bmnm10q09302008.htm
 



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q


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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008

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

For the transition period from __________ to ___________

Commission File Number: 001-32171

Bimini Capital Management, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Maryland
 
72-1571637
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

3305 Flamingo Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32963
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(772) 231-1400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES þ     NO ¨

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

Large accelerated filer ¨                                           Accelerated filer ý                                           Non-accelerated filer ¨                                            Smaller Reporting Company ý

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ¨     NO þ

As of November 6, 2008, the number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value, was 25,534,816; the number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Class B Common Stock, $0.001 par value, was 319,388; and the number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Class C Common Stock, $0.001 par value, was 319,388.



 









BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

INDEX



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     ITEM 1.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
3
          Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2008 (unaudited) and December 31, 2007
3
          Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008  and 2007
          (unaudited)
4
          Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 (unaudited)
5
          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2008  and 2007 (unaudited)
6
          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
7
     ITEM 2.     MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                        AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
27
     ITEM 3.     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
40
     ITEM 4.     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
41
     ITEM 4T.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
41
   
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
     ITEM 1.     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
41
     ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS.
41
     ITEM 6.     EXHIBITS.
42




 
 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
             
   
(Unaudited)
       
   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
ASSETS:
           
Mortgage-backed securities:
           
Available-for-sale, pledged to counterparties, at LOCOM
  $ -     $ 293,729,451  
Held for trading, pledged to counterparties, at fair value
    208,921,118       396,175,157  
Unpledged, at fair value
    17,646,698       674,326  
Total mortgage-backed securities
    226,567,816       690,578,934  
Cash and cash equivalents
    12,376,528       27,284,760  
Restricted cash
    250,000       8,800,000  
Principal payments receivable
    59,443       99,089  
Accrued interest receivable
    1,084,148       3,637,302  
Property and equipment, net
    4,086,364       4,181,813  
Prepaids and other assets
    4,910,876       5,315,835  
Assets held for sale
    42,583,586       96,619,615  
Total Assets
  $ 291,918,761     $ 836,517,348  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
               
                 
LIABILITIES:
               
Repurchase agreements
  $ 200,707,819     $ 678,177,771  
Junior subordinated notes due to Bimini Capital Trust I & II
    103,097,000       103,097,000  
Accrued interest payable
    1,399,624       3,872,101  
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
    1,051,300       644,858  
Liabilities related to assets held for sale
    14,352,687       27,842,174  
Total Liabilities
    320,608,430       813,633,904  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
                 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT):
               
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; designated, 1,800,000 shares as Class A Redeemable and 2,000,000 shares as Class B Redeemable; no shares issued and outstanding  as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007
    -       -  
                 
Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value; 98,000,000 shares designated: 25,534,816 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2008 and 24,861,404 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2007
    25,535       24,861  
                 
Class B Common Stock, $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares designated, 319,388 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007
    319       319  
                 
Class C Common Stock, $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares designated, 319,388 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007
    319       319  
                 
Additional paid-in capital
    339,008,659       338,241,582  
Accumulated deficit
    (367,724,501 )     (315,383,637 )
Total Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
    (28,689,669 )     22,883,444  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
  $ 291,918,761     $ 836,517,348  
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 



Bimini Capital Management, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
 
   
Nine Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2008
   
September 30, 2007
   
September 30, 2008
   
September 30, 2007
 
                         
Interest income, net of amortization of premium and discount
  $ 23,046,363     $ 90,793,422     $ 6,148,667     $ 24,634,854  
Interest expense
    (17,278,745 )     (92,286,037 )     (4,192,838 )     (21,143,461 )
Net interest income(expense), before interest on junior subordinated notes
    5,767,618       (1,492,615 )     1,955,829       3,491,393  
Interest expense on junior subordinated notes
    (6,271,295 )     (6,271,296 )     (2,090,432 )     (2,090,432 )
Net interest income(expense)
    (503,677 )     (7,763,911 )     (134,603 )     1,400,961  
Fair value adjustment- available-for-sale securities
    -       (1,707,840 )     -       (1,707,840 )
Fair value adjustment - held for trading securities
    (1,166,408 )     282,089       (1,031,577 )     282,089  
Other-than-temporary loss on mortgage-backed securities
    -       (55,250,278 )     -       -  
Gain/(loss) on sale of mortgage-backed securities, net
    755,135       (20,492,779 )     46,815       (1,104,402 )
Deficiency of revenues, net
    (914,950 )     (84,932,719 )     (1,119,365 )     (1,129,192 )
                                 
Direct REIT operating expenses
    538,944       632,709       165,331       181,007  
                                 
General and administrative expenses:
                               
Compensation and related benefits
    2,256,582       3,562,711       583,239       1,218,881  
Directors' fees and liability insurance
    514,724       581,608       145,982       197,634  
Audit, legal and other professional fees
    562,821       1,004,987       107,351       323,761  
Other administrative
    974,029       507,811       215,303       174,634  
Total general and administrative expenses
    4,308,156       5,657,117       1,051,875       1,914,910  
                                 
Total expenses
    4,847,100       6,289,826       1,217,206       2,095,917  
Loss from continuing operations before minority interest
    (5,762,050 )     (91,222,545 )     (2,336,571 )     (3,225,109 )
Minority interest in consolidated subsidiary
    -       770,563       -       -  
Loss from continuing operations
    (5,762,050 )     (90,451,982 )     (2,336,571 )     (3,225,109 )
Gain/(loss) on sale and disposal of assets of discontinued operations, net of tax
    -       (6,357,596 )     -       4,111,607  
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
    (48,292,910 )     (148,451,063 )     (12,053,964 )     (5,609,698 )
Total loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
    (48,292,910 )     (154,808,659 )     (12,053,964 )     (1,498,091 )
                                 
Net loss
  $ (54,054,960 )   $ (245,260,641 )   $ (14,390,535 )   $ (4,723,200 )
                                 
Basic And Diluted Net Loss Per Share Of:
                               
CLASS A COMMON STOCK
                               
Continuing operations
  $ (0.23 )   $ (3.63 )   $ (0.09 )   $ (0.13 )
Discontinued operations
    (1.89 )     (6.21 )     (0.47 )     (0.06 )
Total basic and diluted net loss per Class A share
  $ (2.12 )   $ (9.84 )   $ (0.56 )   $ (0.19 )
CLASS B COMMON STOCK
                               
