition and Director Changes. The bylaws of Southern States provides that the board of directors may be comprised of not less than five nor more than 15 persons. The bylaws provide that the board of directors may increase or decrease the number of directors within such limits. The bylaws provide that any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by the board of directors. Despite the expiration of a director’s term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated, provided any such decrease does not shorten a director’s term. Stockholders of Southern States may remove one or more directors only for cause.

Exclusive Forum

The Southern States bylaws provide that unless Southern States otherwise consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Calhoun County Circuit Court of the State of Alabama, or the circuit court of the county in which Southern States is otherwise headquartered will be the sole and exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of Southern States, any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed to Southern States, or its stockholders, by any of its directors, officers or other employees, any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the ABCL, or any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find these types of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable.

This exclusive forum provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. To the extent that any such claims may be based upon federal law claims, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Subject to applicable law, a director shall not be held personally liable to Southern States or its stockholders for monetary damages for any action taken, or any failure to take any action as a director, except that a director’s liability shall not be eliminated for (i) the amount of a financial benefit received by a director to which he or she is not entitled; (ii) an intentional infliction of harm on Southern States or the stockholders; (iii) a violation of section 10A-2A-8.32 of the ABCL; or (iv) an intentional violation of criminal law. It is the intention that the directors of Southern States be protected from personal liability to the fullest extent permitted by the ABCL as it now or hereafter exists. If at any time in the future the ABCL is modified to permit further or additional limitations on the extent to which directors may be held personally liable to Southern States, the protection afforded by Southern States’ certificate of incorporation shall be expanded to afford the maximum protection permitted under such law.

Subject to the above limitations and in accordance with the ABCL, Southern States will indemnify a director or officer who was successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding, or of any claim, issue or matter in the proceeding to which he or she was a party because he or she is or was a director or officer of Southern States against reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding, notwithstanding that he or she was not successful on any other claim, issue or matter in any such proceeding.

Furthermore, the ABCL provides that Southern States may indemnify an individual made a party to a proceeding because he or she is or was a director or officer of Southern States against liability incurred in a proceeding if: (1) he or she conducted himself or herself in good faith; and (2) he or she reasonably believed (a) in the case of conduct in his or her official capacity with Southern States, that his or her conduct was in its best interest; and (b) in all other cases, that his or her conduct was at least not opposed to its best interest; and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Southern States may not indemnify a director or officer in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of Southern States in which the director or officer has not met the relevant standard of conduct; or in connection with any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to him or her, whether or not involving action in his or her official capacity, in which he or she was adjudged liable on the basis that financial benefit was improperly received by him or her.

Under the ABCL, Southern States may, before final disposition of a proceeding, advance funds to pay for or reimburse expenses incurred in connection with a proceeding by an individual who is a party to the proceeding because that individual is a director, if the director delivers to Southern States a signed written undertaking to repay any funds advanced if (i) the director is not entitled to mandatory indemnification, and (ii) it is ultimately determined that the director is not entitled to indemnification.

Southern States and Southern States Bank have procured a directors and officers liability insurance policy providing for insurance against certain liabilities incurred by directors and officers of Southern States and Southern States Bank while serving in their capacities as such, to the extent such liabilities could be indemnified under the above provisions.

Listing and Trading

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “SSBK.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

This prospectus contains summary descriptions of our depositary shares, senior and subordinated debt, warrants, and units that we may offer from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. The particular terms of any security will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and other offering material. The accompanying prospectus supplement and free writing prospectus, if any, may add, update, or change the terms and conditions of the securities as described in this prospectus.

Depositary Shares

In this section, we describe the general terms and provisions of the depositary shares that we may offer. This summary does not purport to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the relevant deposit agreement and depositary receipts with respect to any particular depositary shares. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the depositary shares offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those depositary shares.

We may offer depositary shares representing receipts for fractional interests in preferred stock in the form of depositary shares. Each depositary share would represent a fractional interest in preferred stock and would be represented by a depositary receipt.

The preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company having its principal office in the U.S., which we refer to in this prospectus as the “depository.” We will name the depository in the applicable prospectus supplement. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, including any dividend, voting, redemption, conversion, and liquidation rights. If necessary, the prospectus supplement will provide a description of U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the purchase and ownership of the series of depositary shares offered by that prospectus supplement.

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued under the deposit agreement. If you purchase fractional interests in the preferred stock, you will receive depositary receipts as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. While the final depositary receipts are being prepared, we may order the depository to issue temporary depositary receipts substantially identical to the final depositary receipts although not in final form. The holders of the temporary depositary receipts will be entitled to the same rights as if they held the depositary receipts in final form. Holders of the temporary depositary receipts can exchange them for the final depositary receipts at our expense.

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material of any depositary shares we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable depositary agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer depositary shares. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the applicable depositary agreement if we offer depositary shares, see “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” We urge you to read the applicable depositary agreement, the applicable prospectus supplement, and any other offering material in their entirety.

Senior and Subordinated Debt Securities

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.

We have filed, as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, the form of indentures pursuant to which the debt securities would be issued and will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, a form of debt security that describes the terms of the particular debt securities we are offering before the issuance of the related debt securities. We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more distinct series. The debt securities may be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. Senior debt securities may be issued under a senior indenture and subordinated debt securities may be issued under a subordinated indenture. If we issue debt securities pursuant to an indenture, we will specify the trustee under such indenture in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will include in a supplement to this prospectus or free writing prospectus, if any, the specific terms of debt securities being offered, including the terms, if any, on which debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, preferred stock, or other debt securities. The statements and descriptions in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement regarding provisions of debt securities and any indentures are summaries of those provisions, do not purport to be complete, and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the debt securities and the indentures (including any amendments or supplements we may enter into from time to time which are permitted under the debt securities or any indenture).

The applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, if applicable, will set forth the terms of the debt securities or any series thereof, including, if applicable:

•the title of the debt securities and whether the debt securities will be unsubordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities;

•any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

•the date or dates on which the principal amount of the debt securities will mature;

•if the debt securities bear interest, the rate or rates at which the debt securities bear interest, or the method for determining the interest rate, and the date or dates from which interest will accrue;

•if the debt securities bear interest, the dates on which interest will be payable, or the method for determining such dates, and the regular record dates for interest payments;

•the place or places where the payment of principal, any premium, and interest will be made, where the debt securities may be surrendered for transfer or exchange, and where notices or demands to or upon us may be served;

•any optional redemption provisions, which would allow us to redeem the debt securities in whole or in part;

•any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to redeem, repay, or purchase the debt securities;

•if the currency in which the debt securities will be issuable in U.S. dollars, the denominations in which any registered securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

•if other than the entire principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities that will be payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities;

•the events of default and covenants relevant to the debt securities, including the inapplicability of any event of default or covenant set forth in the indenture relating to the debt securities, or the applicability of any other events of default or covenants in addition to the events of default or covenants set forth in the indenture relating to the debt securities;

•the name and location of the corporate trust office of the applicable trustee under the indenture for such debt securities;

•if other than U.S. dollars, the currency in which the debt securities will be paid or denominated;

•if the debt securities are to be payable, at our election or the election of a holder of the debt securities, in a currency other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the terms and conditions upon which that election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the currency in which the debt securities are denominated or stated to be payable, and the currency in which the debt securities are to be so payable;

•the designation of the original currency determination agent, if any;

•if the debt securities are issuable as indexed securities, the manner in which the amount of payments of principal, any premium, and interest will be determined;

•if the debt securities do not bear interest, the dates on which we will furnish to the applicable trustee the names and addresses of the holders of the debt securities;

•any provisions for the satisfaction and discharge or defeasance or covenant defeasance of the indenture under which the debt securities are issued;

•whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts to non-U.S. holders in respect of any tax assessment or government charge;

•whether the debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities and, in that case, any depositary and global exchange agent for the global security or securities, and whether the global form shall be permanent or temporary;

•if debt securities are to be issuable initially in the form of a temporary global security, the circumstances under which the temporary global security can be exchanged for definitive debt securities and whether the definitive debt securities will be registered securities, and provisions relating to the payment of interest in respect of any portion of a global security payable in respect of an interest payment date prior to the exchange date;

•the extent and manner to which payment on or in respect of debt securities will be subordinated to the prior payment of our other liabilities and obligations;

•whether the debt securities will be secured or unsecured;

•whether the debt securities will be convertible and the terms of any conversion provisions;

•the forms of the debt securities;

•a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of the debt securities; and

•any other terms of the debt securities, which terms shall be consistent with the requirements of the TIA.

Unless indicated in a prospectus supplement or related free writing prospectus, we may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable indenture. We intend to disclose any restrictive covenants for any issuance or series of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, if any.

Warrants

We may issue warrants from time to time in one or more series for the purchase of our common stock or preferred stock or any combination of those securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock or offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from common stock or preferred stock. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent, or any other bank or trust company specified in the related prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants. The warrant agent will act as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants. The specific terms of a

series of warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series of warrants, along with any general provisions applicable to that series of warrants.

The following is a general description of the warrants we may issue. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any issuance of warrants. The terms of any warrants we offer may differ from the terms described in this prospectus. As a result, we will describe in the prospectus supplement the specific terms of the particular series of warrants offered by that prospectus supplement. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular series of warrants, you should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, and the applicable warrant agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

If warrants are offered by us, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the warrants, including the following if applicable to the particular offering:

•the title of the warrants;

•the total number of warrants;

•the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants to purchase common stock, and the price at which such shares of common stock may be purchased upon exercise;

•the designation and terms of the preferred stock with which the warrants are issued, and the number of warrants issued with each share of preferred stock;

•the date on and after which the warrants and the related common stock or preferred stock will be separately transferable;

•if applicable, the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which this right will expire;

•if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

•a discussion of certain federal income tax, accounting, and other special considerations, procedures, and limitations relating to the warrants; and

•any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

Warrants may be exchanged for new warrants of different denominations, may be presented for registration of transfer, and may be exercised at the office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock purchasable upon exercise, including the right to receive payments of dividends, if any, on the shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise, or to exercise any applicable right to vote.