Continuing operations
  $ (0.22 )   $ (3.61 )   $ (0.09 )   $ (0.13 )
Discontinued operations
    (1.87 )     (6.18 )     (0.47 )     (0.06 )
Total basic and diluted net loss per Class B share
  $ (2.09 )   $ (9.79 )   $ (0.56 )   $ (0.19 )
Average Shares Outstanding
                               
CLASS A COMMON STOCK
    25,147,824       24,600,795       25,392,962       24,690,089  
CLASS B COMMON STOCK
    319,388       319,388       319,388       319,388  
Cash dividends declared per share of:
                               
CLASS A COMMON STOCK
  $ -     $ 0.05     $ -     $ -  
CLASS B COMMON STOCK
  $ -     $ 0.05     $ -     $ -  
                                 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 

 


BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
 
(Unaudited)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
 
   
 
Common Stock,
Amounts at par value
 
Additional
Paid-in
 
Accumulated
     
 
Class A
 
Class B
 
Class C
 
Capital
 
Deficit
 
Total
 
Balances, December 31, 2007
  $ 24,861     $ 319     $ 319     $ 338,241,582     $ (315,383,637 )   $ 22,883,444  
Cumulative effect adjustment upon adoption of SFAS No. 159
    -       -       -       -       1,714,096       1,714,096  
Net loss
    -       -       -       -       (54,054,960 )     (54,054,960 )
Issuance of Class A common shares for board compensation and equity plan share exercises, net
    674       -       -       185,467       -       186,141  
Amortization of equity plan compensation
    -       -       -       583,352       -       583,352  
Equity plan shares withheld for statutory minimum withholding taxes
    -       -       -       (799 )     -       (799 )
Stock issuance costs, and other adjustments
    -       -       -       (943 )     -       (943 )
Balances, September 30, 2008
  $ 25,535     $ 319     $ 319     $ 339,008,659     $ (367,724,501 )   $ (28,689,669 )
                                                 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 



 
 

 


BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
(Unaudited)
 
       
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2008
   
September 30, 2007
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net loss
  $ (54,054,960 )   $ (245,260,641 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss
to net cash  provided by operating activities:
               
Net  loss from discontinued operations
    48,292,910       154,808,659  
Other-than-temporary loss on mortgage backed securities
    -       55,250,278  
Amortization of premium and discount on mortgage-backed securities, net
    135,370       8,759,452  
Stock compensation
    769,493       2,076,036  
Depreciation and amortization
    107,601       627,044  
(Gain) loss on sale of mortgage-backed securities, net
    (755,135 )     20,492,779  
Fair value adjustment - held for trading securities
    1,166,408       (282,089 )
Fair value adjustment – available-for-sale securities
    -       1,707,840  
From trading securities:
               
Purchases
    (150,129,824 )     -  
Sales
    529,615,670       -  
Principal repayments
    85,732,371       -  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Decrease in accrued interest receivable
    2,553,154       6,654,984  
Decrease in prepaids and other assets
    404,960       371,367  
Decrease in accrued interest payable
    (2,472,477 )     (9,993,867 )
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
    405,643       (122,961 )
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
    461,771,184       (4,911,119 )
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
From available-for-sale securities:
               
Purchases
    -       (1,140,585,456 )
Sales
    -       1,896,831,041  
Principal repayments
    -       835,792,555  
Purchases of property and equipment, and other
    (12,152 )     (3,937 )
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    (12,152 )     1,592,034,203  
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
(Increase)/decrease in restricted cash
    8,550,000       (35,300,000 )
Proceeds from repurchase agreements
    3,505,827,617       13,167,044,670  
Principal payments on repurchase agreements
    (3,983,297,569 )     (14,697,237,320 )
Stock issuance costs, and other adjustments
    (943 )     -  
Cash dividends paid
    -       (2,534,582 )
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    (468,920,895 )     (1,568,027,232 )
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
               
Net cash provided by operating activities
    10,253,631       734,846,245  
Net cash provided by investing activities
    -       1,195,582  
Net cash used in financing activities
    (18,000,000 )     (813,015,954 )
NET CASH USED IN DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
    (7,746,369 )     (76,974,127 )
                 
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    (14,908,232 )     (57,878,275 )
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, Beginning of the period
    27,284,760       82,751,795  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, End of the period
  $ 12,376,528     $ 24,873,520  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
               
Cash paid during the period for interest
  $ 27,289,202     $ 108,551,200  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Securities transferred from available-for-sale to trading (at fair value)
  $ 1,714,096     $ -  
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 




BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
September 30, 2008


NOTE 1.   ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Organization and Business Description

Bimini Capital Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Bimini Capital”), was originally formed in September 2003 as Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc. (“Bimini Mortgage”) for the purpose of creating and managing a leveraged investment portfolio consisting of residential mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”). Bimini Capital’s website is located at http://www.biminicapital.com. On February 10, 2006, Bimini Mortgage changed its name to Opteum Inc. (“Opteum”). On September 28, 2007, Opteum changed its name to Bimini Capital Management, Inc.

On November 3, 2005, Bimini Capital acquired Opteum Financial Services, LLC, and it became a wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiary of Bimini Capital. This entity, which was previously referred to as “OFS,” was renamed Orchid Island TRS, LLC effective July 3, 2007.   Hereinafter, any historical mention, discussion or references to Opteum Financial Services, LLC or to OFS (such as in previously filed documents or Exhibits) now means Orchid Island TRS, LLC or “OITRS.”

On December 21, 2006, Bimini Capital sold to Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp. (“Citigroup Realty”) a Class B non-voting limited liability company membership interest in OITRS, representing 7.5% of all of OITRS’s outstanding limited liability company membership interests, for $4.1 million.  On May 27, 2008, Bimini Capital repurchased Citigroup Realty’s interest in OITRS for $0.05 million.

On April 18, 2007, the Board of Managers of OITRS, at the recommendation of the Board of Directors of Bimini Capital, approved the closure of OITRS’s wholesale and conduit mortgage loan origination channels in the second quarter of 2007.  Also, during the second and third quarters of 2007, substantially all of the other operating assets of OITRS were sold.   Therefore, all of OITRS’s assets are considered held for sale, and OITRS is reported as a discontinued operation for all periods presented following applicable accounting standards (see Note 11). For financial statement presentation purposes, Bimini Capital is now operating in a single business segment.

Bimini Capital has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).  As a REIT, Bimini Capital is generally not subject to federal income tax on its REIT taxable income provided that it distributes to its stockholders at least 90% of its REIT taxable income on an annual basis. OITRS has elected to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary and, as such, is subject to federal, state and local income taxation.  In addition, the ability of OITRS to deduct interest paid or accrued to Bimini Capital for federal, state and local tax purposes is subject to certain limitations.

As used in this document, discussions related to Bimini Capital, the parent company, the registrant, and to REIT qualifying activities or the general management of Bimini Capital’s portfolio of MBS refer to Bimini Capital Management, Inc.  Further, discussions related to Bimini Capital’s taxable REIT subsidiary or non-REIT eligible assets refer to OITRS and its consolidated subsidiaries. Discussions relating to the “Company” refer to the consolidated entity (the combination of Bimini Capital and OITRS). The assets and activities that are not REIT eligible, such as mortgage origination, acquisition and servicing activities, were formerly conducted by OITRS and are now reported as discontinued operations.

Liquidity

The financing market utilized by the Company to fund its MBS portfolio, as well as the market for MBS securities, have deteriorated materially since June 30, 2008. Moreover, the turmoil that originated in the MBS market has now spread into many other financial markets as well as the global real economy. The disruptions in the market have prompted unprecedented intervention on the part of most of the world’s central banks, the Congress of the United States, the US Treasury and the Federal Reserve in an effort to restore stability. In spite of these efforts market conditions are extremely volatile, credit is very tight and it is unknown at this time when and to what extent market conditions will stabilize and return to normal. These conditions have impacted the Company and are expected to continue to impact the Company.

At September 30, 2008 the Company had outstanding $200.7 million of obligations under repurchase agreements with maturities through December 2008. On October 27, 2008, $29.3 million of these repurchase agreement obligations matured and could not be extended.  The Company was forced to sell the associated MBS assets pledged to satisfy the obligation.  Should the Company be unable to extend the maturity of the remaining repurchase obligations, it may be forced to sell additional assets, which may result in losses upon such sales.  Accordingly, the Company has taken steps to augment its existing leveraged MBS portfolio with an alternative investment strategy since sufficient repurchase agreement funding is not available. The Company is currently employing an investment strategy that utilizes derivative mortgage backed securities collateralized by MBS with comparable borrower and prepayment characteristics to the securities currently in the portfolio. Such securities are not funded in the repurchase market but instead are owned free and clear.  However, if cash resources are, at any time, insufficient to satisfy the Company’s liquidity requirements, such as when cash flow from operations are materially negative, the Company may be required to pledge additional assets to meet margin calls, liquidate assets, sell additional debt or equity securities or pursue other financing alternatives. The Company presently believes that its junior subordinated debt capital, combined with the cash flow from operations and the utilization of borrowings, will be sufficient to enable the Company to meet its anticipated liquidity requirements. Nonetheless, no assurances can be made regarding the Company's ability to satisfy its liquidity and working capital requirements going forward.

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates

The accompanying interim financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations, statement of stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the periods presented. These interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with disclosure requirements for interim financial information and accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for annual financial statements. The operating results for the interim period ended September 30, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of results that can be expected for the year ended December 31, 2008. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2007 was derived from audited financial statements included in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.  The financial statements included as part of this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The preparation of interim financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates affecting the accompanying financial statements include the fair values of MBS, and certain discontinued operations related items including the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, the valuation allowance on mortgage loans held for sale, the valuation of retained interests, trading and the valuation of mortgage servicing rights.

Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Bimini Capital and its wholly-owned subsidiary, OITRS, as well as the wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries of OITRS.  OITRS is reported as a discontinued operation for all periods presented.  All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

As further described in Note 5, Bimini Capital has a common share investment in two trusts used in connection with the issuance of Bimini Capital’s junior subordinated notes.  Pursuant to the accounting guidance provided in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, Bimini Capital’s common share investments in the trusts are not consolidated in the financial statements of Bimini Capital, and accordingly, these investments are accounted for on the equity method.

Discontinued Operations

During the second quarter of 2007, the Company closed OITRS’s wholesale and conduit mortgage loan origination channels and sold substantially all of the operating assets of OITRS. Accordingly, all current and prior financial information related to OITRS and the mortgage banking business has been presented as discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 11 - Discontinued Operations.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. The carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates its fair value as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007. Restricted cash represents cash held on deposit as collateral with certain repurchase agreement counterparties (i.e. lenders). Such amounts may be used to make principal and interest payments on the related repurchase agreements.

Valuation of Mortgage-Backed Securities

At September 30, 2008, the valuation of the Company’s investments in MBS is governed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements.  The definition of fair value in SFAS No. 157 focuses on the price that would be received to sell the asset or paid to transfer the liability (i.e., an exit price), rather than the price that would be paid to acquire the asset or received to assume the liability (i.e., an entry price).  All MBS securities held by Bimini Capital are reflected in the Company's financial statements at their estimated fair value at September 30, 2008. Estimated fair values for MBS are based on the average of third-party broker quotes received and/or independent pricing sources when available.

In accordance with SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, the Company classified its investments in MBS as either trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity. Management determined the appropriate classification of the securities at the time they were acquired and evaluates the appropriateness of such classifications at each balance sheet date. The Company classifies all of its securities acquired prior to June 30, 2007 as available-for-sale.  All securities acquired after June 30, 2007 were classified as trading.  On January 1, 2008, in connection with the adoption of SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including an amendment of FASB Statement 115, the Company transferred its remaining available-for-sale securities to trading and accordingly, recognized a $1.7 million fair value adjustment.

The Company’s investments in mortgage-related derivatives are carried at fair value on the balance sheet and are included with mortgage-backed securities.