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase a number of shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock at an exercise price as will in each case be set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement relating to those warrants. Warrants may be exercised at the times set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. After the close of business on the expiration date (or any later date to which the expiration date may be extended by us), unexercised warrants will become void. Subject to any restrictions and additional requirements that may be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto, warrants may be exercised by delivery to the warrant agent of the certificate evidencing the warrants properly completed and duly executed and of payment as provided in the prospectus supplement of the amount required to purchase shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise. The exercise price will be the price applicable on the date of payment in full, as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. Upon receipt of the payment and the certificate representing the warrants to be exercised properly completed and duly executed at the office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by that certificate are exercised, a new certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of warrants.

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material of any warrants we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable warrant agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer warrants. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the applicable warrant agreement if we offer warrants, see “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information.” We urge you to read the applicable warrant agreement and the applicable prospectus supplement and any other offering material in their entirety.

Units

In this section, we describe the general terms and provisions of the units that we may offer. We may issue units under one or more unit agreements, each referred to as a unit agreement, to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as unit agent. The unit agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the units governed by the unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of units or interests in those units. We may issue units comprising one or more of the securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit also is the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time or at any time before a specified date.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to the units we may offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among others:

•the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, and whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

•any provision for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer, or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising those units; and

•whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material of any units we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable unit agreement and unit certificate, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer units. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the applicable unit agreement and unit certificate if we offer units, see “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information.” We urge you to read the applicable unit certificate and the applicable prospectus supplement and any other offering material in their entirety.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities being offered hereby, from time to time, by one or more of the following methods, or any combination thereof:

•to or through underwriters or dealers, with or without an underwriting syndicate, for them to offer and sell to the public;

•directly to one or more purchasers in negotiated purchases or in competitively bid transactions;

•through designated agents;

•directly to holders of warrants exercisable for our securities upon the exercise of warrants; or

•through a combination of any of these methods of sale.

Each time that we use this prospectus to sell our securities, we will also provide a prospectus supplement that contains the specific terms of the offering. We will set forth the terms of the offering of securities in a prospectus supplement, including:

•the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents, and the type and amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them;

•the public offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us and any discounts, commissions, or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to underwriters or dealers; and

•any delayed delivery arrangements.

The offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by us, the underwriters, or the third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, either:

•at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

•at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

•at prices related to the prevailing market prices; or

•at negotiated prices.

Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

Unless otherwise specified in the related prospectus supplement, each series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than shares of our common stock, which are listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market. Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, subject to official notice of issuance. We may elect to list any series of preferred stock on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or the trading market for, any offered securities.

We may offer securities covered by this prospectus into an existing trading market on the terms described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. Underwriters, dealers, and agents who participate in any at-the-market offerings will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. To the extent we make sales through one or more underwriters or agents in at-the-market offerings, it will be pursuant to the terms of a sales agency financing agreement or other at-the-market offering arrangement with underwriters or agents. If we engage in at-the-market sales pursuant to any such agreement, we will issue and sell securities through one or more underwriters or agents, which may act on an agency basis or on a principal basis. During the term of any such agreement, we may sell securities on a daily basis in exchange transactions or otherwise agreed with the underwriters or agents. The agreement will provide that any securities sold will be sold at prices related to the then-prevailing market prices. Therefore, exact figures regarding proceeds or commissions to be paid cannot be determined at this time. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we also may agree to sell, and the relevant

underwriters or agents may agree to solicit offers to purchase, blocks of our securities. The terms of each such agreement will be set forth in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities.

If we use dealers in the sale of securities, we will sell securities to such dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale. We may solicit offers to purchase the securities directly, and we may sell the securities directly to institutional or other investors, who may be deemed underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resales of those securities. The terms of these sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, if any. If we use agents in the sale of securities, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, they will use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement or related free writing prospectus, if we sell directly, no underwriters, dealers, or agents would be involved. We will not make an offer of securities in any jurisdiction that does not permit such an offer.

We may sell the securities through agents from time to time. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, if any, will name any agents involved in the offer or sale of our securities and any commissions we pay to them. Generally, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

We may authorize underwriters, dealers, or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase our securities at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, if any, pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, and the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will set forth any commissions or discounts we pay for solicitation of these contracts.

Agents and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

In connection with any offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions, and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase in an offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of the offered securities or any underlying securities made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while an offering is in progress. These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the securities. As a result, the price of the securities may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected on an exchange or automated quotation system, if the securities are listed on an exchange or admitted for trading on an automated quotation system, in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise.

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus so indicates in connection with those derivatives, then the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of securities. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus (or a post-effective amendment).

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus has been passed upon for us by Jones Walker LLP, Birmingham, Alabama.

EXPERTS

Our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

$150,000,000

Southern States Bancshares, Inc.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Debt Securities

Warrants

Units

PROSPECTUS

, 2022

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities covered by the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The Company will bear all of these expenses.


Registration fee under the Securities Act			$16,530
Legal fees and expenses			$*
Accounting fees and expenses			$*
Printing and other miscellaneous fees and expenses			$*
Total			$*

__________________

*The amount of securities and number of offerings are indeterminable so the expenses cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the sale and distribution of securities being offered will be included in any applicable prospectus supplement.

Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Alabama Business Corporation Law of 2019

II-1

The foregoing is only a general summary of certain aspects of Alabama law and the Registrant’s governing documents dealing with indemnification of directors and officers, and does not purport to be complete. It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registrant’s certificate of incorporation, which is filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement, and to the relevant provisions of the ABCL.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Finally, the Registrant’s ability to provide indemnification to its directors and officers is limited by federal banking laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, United States Code, title 12, section 1828(k).

Bylaws

Under its bylaws, Southern States must indemnify any persons who may be indemnified under the ABCL.

Insurance Coverage

Item 16. Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into this registration statement:


Number						Description

1.1						Form of Underwriting Agreement. (1)

2.1#						Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between Southern States Bancshares, Inc. and East Alabama Financial Group, Inc., dated as of May 7, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Southern States Bancshares, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on July 15, 2021, file number 333-257915).

3.1						Certificate of Incorporation of Southern States Bancshares, Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Southern States Bancshares, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on July 15, 2021, file number 333-257915).

3.2						Amended and Restated Bylaws of Southern States Bancshares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Southern States Bancshares, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on July 15, 2021, file number 333-257915).

4.1						Specimen common stock certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Southern States Bancshares, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on July 15, 2021, file number 333-257915).

4.2						Indenture, dated February 7, 2022, by and between Southern States Bancshares, Inc. and UMB Bank, N.A., as trustee, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Southern States Bancshares, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022, file no. 001-40727).

4.3						Form of 3.50% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Note due February 7, 2032 (included as Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 to the Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.2 hereto) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Southern States Bancshares, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022, file number 001-40727).

4.4						Form of Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 7, 2022, by and among Southern States Bancshares, Inc. and Each Purchaser (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Southern States Bancshares, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022, file no. 001-40727).

4.5						Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 28, 2016, by and among Southern States Bancshares, Inc. and the purchasers party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Southern States Bancshares, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on July 15, 2021, file number 333-257915).

4.6						Form of Deposit Agreement, including form of Depositary Receipt. (1)

II-2


4.7						Form of Indenture for Senior Indebtedness.*

4.8						Form of Indenture for Subordinated Indebtedness.*

4.9						Form of Senior Debt Security. (1)

4.10						Form of Subordinated Debt Security. (1)

4.11						Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement. (1)

4.12						Form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement. (1)

4.13						Form of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation Creating New Series of Preferred Stock. (1)

4.14						Specimen Certificate for Preferred Stock. (1)

4.15						Form of Unit Certificate. (1)

5.1						Opinion of Jones Walker LLP.*

23.1						Consent of Mauldin & Jenkins LLC.*

23.2						Consent of Jones Walker LLP (contained in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).*

24.1						Power of Attorney (included on signature pages hereto).*

25.1						Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee to act as Trustee under the Indenture for Senior Indebtedness. (2)

25.2						Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee to act as Trustee under the Indenture for Subordinated Indebtedness. (2)

107						Filing Fee Table.*

__________________

*Filed herewith.

(1)To be filed, if necessary, by an amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

(2)To be filed separately, if necessary, electronically on Form 305B2.

#Certain schedules, exhibits and appendices have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5). We will furnish the omitted schedules, exhibits and appendices to the SEC upon request by the SEC.

Item 17. Undertakings

(a)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1)To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i)To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii)To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii)To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that Paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

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(2)That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3)To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4)[Intentionally omitted.]

(5)That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(i)Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii)Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede, or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(6)That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i)Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii)Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii)The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv)Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

II-4

(c)Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the TIA in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the TIA.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City Anniston, State of Alabama, on October 7, 2022.


SOUTHERN STATES BANCSHARES, INC.

By:			/s/ Stephen W. Whatley
			Name: Stephen W. Whatley
			Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Stephen W. Whatley and Lynn Joyce, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act separately and full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) and exhibits to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as they or he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or his or her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

This Power of Attorney shall not revoke any powers of attorney previously executed by the undersigned. This Power of Attorney shall not be revoked by any subsequent power of attorney that the undersigned may execute, unless such subsequent power of attorney specifically provides that it revokes this Power of Attorney by referring to the date of the undersigned’s execution of this Power of Attorney. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever two or more powers of attorney granting the powers specified herein are valid, the agents appointed on each shall act separately unless otherwise specified.

S-1

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

Title

Date

/s/ Stephen W. Whatley

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

October 7, 2022

Stephen W. Whatley

/s/ Lynn Joyce

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

October 7, 2022

Lynn Joyce

/s/ Lewis Beavers

Director

October 7, 2022

Lewis Beavers

/s/ Alfred Hayes, Jr.

Director

October 7, 2022

Alfred Hayes, Jr.