 
Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment, net, consisting primarily of computer equipment with a depreciable life of 3 years, office furniture and equipment with a depreciable life of 8 to 20 years, leasehold improvements with a depreciable life of 15 years, land which has no depreciable life and building with a depreciable life of 30 years, is recorded at acquisition cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.

Bimini Capital’s property and equipment as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, is net of accumulated depreciation of $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively. Depreciation expense for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008 was $0.1 million and $0.02 million, respectively.

Repurchase Agreements

The Company finances the acquisition of the majority of its MBS through the use of repurchase agreements. Under these repurchase agreements, the Company sells securities to a repurchase counterparty and agrees to repurchase the same securities in the future for a price that is higher than the original sales price. The difference between the sales price that the Company receives and the repurchase price that the Company pays represents interest paid to the repurchase counterparty. Although structured as a sale and repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement is accounted for as a financing under which the Company pledges its securities as collateral to secure a loan which is equal in value to a specified percentage of the estimated fair value of the pledged collateral. The Company retains beneficial ownership of the pledged collateral. At the maturity of a repurchase agreement, the Company is required to repurchase the underlying MBS and concurrently receives back its pledged collateral from the repurchase counterparty or, with the consent of the repurchase counterparty, the Company may renew such agreement at the then prevailing rate. These repurchase agreements may require the Company to pledge additional assets to the repurchase counterparty in the event the estimated fair value of the existing pledged collateral has declined. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and for the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company did not have any margin calls on its repurchase agreements that it was not able to satisfy with either cash or additional pledged collateral.

Original terms to maturity of the Company's repurchase agreements generally, but not always, range from one month to twelve months; however, the Company is not precluded from entering into repurchase agreements with shorter or longer maturities. Repurchase agreement transactions are reflected in the financial statements at their cost. Should a counterparty decide not to renew a repurchase agreement at maturity, the Company must either refinance elsewhere or be in a position to satisfy this obligation. If, during the term of a repurchase agreement, a counterparty files for bankruptcy, the Company could experience difficulty recovering its pledged assets and may have an unsecured claim against the counterparty's assets for the difference between the amount received by the Company and the estimated fair value of the collateral pledged to such counterparty.

Interest Income Recognition on MBS
 
All securities in the MBS portfolio as of September 30, 2008 are classified as held for trading securities. All securities are either MBS pass through securities, interest only securities or inverse interest only securities. Income on MBS pass through securities classified as held for trading is based on the stated interest rate of the security. Premium or discount present at the date of purchase is not amortized.  For interest only securities classified as held for trading, the income is accrued based on the carrying value and the effective yield.  As cash is received it is first applied to accrued interest and then to reduce the carrying value.  At each reporting date, the effective yield is adjusted prospectively from the reporting period based on the new estimate of prepayments.  The new effective yield is calculated based on the carrying value at the end of the previous reporting period, the new prepayment estimates and the contractual terms of the security.  For inverse interest only securities effective yield and income recognition calculations also take into account the index value applicable to the security.  Owing to the fact realized cash flows for inverse interest only securities are driven by both prepayments and the index value, yield calculations have to take into account the impact of the index value on future cash flows.  In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force 99-20 (“EITF 99-20”), effective yield is derived from projected future cash flows.  Changes in fair value during the period are recorded in earnings and reported as fair value adjustment-held for trading securities in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

 
MBS are recorded at cost on the date the MBS are purchased or sold, which is generally the trade date. Realized gains or losses from MBS transactions are determined based on the specific identified carrying value of the MBS. Prior to January 1, 2008, with respect to securities classified as available-for-sale, premiums and discounts associated with the purchase of the MBS were amortized or accreted into interest income over the estimated lives of the MBS adjusted for estimated prepayments using the effective interest method. Adjustments were made using the retrospective method to the effective interest computation each reporting period. The adjustment was based on the actual prepayment experiences to date and the present expectation of future prepayments of the underlying mortgages and/or the current value of the indices underlying adjustable rate mortgage securities versus index values in effect at the time of purchase or the last adjustment period.

Comprehensive Loss
 
In accordance with SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income, the Company is required to separately report its comprehensive income (loss) each reporting period. Other comprehensive income refers to revenue, expenses, gains and losses that, under GAAP, are included in comprehensive income but are excluded from net income, as these amounts are recorded directly as an adjustment to stockholders' equity. Other comprehensive income for the period ended September 30, 2007 arose from unrealized gains from changes in market values of securities classified as available-for-sale.  Comprehensive loss is as follows: 

(in thousands)

   
(Unaudited)
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Net loss
  $ (54,054 )   $ (245,261 )   $ (14,391 )   $ (4,723 )
Reclassify net realized loss on MBS
    -       19,389       -       -  
Reclassify other-than-temporary loss on MBS
    -       55,250       -       -  
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net
    -       2,135       -       -  
 Comprehensive loss
  $ (54,054 )   $ (168,487 )   $ (14,391 )   $ (4,723 )

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company utilizes SFAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, to account for stock-based compensation using the fair value based method prescribed by SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. For stock and stock-based awards issued to employees, a compensation charge is recorded against earnings based on the fair value of the award. For transactions with non-employees in which services are performed in exchange for the Company's common stock or other equity instruments, the transactions are recorded on the basis of the fair value of the service received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more readily measurable at the date of issuance. Stock-based compensation was approximately $0.8 million and $0.2 million for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008 and $2.3 million and $0.8 million for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007, respectively.

Earnings Per Share

The Company follows the provisions of SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share, and the guidance provided in the FASB's Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 03-6,  Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement No. 128, Earnings Per Share, which requires companies with complex capital structures, common stock equivalents or two (or more) classes of securities that participate in the declared dividends to present both basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) on the face of the consolidated statement of operations. Basic EPS is calculated as income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is calculated using the “if converted” method for common stock equivalents. However, the common stock equivalents are not included in computing diluted EPS if the result is anti-dilutive.