/s/ Brent David Hitson

Director

October 7, 2022

Brent David Hitson

/s/ Brian Stacy Holmes

Director

October 7, 2022

Brian Stacy Holmes

/s/ Mark Chambers

Director

October 7, 2022

Mark Chambers

/s/ Cynthia S. McCarty

Director

October 7, 2022

Cynthia S. McCarty

/s/ Jay Florey Pumroy

Director

October 7, 2022

Jay Florey Pumroy

/s/ J. Henry Smith, IV

Director

October 7, 2022

J. Henry Smith, IV

/s/ Henry A. Turner

Director

October 7, 2022

Henry A. Turner

S-2

Document

Exhibit 4.7

SOUTHERN STATES BANCSHARES, INC.

AND

_______________________________

as Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of ,

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page
ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION		1

	SECTION 101. Definitions	1
	SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions	7
	SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee	7
	SECTION 104. Acts of Holders	8
	SECTION 105. Notices, etc.	9
	SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver	9
	SECTION 107. Effect of Headings; Table of Contents; Counterparts	9
	SECTION 108. Successors and Assigns	10
	SECTION 109. Separability Clause	10
	SECTION 110. Benefits of Indenture	10
	SECTION 111. No Personal Liability	10
	SECTION 112. Governing Law	10
	SECTION 113. Legal Holidays	10
	SECTION 114. Force Majeure	11
	SECTION 115. U.S.A. Patriot Act	11

ARTICLE TWO SECURITIES FORMS		11

	SECTION 201. Forms of Securities	11
	SECTION 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication	11
	SECTION 203. Securities Issuable in Global Form	11

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES		12

	SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series	12
	SECTION 302. Denominations	15
	SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery, and Dating	15
	SECTION 304. Temporary Securities	16
	SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange	18
	SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost, and Stolen Securities	19
	SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved	20
	SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners	21
	SECTION 309. Cancellation	21
	SECTION 310. Computation of Interest	22
	SECTION 311. CUSIPs	22

ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE		22

	SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture	22
	SECTION 402. Application of Trust Funds	23

ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES		23

	SECTION 501. Events of Default	23
	SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission, and Annulment	24
	SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee	25
	SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim	25
	SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities	26
	SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected	26
	SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits	26


	SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium, or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts	27
	SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies	27
	SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative	27
	SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver	27
	SECTION 512. Control by Holders of Securities	27
	SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults	28
	SECTION 514. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws	28
	SECTION 515. Undertaking for Costs	28

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE		29

	SECTION 601. Notice of Defaults	29
	SECTION 602. Certain Rights of Trustee	29
	SECTION 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities	31
	SECTION 604. May Hold Securities	31
	SECTION 605. Money Held in Trust	31
	SECTION 606. Compensation and Reimbursement	31
	SECTION 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility	32
	SECTION 608. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor	32
	SECTION 609. Acceptance of Appointment By Successor	33
	SECTION 610. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business	34
	SECTION 611. Appointment of Authenticating Agent	34
	SECTION 612. Certain Duties and Responsibilities	35
	SECTION 613. Conflicting Interests	35
	SECTION 614. Appointment of Co-Trustee	35

ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY		36

	SECTION 701. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders	36
	SECTION 702. Reports by Trustee	36
	SECTION 703. Reports by Company	36
	SECTION 704. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders	37

ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE, OR CONVEYANCE		37

	SECTION 801. Consolidations and Mergers of Company and Sales, Leases, and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions	37
	SECTION 802. Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation	38
	SECTION 803. Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel	38

ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES		38

	SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders	38
	SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders	39
	SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures	40
	SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures	40
	SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act	40
	SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures	40
	SECTION 907. Notice of Supplemental Indentures	41


ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS		41

	SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts	41
	SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency	41
	SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust	41
	SECTION 1004. [Reserved]	42
	SECTION 1005. Existence	42
	SECTION 1006. Maintenance of Properties	43
	SECTION 1007. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims	43
	SECTION 1008. Statement as to Compliance	43
	SECTION 1009. Additional Amounts	43
	SECTION 1010. Waiver of Certain Covenants	44

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES		44

	SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article	44
	SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee	44
	SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed	44
	SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption	45
	SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price	46
	SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date	46
	SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part	46

ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS		47

	SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article	47
	SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities	47
	SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund	47

ARTICLE THIRTEEN [RESERVED]		47

ARTICLE FOURTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE		48

	SECTION 1401. Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance	48
	SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge	48
	SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance	48
	SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance	49
	SECTION 1405. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions	50

ARTICLE FIFTEEN MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES		51

	SECTION 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called	51
	SECTION 1502. Call, Notice, and Place of Meetings	51
	SECTION 1503. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings	51
	SECTION 1504. Quorum; Action	51
	SECTION 1505. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings	52
	SECTION 1506. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings	53
	SECTION 1507. Evidence of Action Taken by Holders	53
	SECTION 1508. Proof of Execution of Instruments	53

iii

SOUTHERN STATES BANCSHARES, INC.

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), and Indenture, dated as of , :


Trust Indenture Act Section			Indenture Section
Section 310(a)(1)			607
(a)(2)			607
(b)			608, 613
Section 312(a)			704
(c)			701
Section 313(a)			702
Section 314(a)			703
(a)(4)			1008
(c)(1)			102
(c)(2)			102
(e)			102
Section 315(b)			601, 602
Section 316(a)(last sentence)			101 (“Outstanding”)
(a)(1)(A)			502, 512
(a)(1)(B)			513
(b)			508
Section 317(a)(1)			503
(a)(2)			504
Section 318(a)			112
(c)			112

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

Attention should also be directed to Section 318(c) of the TIA, which provides that the provisions of Sections 310 to and including 317 of the TIA are a part of and govern every qualified indenture, whether or not physically contained therein.

INDENTURE

INDENTURE, dated as of , , between SOUTHERN STATES BANCSHARES, INC., an Alabama corporation (the “Company”), having its principal office at 615 Quintard Avenue, Anniston, Alabama 36201, and_________________________________, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as Trustee hereunder (the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company deems it necessary to issue from time to time for its lawful purposes senior debt securities (the “Securities”) evidencing its unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, and has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Securities, unlimited as to aggregate principal amount, to bear interest at the rates or formulas, to mature at such times and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed therefor as hereinafter provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or the context otherwise requires:

(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;

(2) all other terms used herein that are defined in the TIA, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, and the terms “cash transaction” and “self-liquidating paper,” as used in TIA Section 311, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the rules of the Commission adopted under the TIA;

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; and

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

Certain terms, used principally in Article Three, Article Five, Article Six, and Article Ten, are defined in those Articles. In addition, the following terms shall have the indicated respective meanings:

“Act” has the meaning specified in Section 104.

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts that are required by a Security, under circumstances specified therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on certain Holders and that are owing to such Holders.

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

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of DTC for such global Security, Euroclear, or Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

“Authenticating Agent” means any authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 611.

“Bankruptcy Law” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

“Board of Directors” means either (i) the Board of Directors of the Company, the executive committee, or any other committee or director of that board duly authorized to act for it in respect hereof, or (ii) one or more duly authorized officers of the Company to whom the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof has delegated the authority to act with respect to the matters contemplated by this Indenture.

“Board Resolution” means (i) a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) a certificate signed by the authorized officer or officers of the Company to whom the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof has delegated its authority (as described in the definition of Board of Directors), and in each case, delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in the Place of Payment or particular location are authorized or required by law, regulation, or executive order to close.

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme Luxembourg.

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

“Common Depository” has the meaning specified in Section 304(b).

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

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

“Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency (other than as otherwise provided with respect to a Security pursuant to Section 301) as provided by the government of the country that issued such currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community, or (ii) the ECU, both within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of transactions by the public in situations of or within the European Community, or (iii) any currency unit (or composite currency) for the purposes for which it was established.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its principal corporate trust business relating to this Indenture shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at __________________________________, Attn: Southern States Bancshares, Inc. Administrator.

“Corporation” includes corporations, associations, companies, and business trusts.

“Custodian” has the meaning set forth in Section 501.

“Debt” means the principal, premium, if any, unpaid interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement and indemnification obligations, and all other amounts payable under or in respect of the following indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed, whether any such indebtedness exists as of the date of the Indenture or is created, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed after such date:

(i) any debt (a) for money borrowed, (b) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture, or similar instrument (including purchase money obligations) given in connection with the acquisition of any business, property, or assets, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, but shall not include any account payable or other obligation created or assumed in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services, or (c) that is a direct or indirect obligation that arises as a result of banker’s acceptances or bank letters of credit issued to secure obligations of the Company, or to secure the payment of revenue bonds issued for the benefit of the Company, whether contingent or otherwise;

(ii) any debt of others described in the preceding clause (i) that the Company has guaranteed or for which it is otherwise liable;

(iii) the obligation of the Company, as lessee under any lease of property that is reflected on the Company’s balance sheet as a capitalized lease; and

(iv) any deferral, amendment, renewal, extension, supplement, or refunding of any liability of the kind described in any of the preceding clauses (i), (ii), and (iii); provided, however, that, in computing indebtedness of the Company, there shall be excluded any particular indebtedness if, upon or prior to the maturity thereof, there shall have been deposited with a depository in trust money (or evidence of indebtedness if permitted by the instrument creating such indebtedness) in the necessary amount to pay, redeem, or satisfy such indebtedness as it becomes due, and the amount so deposited shall not be included in any computation of the assets of the Company.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

“Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees, and their respective successors.

“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank or its successor as operator of the Euroclear System.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.

“Foreign Currency” means any currency, currency unit, or composite currency issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as used in the United States applied on a consistent basis as in effect from time to time; provided that solely for purposes of any calculation required by the financial covenants contained herein, “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as used in the United States on the date hereof, applied on a consistent basis.

not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

“Holder” means, in the case of a Registered Security, the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of the or those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 301, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms that relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.

“Indexed Security” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

“Interest” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, shall mean interest payable after Maturity, and, when used with respect to a Security that provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1009, includes such Additional Amounts.

“Interest Payment Date” means, when used with respect to any Security, the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

“Make-Whole Amount” means the amount, if any, in addition to principal that is required by a Security, under the terms and conditions specified therein or as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, to be paid by the Company to the Holder thereof in connection with any optional redemption or accelerated payment of such Security, as determined by the Company.