Income Taxes

Bimini Capital has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code. As further described in Note 11, OITRS is a taxpaying entity for income tax purposes and is taxed separately from Bimini Capital. Bimini Capital will generally not be subject to federal income tax on its REIT taxable income to the extent that Bimini Capital distributes its REIT taxable income to its stockholders and satisfies the ongoing REIT requirements, including meeting certain asset, income and stock ownership tests. A REIT must generally distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders, of which 85% generally must be distributed within the taxable year, in order to avoid the imposition of an excise tax. The remaining balance may be distributed up to the end of the following taxable year, provided the REIT elects to treat such amount as a prior year distribution and meets certain other requirements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2008, the FASB issued FSP EITF 03-6-1, Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities.  The FSP addresses whether instruments granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities prior to vesting and, therefore, need to be included in the earnings allocation in computing earnings per share (EPS) under the two-class method.   The FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) in Issue No. 03-6, Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement No. 128, previously reached a consensus that, share-based payment awards containing a right to receive dividends declared on common stock represent participating securities if such awards are fully vested. Issue No. 03-6 does not, however, provide guidance on share-based payment awards that are not fully vested (i.e., the requisite service for vesting has not yet been rendered). The FSP has been issued to clarify that unvested instruments granted in share-based payment transactions containing non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) represent participating securities that should be included in the computation of EPS according to the two-class method.  This FSP shall be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those years. Early application is not permitted.  The Company has not issued share-based awards containing non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents; therefore, the adoption of FSP EITF 03-6-1 is not expected to have any impact.

In March 2008, the FASB issued statement No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“SFAS 161”). This statement revises the requirements for the disclosure of derivative instruments and hedging activities that include the reasons a company uses derivative instruments, how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted under SFAS 133 and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect a company's financial position, financial performance and cash flows. SFAS 161 will be effective in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 161 and does not anticipate a material effect.

In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 140-3, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets and Repurchase Financing Transactions. The FSP addresses whether there are circumstances that would permit a transferor and a transferee to evaluate the accounting for the transfer of a financial asset separately from a repurchase financing when the counterparties to the two transactions are the same. The FSP presumes that the initial transfer of a financial asset and a repurchase financing are considered part of the same arrangement (a linked transaction) under FASB Statement No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities (Statement 140). However, if certain criteria specified in the FSP are met, the initial transfer and repurchase financing may be evaluated separately under Statement 140.  The FSP is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is not permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating FSP FAS 140-3 but does not expect its application to have a significant impact on its financial reporting. 

In December 2007, the FASB issued statement No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements (“SFAS 160”), amendment to ARB No. 51.  This standard establishes accounting and reporting standards that require: (1) the ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent be clearly identified, labeled, and presented in the consolidated statement of financial position within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity; (2) the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated statement of income; (3) changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary be accounted for consistently; (4) when a subsidiary is deconsolidated, any retained noncontrolling equity investment in the former subsidiary be initially measured at fair value; and (5) entities provide sufficient disclosures that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners.  SFAS 160 is effective as of the beginning of the fiscal year that begins on or after December 15, 2008.  Management is currently evaluating the effects, if any, that SFAS 160 will have upon adoption of this standard.

In June 2007, the FASB ratified the consensus reached in EITF 06-11, Accounting for Income Tax Benefits of Dividends on Share-Based Payment Awards. EITF 06-11 applies to entities that have share-based payment arrangements that entitle employees to receive dividends or dividend equivalents on equity-classified nonvested shares when those dividends or dividend equivalents are charged to retained earnings and result in an income tax deduction. Entities that have share-based payment arrangements that fall within the scope of EITF 06-11 will be required to increase capital surplus for any realized income tax benefit associated with dividends or dividend equivalents paid to employees for equity classified nonvested equity awards. Any increase recorded to capital surplus is required to be included in an entity’s pool of excess tax benefits that are available to absorb potential future tax deficiencies on share-based payment awards. The Company adopted EITF 06-11 on January 1, 2008 for dividends declared on share-based payment awards subsequent to this date. The adoption did not have a material impact.

In February 2007, the FASB issued statement No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (“SFAS 159”).  This standard permits an entity to measure financial instruments and certain other items at estimated fair value. Most of the provisions of SFAS No. 159 are elective; however, the amendment to SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, applies to all entities that own trading and available-for-sale securities.  The fair value option created by SFAS 159 permits an entity to measure eligible items at fair value as of specified election dates. The fair value option is generally applied instrument by instrument, is irrevocable unless a new election date occurs, and must be applied to the entire instrument and not to only a portion of the instrument.  SFAS 159 is effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007.  On January 1, 2008, the Company elected the fair value option for its available-for-sale portfolio of mortgage-backed securities. Previously, these securities were considered to be other than temporarily impaired and carried at lower-of-cost or market. As of the adoption date, the carrying value of the existing mortgage-backed securities classified as available-for-sale were adjusted to fair value through a cumulative-effect adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings. This adjustment represented an increase in the carrying value of the securities of approximately $1.7 million.

      In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, to eliminate the diversity in practice that exists due to the different definitions of fair value that are dispersed among the many accounting pronouncements that require fair value measurements, and the limited guidance for applying those definitions.  SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company adopted SFAS 157 on January 1, 2008, and the adoption did not have a material impact on financial condition or results of operations.

NOTE 2.   MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES

As of December 31, 2007, all of Bimini Capital's MBS were classified as either trading or available-for-sale. On January 1, 2008, the entire available-for-sale securities portfolio was transferred to trading in conjunction with the Company’s comprehensive review of its balance sheet management strategies and adoption of SFAS No. 159.  Accordingly, fluctuations in the portfolio’s fair value are recorded directly to income effective January 1, 2008.

The following are the carrying values of Bimini Capital's MBS portfolio as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

(in thousands)

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Hybrid Arms
  $ 62,915     $ 398,982  
Adjustable Rate Mortgages
    84,387       177,608  
Fixed Rate Mortgages
    65,244       113,989  
MBS Derivatives
    14,022       -  
Total
  $ 226,568     $ 690,579  

The following table presents the components of the carrying value of Bimini Capital’s MBS portfolio as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

(in thousands)

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Available-for-Sale Securities
           
Principal balance
  $ -     $ 291,579  
Unamortized premium
    -       3,134  
Unaccreted discount
    -       (309 )
Held for Trading Securities
               
Principal balance
    210,374       385,849  
Premium
    2,440       10,326  
Discount
    (268 )     -  
Trading Securities – MBS Derivatives
    14,022       -  
Carrying value/estimated fair value
  $ 226,568     $ 690,579  

As of September 30, 2008, all of Bimini Capital's MBS investments have contractual maturities greater than 36 months. Actual maturities of MBS investments are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities. Actual maturities of Bimini Capital's MBS investments are affected by the contractual lives of the underlying mortgages, periodic payments of principal, and prepayments of principal.