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

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee, which certificate meets the requirements of Section 102.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel, which opinion meets the requirements of Section 102. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel for the Company.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

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

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

(ii) Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption or repayment money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or other provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(iii) Securities, except solely to the extent provided in Sections 1402 or 1403, as applicable, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance as provided in Article Fourteen;

(iv) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to the Trustee that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and

(v) Securities converted or exchanged into other securities or property (including securities of other issuers, provided that such securities are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and such issuer is then eligible to use Form S-3 (or any successor form) for a primary offering of its securities) of the Company pursuant to or in accordance with this Indenture if the terms of such Securities provide for convertibility or exchange pursuant to Section 301; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders for quorum purposes, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA Section 313, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the amount of principal thereof that would be (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable, at the time of such determination, upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, (ii) the principal amount of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the Dollar equivalent, determined pursuant to Section 301 as of the date such Security is originally issued by the Company, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent as of such date of original issuance of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above) of such Security, (iii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Indexed Security pursuant to Section 301, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on any Securities, or if no such Person is authorized, the Company.

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

“Place of Payment” means, when used with respect to the Securities of or within any series, the place or places where the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on such Securities are payable as specified as contemplated by Sections 301 and 1002.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen Security.

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

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

“Registered Security” means any Security that is registered in the Security Register.

“Regular Record Date” for the installment of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Registered Securities of or within any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301, whether or not a Business Day.

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

“Repayment Price” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid or purchased, the price at which it is to be repaid pursuant to this Indenture.

“Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer this Indenture and having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter relating to this Indenture, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.

“Security” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and, more particularly, means any Security or Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities” with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of or within any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is a “significant subsidiary” (within the meaning of Regulation S-X, promulgated under the Securities Act) of the Company.

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of or within any series means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

“Stated Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

“Subsidiary” means a corporation or a partnership or a limited liability company, a majority of the outstanding Voting Stock or partnership or membership interests, as the case may be, of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more of its other Subsidiaries.

“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed, except as provided in Section 905.

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

“United States” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions, and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

“United States person” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership, or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state or the District of Columbia or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.

“Voting Stock” means stock having voting power for the election of directors, or trustees, as the case may be.

“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent predetermination of interest on such Security) and as set forth in such Security in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles.

SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture (including covenants, compliance with which constitute conditions precedent) relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (excluding certificates delivered pursuant to Section 1008) shall include:

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

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

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

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

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

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

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, or a certificate or representations by counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the opinion, certificate, or representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such Opinion of Counsel or certificate or representations may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information as to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows that the certificate or opinion or representations as to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give, or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions, or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

SECTION 104. Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of the Outstanding Securities of all series or one or more series, as the case may be, may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 612) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company and any agent of the Trustee or the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1506.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other reasonable manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c) The ownership of Registered Securities shall be proved by the Security Register or by a certificate of the Security Registrar.

(d) [RESERVED]

(e) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act, the Company may, at its option, in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding TIA Section 316(c), such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement, or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.

(f) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted, or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent, or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

SECTION 105. Notices, etc.

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

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished, or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Southern States Bancshares, Inc. Administrator, or

(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Registered Securities by the Company or the Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each such Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register (or in the case of global Securities, delivered to DTC (or its designee) electronically, according to the Applicable Procedures of DTC), not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail or electronically as prescribed above, neither the failure to mail or send such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed or sent, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities. Any notice mailed or sent to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.

If by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail or electronically as prescribed above, then such notification to Holders of Registered Securities by other means as determined by the Company shall constitute a sufficient notification to such Holders for every purpose hereunder.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

SECTION 107. Effect of Headings; Table of Contents; Counterparts.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF (e-mail) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture and signature pages for all purposes.

SECTION 108. Successors and Assigns.

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

SECTION 109. Separability Clause.

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

SECTION 110. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent, and their successors hereunder or the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy, or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 111. No Personal Liability.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant, or agreement contained in this Indenture, in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any promoter, as such, or against any past, present, or future shareholder, officer, or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, under any rule of law, statute, or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities by the Holders thereof and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

SECTION 112. Governing Law.

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the TIA that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. The parties to this Indenture each hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Securities or this Indenture, and all such parties hereby irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or federal court and hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent that they may legally do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

SECTION 113. Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security, or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert or exchange a Security at a particular conversion or exchange price shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, other than a provision in the Securities of any series that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu hereof), payment of interest or any Additional Amounts or principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, conversion or exchange need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, or sinking fund payment date, or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity or on such last day for conversion or exchange, provided that no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, or on such last day for conversion or exchange, as the case may be.

SECTION 114. Force Majeure.

In no event shall the Trustee (in any capacity hereunder) be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications, or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee (in any capacity hereunder) shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

SECTION 115. U.S.A. Patriot Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITIES FORMS

SECTION 201. Forms of Securities.

The Registered Securities, if any, shall be in substantially the forms as shall be established in or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto or Board Resolutions, shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions, and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto, and may have such letters, numbers, or other marks of identification or designation, and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.

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

SECTION 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

Subject to Section 611, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.


						, as Trustee
By


as Authorized Signatory

Dated:

SECTION 203. Securities Issuable in Global Form.

of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges, maturities, or redemptions. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon written instruction given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or 304. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon written instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102.

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of and any premium or Make-Whole Amount and interest on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 308 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent global Security, in the case of a permanent global Security in registered form, as the Holder of such permanent global Security in registered form.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, so long as a series of Securities is a global Security, the parties hereto will be bound at all times by the procedures of the applicable depositary with respect to such series.

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

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

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, or indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following, as applicable (each of which (except for the matters set forth in clauses (1), (2), and (15) below), if so provided, may be determined from time to time by the Company with respect to unissued Securities of or within the series when issued from time to time):

(1) the title of the Securities of or within the series (that shall distinguish the Securities of such series from all other series of Securities);

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of or within the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of or within the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, or 1107);

(3) the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be determined, on which the principal of the Securities of or within the series shall be payable and the amount of principal payable thereon;

(4) the rate or rates (that may be fixed or variable) at which the Securities of or within the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date shall be determined, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months;

(5) the place or places where the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, payable in respect of, Securities of or within the series shall be payable, any Registered Securities of or within the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, or conversion, and notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of or within the series and this Indenture may be served;

(6) the period or periods within which, the price or prices (including the premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) at which, the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of or within the series may be redeemed in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have the option;

(7) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay, or purchase Securities of or within the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of or within the series shall be redeemed, repaid, or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(8) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Registered Securities of or within the series shall be issuable;

(9) if other than the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar and/or Paying Agent;

(10) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of or within the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or, if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of or within the series that is convertible in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, or the method by which such portion shall be determined;

(11) if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency or Currencies in which payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities of or within the series shall be payable or in which the Securities of or within the series shall be denominated;

(12) whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of or within the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula, or other method (which index, formula, or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more currencies, currency units, composite currencies, commodities, equity indices, or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(13) whether the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities of or within the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies other than that in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of, and identity of the exchange rate agent with responsibility for, determining the exchange rate between the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which such Securities are to be so payable;

(14) provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of or within the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;

(15) any deletions from, modifications of, or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company with respect to Securities of or within the series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;

(16) whether Securities of or within the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, whether any Securities of or within the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of or within the series are to be issuable in permanent global form and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 305, and, if Registered Securities of or within the series are to be issuable as a global Security, the identity of the depository for such series;

(17) [RESERVED]

(18) the Person to whom any interest on any Registered Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 304;

(19) the applicability, if any, of Sections 1402 and/or 1403 to the Securities of or within the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to, or in lieu of, any of the provisions of Article Fourteen;

(20) if the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents, or conditions;

(21) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 1009 on the Securities of or within the series to any Holder who is not a United States person (including any modification to the definition of such term) in respect of any tax, assessment, or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option);

(22) the obligation, if any, of the Company to permit the Securities of such series to be converted into or exchanged for Common Stock of the Company or other securities or property of the Company and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected (including, without limitation, the initial conversion price or rate, the conversion or exchange period, any adjustment of the applicable conversion or exchange price or rate, and any requirements relative to the reservation of such shares for purposes of conversion or exchange);

(23) if convertible or exchangeable, any applicable limitations on the ownership or transferability of the securities or property into which such Securities are convertible or exchangeable; and

(24) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture except as permitted by Section 905).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities issued in global form, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution or in any indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for issuances of additional Securities of such series.

If any of the terms of the Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, a copy of an appropriate record of such action(s) shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order for authentication and delivery of such Securities.

SECTION 302. Denominations.

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. With respect to Securities of any series denominated in Dollars, in the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Registered Securities of such series, other than Registered Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery, and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its President or a Vice President. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.

If all of the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time and if the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing such series shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures for the issuance of such Securities and determining the terms of particular Securities of such series, such as interest rate or formula, maturity date, date of issuance, and date from which interest shall accrue. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 612 and TIA Sections 315(a) through 315(d)) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon:

(i) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 102 and stating that:

(a) the form or forms of such Securities have been, or will have been upon compliance with such procedures as may be specified therein, established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture and that any conditions precedent to the authorization and delivery of the Securities have been satisfied;

(b) the terms of such Securities have been, or will have been upon compliance with such procedures as may be specified therein, established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(c) such Securities, when completed pursuant to such procedures as may be specified therein, and executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute legal, valid, and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles and to such other matters as may be specified therein; and

(ii) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 102 and stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the issuance of such Securities have been, or will have been upon compliance with such procedures as may be specified therein, complied with and that, to the best of the knowledge of the signers of such certificate, no Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing.

all conditions precedent to the execution of the supplemental indenture and the authentication and delivery of the new series of Securities have been complied with and that such supplemental indenture and new series of Securities are the legal, valid, and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph, if all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, unless requested by the Trustee, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Opinion of Counsel or an Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to the preceding paragraph at the time of issuance of each Security of such series, but such order, opinion, and certificate, with appropriate modifications to cover such future issuances, shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, obligations, or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued or sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.

(a) Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and (subject to the fourth and fifth paragraphs of Section 303) upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed, or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions, and other variations as the officers of the Company executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. In the case of Securities of any series, such temporary Securities may be in global form.

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged in accordance with Section 304(b) or as otherwise provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution), if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

(b) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated in Section 301, this Section 304(b) shall govern the exchange of temporary Securities issued in global form other than through the facilities of DTC. If any such temporary Security is issued in global form, then such temporary global Security shall, unless otherwise provided therein, be delivered to the London, England office of a depository or common depository (the “Common Depository”), for the benefit of Euroclear and Clearstream.

Without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary global Security (the “Exchange Date”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Exchange Date, such temporary global Security shall be surrendered by the Common Depository to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of or within the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such temporary global Security to be exchanged. The definitive Securities to be delivered in exchange for any such temporary global Security shall be in registered form, or permanent global registered form, or any combination thereof, as specified by Section 301, and, if any combination thereof is so specified, as requested by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, upon such presentation by the Common Depository, such temporary global Security is accompanied by a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by Euroclear as to the portion of such temporary global Security, if any, held for its account then to be exchanged and a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by Euroclear or Clearstream as to the portion of such temporary global Security, if any, held for its account then to be exchanged, each in the form set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 301.

Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, the interest of a beneficial owner of Securities of a series in a temporary global Security shall be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor following the Exchange Date when the account holder instructs Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, to request such exchange on his behalf and delivers to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 301), dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Exchange Date, copies of which certificate shall be available from the offices of Euroclear or Clearstream, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent appointed for such series of Securities, and each Paying Agent. Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, any such exchange shall be made free of charge to the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security, except that a Person receiving definitive Securities must bear the cost of insurance, postage, transportation, and the like unless such Person takes delivery of such definitive Securities in person at the offices of Euroclear or Clearstream.

Until exchanged in full as hereinabove provided, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor authenticated and delivered hereunder, except that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date for Securities of such series occurring prior to the applicable Exchange Date shall be payable to Euroclear or Clearstream on such Interest Payment Date upon delivery by Euroclear or Clearstream to the Trustee of a certificate or certificates in the form set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture (or in such other forms as may be established pursuant to Section 301), for credit without further interest on or after such Interest Payment Date to the respective accounts of Persons who are the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security on such Interest Payment Date and who have each delivered to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Interest Payment Date occurring prior to such Exchange Date in the form set forth as Exhibit A to this Indenture (or in such other forms as may be established pursuant to Section 301). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the certifications made pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the certification requirements of the preceding two paragraphs of this Section 304(b) and of the third paragraph of Section 303 of this Indenture, and the interests of the Persons who are the beneficial owners of the temporary global Security with respect to which such certification was made will be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor on the Exchange Date or the date of certification if such date occurs after the Exchange Date, without further act or deed by such beneficial owners. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, no payments of principal or interest owing with respect to a beneficial interest in a temporary global Security will be made unless and until such interest in such temporary global Security shall have been exchanged for an interest in a definitive Security. Any interest so received by Euroclear or Clearstream and not paid as herein provided shall be returned to the Trustee prior to the expiration of two years after such Interest Payment Date in order to be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer, and Exchange.

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office or in any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment a register for each series of Securities (the registers maintained in such office or in any such office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes referred to collectively as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it or the Security Registrar may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Registered Securities and of transfers of Registered Securities. The Security Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. The Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office, is hereby initially appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Registered Securities and transfers of Registered Securities on such Security Register as herein provided. In the event that the Trustee shall cease to be Security Registrar, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register at all reasonable times and to require that a copy of the Security Register in written form be delivered to it from time to time as reasonably requested. Subject to the provisions of this Section 305, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, and containing identical terms and provisions.

Subject to the provisions of this Section 305, at the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination or denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions, upon surrender of the Registered Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency. Whenever any such Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any permanent global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If the depository for any permanent global Security is DTC, then, unless the terms of such global Security expressly permit such global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive Securities, a global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to a nominee of DTC, or by a nominee of DTC to DTC, or to a successor to DTC for such global Security selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor to DTC. If at any time DTC notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for the applicable global Security or Securities or if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act if so required by applicable law or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor depository with respect to such global Security or Securities. If (x) a successor depository for such global Security or Securities is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such unwillingness, inability, or ineligibility, (y) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the beneficial owners representing a majority in principal amount of the applicable series of Securities represented by such global Security or Securities advise DTC to cease acting as depository for such global Security or Securities or (z) the Company, in its sole discretion, determines at any time that all Outstanding Securities (but not less than all) of any series issued or issuable in the form of one or more global Securities shall no longer be represented by such global Security or Securities (provided, however, the Company may not make such determination during the 40-day restricted period provided by Regulation S under the Securities Act or during any other similar period during which the Securities must be held in global form as may be required by the Securities Act), then the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, definitive Securities of like series, rank, tenor, and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such global Security or Securities. If any beneficial owner of an interest in a permanent global Security is otherwise entitled to exchange such an interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified by Section 301 and provided that any applicable notice provided in the permanent global Security shall have been given, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interest may be so exchanged, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, definitive Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent global Security. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent global Security shall be surrendered for

exchange by DTC or such other depository as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date if the Security for which exchange is requested may be among those selected for redemption. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest or interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such permanent global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

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

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

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

The Company or the Trustee, as applicable, shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Security if such Security may be among those selected for redemption during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before selection of the Securities to be redeemed under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on, if such Securities are issuable only as Registered Securities, the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Registered Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to issue or to register the transfer or exchange of any Security that has been surrendered for repayment, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer complies with the registration provisions or exemptions from the Securities Act or state securities laws.

SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost, and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company, together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them or any agent of either of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, appertaining to the surrendered Security.

If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss, or theft of any Security, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of actual notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost, or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, appertaining to such destroyed, lost, or stolen Security.

Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, 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 (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost, or stolen Security, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost, or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen Securities.

SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, interest on any Registered Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002; provided, however, that each installment of interest on any Registered Security may at the Company’s option be paid by (i) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 308, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or (ii) transfer to an account maintained by the payee located inside the United States.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301, every permanent global Security will provide that interest, if any, payable on any Interest Payment Date will be paid to DTC, Euroclear, and/or Clearstream, as the case may be, with respect to that portion of such permanent global Security held for its account by DTC, Euroclear, or Clearstream, as the case may be, for the purpose of permitting such party to credit the interest received by it in respect of such permanent global Security to the accounts of the beneficial owners thereof.

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, any interest on any Registered Security of any series 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 thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (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 of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment (which shall not be less than 20 days after such notice is received by the Trustee), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest and 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 (herein called a “Special Record Date”) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not 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 (or to the extent permitted by applicable procedures or

regulations, electronically delivered), to each Holder of Registered Securities of such series at such Holder’s address as it appears in the Security 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 the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2). (2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after written notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

Subject to the provisions of Section 1402 and except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, in the case of any Security that is converted or exchanged after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security, the principal of (or premium, if any, on) which shall become due and payable, whether at a Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, or otherwise, prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion or exchange, and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case of any Security which is converted or exchanged, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion or exchange of such Security shall not be payable.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any interest which is paid prior to the expiration of the 30-day period set forth in Section 5.01(1) shall be paid to Holders as of the Regular Record Date for which interest has not been paid.

SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on, such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Security in global form or for maintaining, supervising, or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy, or other authorization furnished by any depository, as a Holder, with respect to such global Security or impair, as between such depository and owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such depository (or its nominee) as Holder of such global Security.

SECTION 309. Cancellation.

Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder that the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall, upon receipt of a Company Request, be promptly canceled by the Trustee. If the Company shall so acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. Cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures.

SECTION 310. Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 311. CUSIPs.

The Company in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers (or any other identifying control number, if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices, including notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders, provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in such notice.

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series herein expressly provided for and any right to receive Additional Amounts, as provided in Section 1009), and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series when

(1) either

(A) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than, (i) Securities of such series that have been destroyed, lost, or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, and (ii) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all Securities of such series

(i) have become due and payable, or

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

(iii) if redeemable at the option of the Company, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

for cancellation, for principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities that have become due and payable) or the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

(2) The Company has paid or caused to be paid all or other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

(3) The Company has delivered to the Trustee 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 as to such series have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 611 and, if money shall have been deposited with and held by the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003, shall survive.

In the event that there are Securities of two or more series outstanding hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to Securities of a particular series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions thereto are met.

SECTION 402. Application of Trust Funds.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), and any interest and Additional Amounts for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

SECTION 501. Events of Default.

Subject to any modifications, additions, or deletions relating to any series of Securities as contemplated pursuant to Section 301, “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to any particular series of Securities, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether or not it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree, or order of any court or any order, rule, or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any Security of or within that series, when such interest or Additional Amounts become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on) any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable at its Maturity; or

(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of any Security of that series; or

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture with respect to any Security of that series (other than (i) a covenant or agreement included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than such series or (ii) a covenant or warranty 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 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the

Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series 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

(5) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences a voluntary case,

(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(A) is for relief against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case,

(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of either of its property, or

(C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

As used in this Section 501, the term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors and the term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, or other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission, and Annulment.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each such affected series (voting as a single class) may declare the principal (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) of, and the Make-Whole Amount, if any, on, all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or specified portion thereof shall become immediately due and payable.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay in the currency, currency unit, or composite currency in which the Securities of such series is payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series):

(A) all overdue installments of interest on and any Additional Amounts payable in respect of all Outstanding Securities of that series;

(B) the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on) any Outstanding Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities;

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of interest and any Additional Amounts at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities; and

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents, and counsel; and

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on Securities of that series that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if:

(1) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on any Security of any series when such interest or Additional Amount becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on) any Security of any series at its Maturity,

then the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities of such series, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, with interest upon any overdue principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon any overdue installments of interest or Additional Amounts, if any, at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents, and counsel.

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities of such series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities of such series, wherever situated.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition, or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal, premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, of principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable

compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents, and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of Securities of such series 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 Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee, their agents, and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee hereunder.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a Security in any such proceeding.