NOTE 3.   EARNINGS PER SHARE

The Company follows the provisions of SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share, and the guidance provided in the FASB's Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 03-6, Participating Securities and the two-class method under FASB Statement No. 128, Earnings Per Share, which requires companies with complex capital structures, common stock equivalents, or two classes of participating securities to present both basic and diluted EPS on the face of the statement of operations. Basic EPS is calculated as income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is calculated using the “if converted” method for common stock equivalents.

Shares of Class B Common Stock, participating and convertible into Class A Common Stock, are entitled to receive dividends in an amount equal to the dividends declared on each share of Class A Common Stock if, and when authorized and declared by the Board of Directors. Following the provisions of EITF 03-6, the Class B Common Stock is included in the computation of basic EPS using the two-class method, and consequently is presented separately from Class A Common Stock. Class B common shares are not included in the computation of diluted Class A EPS as the conditions for conversion to Class A shares were not met.

The Class C common shares are not included in the basic EPS computation as these shares do not have participation rights. The Class C common shares totaling 319,388 are not included in the computation of diluted Class A EPS as the conditions for conversion to Class A shares were not met.

      The Company has dividend eligible stock incentive plan shares that were outstanding during the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. These stock incentive plan shares have dividend participation rights, but no contractual obligation to share in losses. Since there is no such obligation, these incentive plan shares are not included, pursuant to EITF 03-6, in the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, basic EPS computations for the Class A Common Stock, even though they are participating securities. For the computation of diluted EPS for the Class A Common Stock for the periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, 21,658 and 259,016 phantom shares, respectively, are excluded as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

The table below reconciles the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS.

(in thousands, except per share data)

   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Basic and diluted net loss per Class A common share:
                       
Numerator: net loss allocated to the Class A common shares
  $ (53,387 )   $ (242,138 )   $ (14,213 )   $ (4,663 )
Denominator: basic and diluted:
                               
Class A common shares outstanding at the balance sheet date
    25,535       24,765       25,535       24,765  
Effect of weighting
    (387 )     (164 )     (142 )     (75 )
Weighted average shares-basic and diluted
    25,148       24,601       25,393       24,690  
Basic and diluted net loss  per Class A common share
  $ (2.12 )   $ (9.84 )   $ (0.56 )   $ (0.19 )
Basic and diluted net loss per Class B common share:
                               
Numerator: net loss allocated to Class B common shares
  $ (668 )   $ (3,123 )   $ (178 )   $ (60 )
Denominator: basic and diluted:
                               
Class B common shares outstanding at the balance sheet date
    319       319       319       319  
Effect of weighting
    -       -       -       -  
Weighted average shares-basic and diluted
    319       319       319       319  
Basic and diluted net loss per Class B common share
  $ (2.09 )   $ (9.79 )   $ (0.56 )   $ (0.19 )

NOTE 4.   REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

Bimini Capital has entered into repurchase agreements to finance most of its MBS purchases. The repurchase agreements are short-term borrowings that bear interest at rates that have historically moved in close relationship to London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”). As of September 30, 2008, Bimini Capital had outstanding repurchase obligations of $200.7 million with a net weighted average borrowing rate of 2.99% and these obligations were collateralized by MBS with a fair value of $208.9 million. As of December 31, 2007, Bimini Capital had outstanding repurchase obligations of $678.2 million with a net weighted average borrowing rate of 5.07%. These obligations were collateralized by MBS with a fair value of $683.9 million.
 
As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, Bimini Capital’s repurchase agreements and the collateral agreements thereon had remaining maturities as summarized below:

(in thousands)

   
OVERNIGHT
(1 DAY OR LESS)
   
BETWEEN 2 AND
30 DAYS
   
BETWEEN 31 AND
90 DAYS
   
GREATER THAN
90 DAYS
   
TOTAL
 September 30, 2008
                           
Agency-Backed Mortgage-Backed Securities:
                           
Amortized cost of securities sold, including accrued interest receivable
  $ -     $ 89,128     $ 119,871     $ -     $ 208,999  
Fair market value of securities sold, including accrued interest receivable
  $ -     $ 89,128     $ 119,871     $ -     $ 208,999  
Repurchase agreement liabilities associated with these securities
  $ -     $ 85,532     $ 115,176     $ -     $ 200,708  
Net weighted average borrowing rate
    -       3.46 %     2.65 %     -       2.99 %
 December 31, 2007
                                       
Agency-Backed Mortgage-Backed Securities:
                                       
Amortized cost of securities sold, including accrued interest receivable
  $ -     $ 249,124     $ 37,559     $ 397,260     $ 683,943  
Fair market value of securities sold, including accrued interest receivable
  $ -     $ 249,124     $ 37,559     $ 397,260     $ 683,943  
Repurchase agreement liabilities associated with these securities
  $ -     $ 244,379     $ 37,577     $ 396,222     $ 678,178  
Net weighted average borrowing rate
    -       5.21 %     5.34 %     4.96 %     5.07 %

The following summarizes information regarding the Company’s amounts at risk with individual counterparties greater than 10% of the Company’s equity as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

(in thousands)

Repurchase Agreement Counterparties
 
Amount
at Risk(1)
   
Weighted Average
Maturity of
Repurchase
Agreements
in Days
 
September 30, 2008
           
MF Global Inc.
  $ 6,461       47  
RBS Greenwich Capital
    1,998       27  
December 31, 2007
               
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.
  $ 8,823       193  
Goldman Sachs
    2,931       19  

 (1)
Equal to the fair value of securities sold, plus accrued interest income, minus the sum of repurchase agreement liabilities, plus accrued interest expense.

 
NOTE 5.  TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES

At September 30, 2008, Bimini Capital sponsored two statutory trusts, of which 100% of the common equity is owned by the Company, formed for the purpose of issuing trust preferred capital securities to third-party investors and investing the proceeds from the sale of such capital securities solely in junior subordinated debt securities of the Company. The debt securities held by each trust are the sole assets of that trust. Obligations related to these statutory trusts are presented below.

(in thousands)

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Junior subordinated notes owed to Bimini Capital Trust I (BCTI)
  $ 51,550     $ 51,550  
Junior subordinated notes owed to Bimini Capital Trust II (BCTII)
  $ 51,547     $ 51,547  

The BCTI trust preferred securities and Bimini Capital's BCTI Junior Subordinated Notes have a fixed rate of interest until March 30, 2010, in the case of Series A Preferred Securities, and until April 30, 2010, in the case of Series B Preferred Securities, of 7.61% and thereafter, through maturity in 2035, the rate will float at a spread of 3.30% over the prevailing three-month LIBOR rate.  The BCTI trust preferred securities and Bimini Capital's BCTI Junior Subordinated Notes require quarterly interest distributions and are redeemable at Bimini Capital's option, in whole or in part and without penalty, beginning March 30, 2010, in the case of Series A Preferred Securities, and beginning April 30, 2010, in the case of Series B Preferred Securities and at any date thereafter.  Bimini Capital's BCTI Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinate and junior in right of payment of all present and future senior indebtedness.
 
The BCTII trust preferred securities and Bimini Capital's BCTII Junior Subordinated Notes have a fixed rate of interest until December 15, 2010, of 7.8575% and thereafter, through maturity in 2035, the rate will float at a spread of 3.50% over the prevailing three-month LIBOR rate. The BCTII trust preferred securities and Bimini Capital's BCTII Junior Subordinated Notes require quarterly interest distributions and are redeemable at Bimini Capital's option, in whole or in part and without penalty, beginning December 15, 2010, and at any date thereafter. Bimini Capital's BCTII Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinate and junior in right of payment of all present and future senior indebtedness.

Each trust is a variable interest entity pursuant to FIN No. 46 because the holders of the equity investment at risk do not have adequate decision making ability over the trust's activities. Since Bimini Capital's investment in each trust's common equity securities was financed directly by the applicable trust as a result of its loan of the proceeds to Bimini Capital, that investment is not considered to be an equity investment at risk pursuant to FIN No. 46. Since Bimini Capital's common share investments in BCTI and BCTII are not a variable interest, Bimini Capital is not the primary beneficiary of the trusts. Therefore, Bimini Capital has not consolidated the financial statements of BCTI and BCTII into its financial statements.  Based on the aforementioned accounting guidance, the accompanying consolidated financial statements present Bimini Capital's BCTI and BCTII Junior Subordinated Notes issued to the trusts as liabilities and Bimini Capital's investments in the common equity securities of BCTI and BCTII as assets. For financial statement purposes, Bimini Capital records payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes issued to BCTI and BCTII as interest expense.

NOTE 6.  CAPITAL STOCK

During the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, the Company issued a total of 568,565 and 141,950 shares of Class A Common Stock to its independent directors for the payment of director fees for services rendered.

During the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, the Company issued 104,847 and 42,666 shares of its Class A Common Stock to employees pursuant to the terms of the stock incentive plan phantom share grants (see Note 7).

NOTE 7.    STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS
 
On December 1, 2003, Bimini Capital adopted the 2003 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2003 Plan”) to provide Bimini Capital with the flexibility to use stock options and other awards as part of an overall compensation package to provide a means of performance-based compensation to attract and retain qualified personnel. The 2003 Plan was amended and restated in March 2004. Key employees, directors and consultants are eligible to be granted stock options, restricted stock, phantom shares, dividend equivalent rights and other stock-based awards under the 2003 Plan. Subject to adjustment upon certain corporate transactions or events, a maximum of 4,000,000 shares of the Class A Common Stock (but not more than 10% of the Class A Common Stock outstanding on the date of grant) may be subject to stock options, shares of restricted stock, phantom shares and dividend equivalent rights under the 2003 Plan.

Phantom share awards represent a right to receive a share of Bimini's Class A Common Stock.  These awards do not have an exercise price and are valued at the fair value of Bimini Capital’s Class A Common Stock at the date of the grant. The grant date value is being amortized to compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the respective award.  The phantom shares vest, based on the employees’ continuing employment, following a schedule as provided in the grant agreements, for periods through December 31, 2010. The Company recognizes compensation expense over the vesting period. Compensation expense recognized for phantom shares during the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 totaled approximately, $0.6 and $0.2 million and $2.2 and $0.8 million, respectively. Phantom share awards may or may not include dividend equivalent rights.  Dividends paid on unsettled phantom shares are charged to retained earnings when declared.

A summary of phantom share activity during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is presented below:

   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
Shares
   
Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
   
Shares
   
Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
 
Nonvested, at January 1
    127,373     $ 11.36       339,862     $ 12.60  
Granted
    250,000       0.26       25,607       7.61  
Vested
    (106,958 )     6.00       (164,729 )     13.08  
Forfeited
    (106,256 )     5.82       (16,550 )     8.78  
Nonvested, at September 30
    164,159     $ 1.54       184,190     $ 11.82  

There were a total of 0 and 75,326 phantom shares that were vested and unissued as of September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The total number of outstanding (vested and nonvested) phantom share awards that include dividend equivalent rights as of September 30, 2008 and 2007 were 21,658 and 259,016, respectively. As of September 30, 2008, there was approximately $165,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested phantom share awards.  The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 11.3 months.

Bimini Capital also has adopted the 2004 Performance Bonus Plan (the “Performance Bonus Plan”). The Performance Bonus Plan is an annual bonus plan that permits the issuance of the Company’s Class A Common Stock in payment of stock-based awards made under the plan.  No stock-based awards have been made under and no shares of the Company’s stock have been issued under the Performance Bonus Plan.

NOTE 8.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation Contingencies. The Company is involved in various lawsuits and claims, both actual and potential, including some that it has asserted against others, in which monetary damages and other relief is sought. The resolution of such lawsuits and claims is inherently unpredictable.  In accordance with GAAP, it is the Company’s policy to accrue for loss contingencies only when it is both probable that a loss has actually been incurred and an amount of such loss is reasonably estimable.  Except as described below, the lawsuits and claims involving the Company relate primarily to contractual disputes arising out of the ordinary course of the Company’s current and past business activities.  See also Note 11(g).