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected.

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest and any Additional Amounts, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder), its agents and counsel and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606 and Section 1405 hereunder,

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities for principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest and any Additional Amounts payable, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the aggregate amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), interest, and Additional Amounts, respectively, and

THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company.

SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses, and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request, and offer of security and indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb, or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium, or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, such Security on the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee, and the Holders of Securities shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or any acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities.

SECTION 512. Control by Holders of Securities.

Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction, and

(3) the Trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the Holders of Securities of such series not joining therein (but the Trustee shall have no obligation as to the determination of such undue prejudice).

SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series consent to the waiver of any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on or Additional Amounts payable in respect of any Security of such series, or

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 514. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay, or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

SECTION 515. Undertaking for Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security 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, 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; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on or Additional Amounts payable with respect to any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601. Notice of Defaults.

Within 90 days after it obtains actual knowledge of the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), notice of such default hereunder actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities of such series; and provided further that in the case of any default or breach of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to the Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series.

SECTION 602. Certain Rights and Duties of Trustee.

If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs. The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that (1) this sentence does not limit the effect of the preceding sentence; (2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgement made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and (3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith and without negligence in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 512.

Subject to the provisions of TIA Section 315(a) through 315(d):

(1) the Trustee shall perform only such duties as are expressly undertaken by it to perform under this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;

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

(3) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (other than delivery of any Security to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 that shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(4) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering, or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

(5) the Trustee may consult with counsel and as a condition to the taking, suffering, or omission of any action hereunder may demand an Opinion of Counsel, and the advice of such counsel or any 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 reliance thereon;

(6) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any series pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses, and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(7) 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, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon, or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as is reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records, and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney and, provided it acts in good faith and with due care, it shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

(8) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, attorneys, custodians, or nominees, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent, attorney, custodian, or nominee appointed with due care by it hereunder;

(9) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; provided, however, that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence;

(10) [Reserved.]

(11) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, punitive, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of business, goodwill, opportunity, or profit of any kind) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

(12) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture and states that it is a notice of default;

(13) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities, and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian, and other Person employed to act hereunder; and

(14) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture;

(15) the Trustee shall not be liable or responsible for any action or inaction of DTC, Euroclear, Clearstream, the Common Depositary, or any other clearinghouse or depositary;

(16) the Trustee shall not be liable or responsible for any action or inaction of any Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent, co-Trustee, or Security Registrar (unless the Trustee is acting in such capacities as applicable, subject to the terms hereof);

(17) the Trustee may accept as conclusive evidence of any fact or the correctness of any calculation and shall be fully protected in relying upon the Officers’ Certificate provided to it by the Company;

(18) the Trustee shall have no obligation to undertake any calculation hereunder or have any liability for any calculation performed in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereunder;

(19) the permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in the Indenture shall not be construed as a duty;

(20) under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Securities;

(21) the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder; and

(22) the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire, no duty to determine, and no duty to monitor as to the performance of the Company’s covenants under this Indenture or the financial performance of the Company; the Trustee shall be entitled to assume, until it has received written notice in accordance with this Indenture, that the Company is properly performing its duties hereunder.

SECTION 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities, and perform its obligations hereunder. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 604. May Hold Securities.

The Trustee, any Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent, or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Section 613 and TIA Sections 310(b) and 311, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent, or such other agent.

SECTION 605. Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on, or investment of, any money received by it hereunder.

SECTION 606. Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company agrees:

(1) to pay to the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) from time to time compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder, including extraordinary services rendered in connection with or during the continuation of a default hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as agreed in writing among the parties;

(2) to reimburse each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements, and advances incurred or made by it in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel) in addition to the compensation for its services, except to the extent any such expense, disbursement, or advance may be attributable to its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order; and

(3) to indemnify each of the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) and any predecessor Trustee and each of their respective directors, officers, agents, and employees for, and to protect and hold each of them harmless against, any loss, damages, claims, fees, liability, or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by, or determined by the income or gain of the Trustee) and including attorneys’ fees and expenses, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts or the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder brought by the Company or any third party (and including

those incurred with respect to enforcement of its right to indemnity hereunder) except to the extent any such loss, liability, or expense may be attributable to its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on particular Securities.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default described in Section 501(5) and (6), such expenses (including the fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

The provisions of this Article 6, as applicable, shall survive the termination of this Indenture or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

SECTION 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or is a subsidiary of a corporation that shall be a Person that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and that unconditionally guarantees the obligations of the Trustee hereunder. If such Trustee or Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of Federal, State, Territorial, or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Trustee or Person 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 the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

SECTION 608. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 609.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(c) The Trustee may be removed upon 30 days’ notice with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

(d) If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 613 or TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 607 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed, or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series). If, within one year after such resignation, removal, or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to Securities of such series.

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series in the manner provided for notices to the Holders of Securities in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

SECTION 609. Acceptance of Appointment By Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee shall execute, acknowledge, and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, 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, trusts, and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer, and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 606. No resigning or removed Trustee shall have any liability or responsibility for the action or inaction of any successor Trustee.

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee, and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto, pursuant to Article Nine hereof, wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and that (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts, and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, 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 Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) 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 trusts 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; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed, or conveyance, shall become vested

with all the rights, powers, trusts, and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer, and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers, and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

(e) All monies due and owing to the Trustee shall be paid before the Successor Trustee takes over.

SECTION 610. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation, or Succession to Business.

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, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion, or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities, in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect that this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.

SECTION 611. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities that shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer, or partial redemption or repayment thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, a copy of which instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company and, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301, shall at all times be a bank or trust company or corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States of America or of any State or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $25,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent for any series of Securities may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee for such series and to the Company. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent 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 such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee for such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent that shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of or within the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve in the manner set forth in Section 106. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers, and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent herein. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation including reimbursement of its reasonable expenses for its services under this Section.

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to or in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication substantially in the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.


		, as Trustee

By:
	as Authenticating Agent
By:
	Authorized Signatory

Dated:

SECTION 612. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

SECTION 613. Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the TIA, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the TIA and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

SECTION 614. Appointment of Co-Trustee.

(a) [RESERVED].

(b) Every such separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be appointed and act subject to the following provisions and conditions:

(i) all rights, powers, duties, and obligations conferred or imposed upon the Trustee shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Trustee and such separate trustee or co-trustee jointly (it being understood that such separate trustee or co-trustee is not authorized to act separately without the Trustee joining in such act), except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are to be performed, the Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties, and obligations (including the holding of title to the trust estate created hereunder or any portion thereof in any such jurisdiction) shall be exercised and performed singly by such separate trustee or co-trustee, but solely at the direction of the Trustee;

(ii) no trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of any other trustee hereunder; and

(iii) the Trustee may at any time accept the resignation of or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee.

(c) Any notice, request, or other writing given to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been given to each of the then separate trustees and co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of them. Every instrument appointing any separate trustee or co-trustee shall refer to this Indenture and the conditions of this Article Six.

(d) Each such separate trustee and co-trustee, upon its acceptance of the trusts conferred, shall be vested with the estates or property specified in its instrument of appointment, either jointly with the Trustee or separately, as may be provided therein, subject to all the provisions of this Indenture, specifically including every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct of, affecting the liability of, or affording protection or rights (including the rights to compensation, reimbursement, and indemnification hereunder) to, the Trustee. Every such instrument shall be filed with the Trustee.

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders.

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any Paying Agent nor any Security Registrar nor any director, officer, agent, or employee of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with TIA Section 312, 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 TIA Section 312(b).

SECTION 702. Reports by Trustee.

Within 60 days after_________ of each year commencing with the first _________ after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities as provided in TIA Section 313(c) a brief report dated as of such _________ if and to the extent required by TIA Section 313(a).

SECTION 703. Reports by Company.

The Company will:

the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents, and reports that may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents, and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

(3) transmit by mail (or to the extent permitted by applicable procedures or regulations, deliver electronically) to the Holders of Securities, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), such summaries of any information, documents, and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) or (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

The Company’s obligations under Section 703(1) and (2) shall be deemed satisfied, and no further filing with or delivery to the Trustee of copies of such information, documents, or reports shall be required pursuant to such Sections, to the extent the Company has filed such information, documents, or reports with the Commission via the Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval (EDGAR) or any successor system. Delivery, posting, or filing of such reports, information, and documents is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates). The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the filing, timeliness, or content of any report required hereunder (other than as required under Section 702 hereof).

SECTION 704. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(a) with respect to each series of Securities, quarterly or semi-annually (as applicable), not later than 15 days after the Regular Record Date for interest for such series of Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Registered Securities of such series as of such Regular Record Date, or if there is no Regular Record Date for interest for such series of Securities, semi-annually, upon such dates as are set forth in the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto authorizing such series, 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, provided, however, that, so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar, no such lists shall be required to be furnished.

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE, OR CONVEYANCE

SECTION 801. Consolidations and Mergers of Company and Sales, Leases, and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions.

The Company may consolidate with, or sell, lease, or convey all or substantially all of its assets to, or merge with or into any other Person, provided that in any such case, (i) either the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the successor (if other than the Company) entity shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States or a State thereof or the District of Columbia and such successor entity shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and any interest (including all Additional Amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 1009) on all of the Securities, according to their tenor, or as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company by supplemental indenture, complying

with Article Nine hereof, satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by such Person and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

SECTION 802. Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, or conveyance and upon any such assumption by the successor entity, 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 party of the first part, and the predecessor entity, except in the event of a lease, shall be relieved of any further obligation under this Indenture and the Securities. Such successor entity thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder that theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; 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 shall authenticate and shall deliver any Securities that previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities that such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, or conveyance, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

SECTION 803. Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

Any consolidation, merger, sale, lease, or conveyance permitted under Section 801 is also subject to the condition that the Trustee receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, or conveyance, and the assumption by any successor entity, complies with the provisions of this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

Without the consent of any Holders of Securities, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities contained; or

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and, if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default 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 or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or

(4) [RESERVED]

(5) to add to, change, or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of any series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change, or elimination shall (i) neither (A) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision, nor (B) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision; or (ii) become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding; or

(6) to secure the Securities; or

(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, including the provisions and procedures relating to Securities convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property of the Company; or

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series 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; or

(9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture that shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture or to make any other changes, provided that in each case, such provisions shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors; or

(10) to close this Indenture with respect to the authentication and delivery of additional series of Securities or to qualify, or maintain qualification of, this Indenture under the TIA; or

(11) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 401, 1402 and 1403; provided in each case that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect.

SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

The Company and the Trustee may (i) amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities without notice to any Holder of Securities but with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series then outstanding or (ii) supplement this Indenture with regard to a series of Securities, amend or supplement a Supplemental Indenture relating to a series of Securities, or amend the Securities of a series, without notice to any Holder of Securities but with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then outstanding. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of all series then outstanding may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities without notice to any Holder of Securities. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series then outstanding may waive compliance with any provision of this Indenture, any Supplemental Indenture, or the Securities of that series with regard to the Securities of that series without notice to any Holder of Securities. However, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, no amendment, supplement, or waiver may:

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on) or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security; or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate or amount of interest thereon or any Additional Amounts payable in respect thereof, or any premium or Make-Whole Amount payable upon the redemption thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1009 (except as contemplated by Section 801(i) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or Make-Whole Amount, if any, that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504, or change any Place of Payment where, or the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which, the principal of any Security or any

premium or Make-Whole Amount or any Additional Amounts payable in respect thereof or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be); or

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver with respect to such series (or compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture or; or reduce the requirements of Section 1504 for quorum or voting; or

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1010, except to increase the required percentage to effect such action or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; or

(4) make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any Security pursuant to Section 301 or decrease the conversion or exchange rate or increase the conversion or exchange price of any such Security.

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

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modification thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all conditions precedent to the execution of such supplemental indenture have been complied with. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the TIA as then in effect.

SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

SECTION 907. Notice of Supplemental Indentures.

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of Section 902, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Holders of each Outstanding Security affected, in the manner provided for in Section 106, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture.

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts payable in respect of the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of such series of Securities and this Indenture. Unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301, at the option of the Company, all payments of principal may be paid by check to the registered Holder of the Registered Security or other person entitled thereto against surrender of such Security.

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

If Securities of a series are issuable only as Registered Securities, the Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment or conversion, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of each such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices, and demands (but not service of process) may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office.

The Company may from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all of such purposes, and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in accordance with the requirements set forth above for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Foreign Currency or (ii) may be payable in a Foreign Currency, or so long as it is required under any other provision of the Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one exchange rate agent.

SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of any Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), or interest on or Additional Amounts in respect of, any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) sufficient to pay the principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Amounts in respect of, any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum (in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium, Make-Whole Amount or interest, or Additional Amounts and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

The Company will cause each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on Securities or Additional Amounts in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

(2) give the Trustee written notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities) in the making of any such payment of principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts; and

(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

Subject to applicable law, except as otherwise provided in the Securities of any series, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), or interest on, or any Additional Amounts in respect of, any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), interest, or Additional Amounts has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon Company Request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment of such principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on, or any Additional Amounts in respect of, any Security, without interest thereon, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 1004. [Reserved].

SECTION 1005. Existence.

Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the existence, material rights (charter and statutory), and material franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any right or franchise if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as a whole or that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders of Securities of any series.

SECTION 1006. Maintenance of Properties.

The Company will cause all of its material properties used or useful in the conduct of its business to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair, and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments, and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from selling or otherwise disposing of its properties in any transaction that is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business.

SECTION 1007. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental charges levied or imposed upon it or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits, or property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, or charge whose amount, applicability, or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

SECTION 1008. Statement as to Compliance.

The Company will deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, or principal accounting officer as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture and, in the event of any noncompliance, specifying such noncompliance and the nature and status thereof. For purposes of this Section 1008, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.

In addition, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as reasonably possible, and in any event within 30 days after the Company has actual knowledge of the occurrence of a Default, if such Default is continuing, a certificate describing such Default, its status, and the actions that the Company is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

SECTION 1009. Additional Amounts.

If any Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of such series Additional Amounts as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context except in the case of Section 502(1), the payment of the principal of or any premium, Make-Whole Amount, or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were, or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal and any premium or Make-Whole Amount or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series who are not United States persons without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of or within the series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country

the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities of that series, and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts, if any, required by the terms of such Securities. In the event that the Trustee or any Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall not so receive the above mentioned certificate, then the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall be entitled (i) to assume that no such withholding or deduction is required with respect to any payment of principal or interest with respect to any Securities of a series until it shall have received a certificate advising otherwise and (ii) to make all payments of principal and interest with respect to the Securities of a series without withholding or deductions until otherwise advised. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense (including but not limited to legal fees and expenses) reasonably incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section or in reliance on the Company’s not furnishing such an Officers’ Certificate.

SECTION 1010. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision, or condition set forth in Sections 1005 to 1007, inclusive, and with any other term, provision, or condition with respect to the Securities of any series specified in accordance with Section 301 (except any such term, provision, or condition that could not be amended without the consent of all Holders of Securities of such series pursuant to Section 902), if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all outstanding Securities of such series, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision, or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities (in whole or in part) shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all of the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the giving of the notice of redemption in Section 1104 (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee, in writing, of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series (identified by CUSIP or other control number) to be redeemed and of the Redemption Price of such Securities and any accrued interest and Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, if any, on the Redemption Date. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel evidencing compliance with such restriction.

SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

If less than all the Securities of any series issued with the same terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series issued on such date with the same terms not previously called for redemption, by lot, pro rata, or such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate; provided that if the Securities are represented by one or more global Securities, interest in such global Securities shall be selected for redemption subject to the rules and procedures of DTC, and that may provide for the selection for redemption of

portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted or exchanged portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities that have been converted or exchanged during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection. In any case where more than one Security is registered in the same name, the Trustee in its discretion may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Security.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security that has been or is to be redeemed.

SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, but failure to give such notice in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other such Security or portion thereof.

Any notice that is mailed or otherwise given to the Holders of Registered Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date;

(2) the Redemption Price, accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any;

(3) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amount) of the particular Security or Securities to be redeemed;

(4) in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the holder will receive, without a charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed;

(5) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price and accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106, if any, will become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date;

(6) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, or for conversion or exchange;

(7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case;

(8) the CUSIP number of such Security, if any, provided that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any such CUSIP number;

(9) if applicable, that a Holder of Securities who desires to convert or exchange Securities to be redeemed must satisfy the requirements for conversion or exchange contained in such Securities, the then existing conversion or exchange price or rate and the date and time when the option to convert or exchange shall expire and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange; and

(10) such other information as the Trustee reasonably deems appropriate.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s written request in an Officers’ Certificate delivered at least 15 days prior to the date such notice is to be given to the Holders (unless a shorter period shall be acceptable to the Trustee), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.

At or prior to 10:00 a.m. (local time at the Place of Payment) on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, which it may not do in the case of a sinking fund payment under Article Twelve, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) sufficient to pay on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date.

SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) (together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date and Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, if any, on the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date and Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, if any, on the Redemption Date; provided, however, that except as otherwise provided with respect to Securities convertible or exchangeable into other securities or property (including securities of other issuers, provided that such securities are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and such issuer is then eligible to use Form S-3 (or any successor form) for a primary offering of its securities) of the Company, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article Twelve) shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of any Securities of any series, the cash amount of any mandatory sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of a series, (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, as provided for by the terms of such Securities, or which have otherwise been acquired by the Company; provided that such Securities so delivered or applied as a credit have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the applicable Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for Securities of any series, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202, and the amount of optional sinking fund payments, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered and credited. If such Officers’ Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and the Company shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 1401. Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

If, pursuant to Section 301, provision is made for either or both of (a) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 1402 or (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 1403 to be applicable to the Securities of any series, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the other provisions of this Article (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution at any time, with respect to such Securities, elect to defease such Outstanding Securities pursuant to Section 1402 (if applicable) or Section 1403 (if applicable) upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article.

SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities on the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 1405 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (A) and (B) below, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following that shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1404 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 305, 306, 1002, and 1003 and with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Section 1009, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, and immunities of the Trustee hereunder including but not limited to Section 606 hereof and (D) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article Fourteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1403 with respect to such Securities.

SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 1005 to 1007, inclusive, and, if specified pursuant to Section 301, its obligations under any other covenant, with respect to such Outstanding Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent, or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with Sections 1005 to 1007, inclusive, or such other covenant, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition, or limitation set forth in any such Section or such other covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default under Section 501(4) or 501(7) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to application of Section 1402 or Section 1403 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series:

(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (1) an amount in such currency, currencies, or currency unit in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity, or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the currency, currencies, or currency unit in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) that through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof in an amount, sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and that shall be applied by the Trustee to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities; provided, that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to said payments with respect to such Securities. Before such a deposit, the Company may give to the Trustee, in accordance with Section 1102 hereof, a notice of its election to redeem all or any portion of such Outstanding Securities at a future date in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series and Article Eleven hereof, which notice shall be irrevocable. Such irrevocable redemption notice, if given, shall be given effect in applying the foregoing.

(b) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound (and shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest pursuant to Section 310(b) of the TIA with respect to any Security of the Company).

(c) No Event of Default or event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as Sections 501(5) and 501(6) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

(d) In the case of an election under Section 1402, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain, or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner, and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.

(e) In the case of an election under Section 1403, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain, or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

Section 1402 or Section 1403 (as the case may be) registration is not required under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, by the Company, with respect to the trust funds representing such deposit or by the Trustee for such trust funds or (ii) all necessary registrations under said Act have been effected.

(g) After the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions, or limitations that may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.

SECTION 1405. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 301) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 1405, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1404 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Security pursuant to Section 301, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 1404(a) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 301 or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a currency or currency unit other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs in respect of the currency or currency unit in which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), and interest, if any, on such Security as the same becomes due and Additional Amounts, if any, out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the currency or currency unit in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on the applicable market exchange rate for such currency or currency unit in effect on the second Business Day prior to each payment date, except, with respect to a Conversion Event, for such currency or currency unit in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee, or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1404 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee, or other charge that by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities.

Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in Section 1404 that, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article.

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

A meeting of Holders of Securities of any series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given, or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

SECTION 1502. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

(a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, 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 given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

(b) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

SECTION 1503. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel, and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

SECTION 1504. Quorum; Action.

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes after the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the 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 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 1502(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five (5) days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum. Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, 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 aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series represented at such meeting; provided, however, that, except as

limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1504, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given, or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected thereby, or of the Holders of such series and one or more additional series:

(i) there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and

(ii) the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series that vote in favor of such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action shall be taken into account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action has been made, given, or taken under this Indenture.

SECTION 1505. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

(a) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of a series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series 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 deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

(b) 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 Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1502(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of or within the series 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 vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

(c) At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security 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, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

(d) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1502 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

SECTION 1506. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series 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 duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in duplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series 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 fact, setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1502 and, if applicable, Section 1504. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company and another 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 1507. Evidence of Action Taken by Holders.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a specified percentage in principal amount of the Holders of any or all series may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such specified percentage of Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee. Proof of execution of any instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Article Six) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Article.

SECTION 1508. Proof of Execution of Instruments.

Subject to Article Six, the execution of any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy may be proved 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.

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


	SOUTHERN STATES BANCSHARES, INC.

By:
	Name:
	Title:

		,as
	Trustee

By:
	Name:
	Title:

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY EUROCLEAR AND CLEARSTREAM S.A. IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OF A PORTION OF A TEMPORARY GLOBAL SECURITY OR TO OBTAIN INTEREST PAYABLE PRIOR TO THE EXCHANGE DATE CERTIFICATE

[Insert title or sufficient description of Securities to be delivered]

This is to certify that, based solely on written certifications that we have received in writing, by tested telex or by electronic transmission from each of the persons appearing in our records as persons entitled to a portion of the principal amount set forth below (our “Member Organizations”) substantially in the form attached hereto, as of the date hereof, (U.S.$) principal amount of the above-captioned Securities (i) is owned by person(s) that are not citizens or residents of the United States, domestic partnerships, domestic corporations or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source (“United States person(s)”), (ii) is owned by United States person(s) that are (a) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (financial institutions, as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(v) are herein referred to as “financial institutions”) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) United States person(s) who acquired the Securities through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (a) or (b), each such financial institution has agreed, on its own behalf or through its agent, that we may advise or its agent that such financial institution will provide a certificate within a reasonable time stating that it agrees to comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B), or (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) is owned by a financial institution for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)), and that such financial institutions described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)) have certified that they have not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions.

As used herein, “United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia); and its “possessions” include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

We further certify that (i) we are not making available herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) any portion of the temporary global Security representing the above-captioned Securities excepted in the above-referenced certificates of Member Organizations and (ii) as of the date hereof we have not received any notification from any of our Member Organizations to the effect that the statements made by such Member Organizations with respect to any portion of the part submitted herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) are no longer true and cannot be relied upon as of the date hereof.

We understand that this certification is required in connection with certain tax legislation in the United States. If administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certificate or a copy thereof to any interested party in such proceedings.

Dated: ,

[To be dated no earlier than the earlier of the Exchange Date or the relevant Interest Payment Date occurring prior to the Exchange Date, as applicable]


By:

Document

Exhibit 4.8

SOUTHERN STATES BANCSHARES, INC.

AND

_____________________________, as Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of ,

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES


TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION		1

	SECTION 101. Definitions	1
	SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions	8
	SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee	8
	SECTION 104. Acts of Holders	9
	SECTION 105. Notices, etc.	10
	SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver	10
	SECTION 107. Effect of Headings; Table of Contents; Counterparts	11
	SECTION 108. Successors and Assigns	11
	SECTION 109. Separability Clause	11
	SECTION 110. Benefits of Indenture	11
	SECTION 111. No Personal Liability	11
	SECTION 112. Governing Law	11
	SECTION 113. Legal Holidays	12
	SECTION 114. Force Majeure	12
	SECTION 115. U.S.A. Patriot Act	12

ARTICLE TWO SECURITIES FORMS		12

	SECTION 201. Forms of Securities	12
	SECTION 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication	13
	SECTION 203. Securities Issuable in Global Form	13

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES		14

	SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series	14
	SECTION 302. Denominations	16
	SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery, and Dating	16
	SECTION 304. Temporary Securities	18
	SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange	19
	SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost, and Stolen Securities	21
	SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved	22
	SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners	23
	SECTION 309. Cancellation	23
	SECTION 310. Computation of Interest	24
	SECTION 311. CUSIPs	24

ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE		24

	SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture	24
	SECTION 402. Application of Trust Funds	25

ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES		25

	SECTION 501. Events of Default	25
	SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission, and Annulment	26
	SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee	27
	SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim	27
	SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities	28


	SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected	28
	SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits	29
	SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts	29
	SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies	29
	SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative	29
	SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver	30
	SECTION 512. Control by Holders of Securities	30
	SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults	30
	SECTION 514. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws	30
	SECTION 515. Undertaking for Costs	30

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE		31

	SECTION 601. Notice of Defaults	31
	SECTION 602. Certain Rights of Trustee	31
	SECTION 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities	33
	SECTION 604. May Hold Securities	33
	SECTION 605. Money Held in Trust	33
	SECTION 606. Compensation and Reimbursement	33
	SECTION 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility	34
	SECTION 608. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor	34
	SECTION 609. Acceptance of Appointment By Successor	35
	SECTION 610. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business	36
	SECTION 611. Appointment of Authenticating Agent	37
	SECTION 612. Certain Duties and Responsibilities	38
	SECTION 613. Conflicting Interests	38
	SECTION 614. Appointment of Co-Trustee	38

ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY		39

	SECTION 701. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders	39
	SECTION 702. Reports by Trustee	39
	SECTION 703. Reports by Company	39
	SECTION 704. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders	40

ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE OR CONVEYANCE		40

	SECTION 801. Consolidations and Mergers of Company and Sales, Leases, and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions	40
	SECTION 802. Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation	40
	SECTION 803. Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel	41

ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES		41

	SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders	41
	SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders	42
	SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures	43
	SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures	43
	SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act	43
	SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures	43
	SECTION 907. Notice of Supplemental Indentures	43
	SECTION 908. Subordination Unimpaired	44



ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS		44

	SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts	44
	SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency	44
	SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust	44
	SECTION 1004. [Reserved]	45
	SECTION 1005. Existence	45
	SECTION 1006. Maintenance of Properties	46
	SECTION 1007. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims	46
	SECTION 1008. Statement as to Compliance	46
	SECTION 1009. Additional Amounts	46
	SECTION 1010. Waiver of Certain Covenants	47

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES		47

	SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article	47
	SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee	47
	SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed	48
	SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption	48
	SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price	49
	SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date	49
	SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part	50

ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS		50

	SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article	50
	SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities	50
	SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund	50

ARTICLE THIRTEEN [RESERVED]		51

ARTICLE FOURTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE		51

	SECTION 1401. Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance	51
	SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge	51
	SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance	51
	SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance	52
	SECTION 1405. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions	53

ARTICLE FIFTEEN MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES		54

	SECTION 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called	54
	SECTION 1502. Call, Notice, and Place of Meetings	54
	SECTION 1503. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings	54
	SECTION 1504. Quorum; Action	54
	SECTION 1505. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings	55
	SECTION 1506. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings	56
	SECTION 1507. Evidence of Action Taken by Holders	56
	SECTION 1508. Proof of Execution of Instruments	56

ARTICLE SIXTEEN SUBORDINATION		56

	SECTION 1601. Agreement to Subordinate	56

iii


			SECTION 1602. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy			57
			SECTION 1603. Default on Senior Debt			57
			SECTION 1604. Acceleration of Securities			57
			SECTION 1605. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over			57
			SECTION 1606. Notice by Company			57
			SECTION 1607. Subrogation			58
			SECTION 1608. Relative Rights			58
			SECTION 1609. Subordination May Not Be Impaired By Company			58
			SECTION 1610. Distribution or Notice to Representative			58
			SECTION 1611. Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent			58

SOUTHERN STATES BANCSHARES, INC.

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), and Indenture, dated as of , :


Trust Indenture Act Section			Indenture Section
Section 310(a)(1)			607
(a)(2)			607
(b)			608, 613
Section 312(a)			704
(c)			701
Section 313(a)			702
Section 314(a)			703
(a)(4)			1008
(c)(1)			102
(c)(2)			102
(e)			102
Section 315(b)			601, 602
Section 316(a)(last sentence)			101 (“Outstanding”)
(a)(1)(A)			502, 512
(a)(1)(B)			513
(b)			508
Section 317(a)(1)			503
(a)(2)			504
Section 318(a)			112
(c)			112

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

INDENTURE

INDENTURE, dated as of , , between SOUTHERN STATES BANCSHARES, INC., an Alabama corporation (the “Company”), having its principal office at 615 Quintard Avenue, Anniston, Alabama 36201, and ________________________________________, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as Trustee hereunder (the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company deems it necessary to issue from time to time for its lawful purposes subordinated debt securities (the “Securities”) evidencing its unsecured and subordinated indebtedness, and has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Securities, unlimited as to aggregate principal amount, to bear interest at the rates or formulas, to mature at such times and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed therefor as hereinafter provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or the context otherwise requires:

(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; and

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

Certain terms, used principally in Article Three, Article Five, Article Six and Article Ten, are defined in those Articles. In addition, the following terms shall have the indicated respective meanings:

“Act” has the meaning specified in Section 104.

“Authenticating Agent” means any authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 611.

“Bankruptcy Law” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme Luxembourg.

“Common Depository” has the meaning specified in Section 304(b).

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its principal corporate trust business relating to this Indenture shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at _____________________________________, Attn: Southern States Bancshares, Inc. Administrator.