On September 17, 2007, a complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida by William Kornfeld against the Company, certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors, Flagstone Securities, LLC and BB&T Capital Markets alleging various violations of the federal securities laws and seeking class action certification.  On October 9, 2007, a complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida by Richard and Linda Coy against the Company, certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors, Flagstone Securities, LLC and BB&T Capital Markets alleging various violations of the federal securities laws and seeking class action certification.  On September 29, 2008, the Kornfeld and Coy cases were consolidated as In re Opteum Inc. Securities Litigation and the Court appointed a lead plaintiff and lead counsel.  On October 29, 2008, a consolidated amended complaint was filed in this action. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses in this action.

Guarantees. Bimini Capital has guaranteed the performance of OITRS with respect to certain contractual obligations arising in connection with the sale of mortgage servicing rights by OITRS.  See also Note 11(g).

NOTE 9.  INCOME TAXES

REIT taxable income (loss), as generated by Bimini Capital’s qualifying REIT activities, is computed differently from Bimini Capital’s financial statement net income (loss) as computed in accordance with GAAP. Depending on the number and size of the various items or transactions being accounted for differently, the differences between Bimini Capital’s REIT taxable income (loss) and Bimini Capital’s financial statement net income (loss) can be substantial and each item can affect several years.

As of September 30, 2008, the REIT has approximately $68.7 million of tax capital loss carryforwards available to offset future tax capital gains. As of September 30, 2008 the REIT has a tax net operating loss carryforward of approximately $13.5 million that is immediately available to offset future REIT taxable income.

NOTE 10.   FAIR VALUE

In connection with the adoption of SFAS No. 159, Bimini Capital elected to transfer its available-for-sale portfolio of MBS to trading.  The securities transferred have similar characteristics to the Company’s existing trading portfolio, including issuer, credit quality, yield, duration and remaining term.

The securities transferred were previously considered to be other than temporarily impaired and carried at lower-of-cost-or-market.  As such, decreases in fair value were charged directly to earnings, while increases in fair value were not recorded.  As a result of electing to record these securities at fair value pursuant to the provisions of SFAS No. 159, the Company recorded the following to opening retained earnings:

(in thousands)

Balance at January 1, 2008 (after adoption)
  $ 296,118  
Balance at December 31, 2007 (prior to adoption)
    (294,404 )
Cumulative effect of adopting the fair value option
  $ 1,714  

 
The Company measures or monitors all of its MBS on a fair value basis. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for its mortgage-backed securities, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset. When possible, the Company looks to active and observable markets to price identical assets.  When identical assets are not traded in active markets, the Company looks to market observable data for similar assets. Nevertheless, certain assets are not actively traded in observable markets and the Company must use alternative valuation techniques to derive a fair value measurement.
 
All of the fair value adjustments included in losses from continuing operations resulted from Level 2 fair value methodologies; that is, the Company is able to value the assets based on observable market data for similar instruments. The securities in the Company’s trading portfolio are priced via independent providers, whether those are pricing services or quotations from market-makers in the specific instruments. In obtaining such valuation information from third parties, the Company has evaluated the valuation methodologies used to develop the fair values in order to determine whether such valuations are representative of an exit price in the Company’s principal markets.
 
Fair value is used to measure the trading portfolio on a recurring basis.  The fair value as of September 30, 2008 is determined as follows:

(in thousands)

Fair Value Measurements as of September 30, 2008, Using
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
  $ -  
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
    226,568  
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
    -  
Total Fair Value Measurements
  $ 226,568  



NOTE 11.   DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

OITRS

The results of discontinued operations of OITRS included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 were as follows:

(in thousands)

   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Revenues
                       
Interest income
  $ 3     $ 22,543     $ -     $ 515  
Interest expense
    (20 )     (17,521 )     (5 )     (472 )
Net interest income (deficiency)
    (17 )     5,022       (5 )     43  
Loss on discontinued mortgage banking activities
                               
Fair value adjustment on retained interest, trading
    (43,085 )     (28,126 )     (8,255 )     (634 )
Other discontinued mortgage banking activities
    (126 )     (40,794 )     (79 )     (6,471 )
Other income and expenses, net of non-recurring items
    1,885       (15,412 )     47       4,364  
Net servicing loss
    (1,364 )     (13,868 )     (2,328 )     (1,241 )
Other interest income (expense) and loss reserves
    (2,001 )     (23,617 )     (759 )     1,077  
Deficiency of revenues
    (44,708 )     (116,795 )     (11,379 )     (2,862 )
Expenses
                               
General and administrative expenses
    (3,585 )     (30,833 )     (675 )     (2,918 )
Loss before provision for income taxes
    (48,293 )     (147,628 )     (12,054 )     (5,780 )
Provision for income taxes and valuation allowance
    -       (7,181 )     -       4,282  
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
  $ (48,293 )   $ (154,809 )   $ (12,054 )   $ (1,498 )

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, OITRS’s 51% membership interest in Interactive Mortgage Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“IMA”), was sold for $500,000 as evidenced by a promissory note.  The note, which is secured by the assets of IMA and guaranteed by certain affiliates of IMA, bears interest at a rate of 8% per annum and is payable in full on December 31, 2008.  The sale of OITRS’ membership interest resulted in a loss of approximately $285,000.  This loss is included in the table above under “Other income and expenses, net of non-recurring items.”

The assets and liabilities of OITRS included in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 were as follows:

(in thousands)

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 73     $ 705  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    456       983  
Retained interests, trading
    14,384       69,301  
Securities held for sale
    15       173  
Originated mortgage servicing rights
    -       3,073  
Receivables
    23,923       17,868  
Property and equipment, net
    -       285  
Prepaids and other assets
    3,733       4,232  
Assets held for sale
  $ 42,584     $ 96,620  
Liabilities
               
Secured borrowings
  $ -     $ 18,000  
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
    14,353       9,842  
Liabilities related to assets held for sale
  $ 14,353     $ 27,842  

(a) - - Mortgage Loans Held for Sale

Prior to ceasing operations, upon the closing of a residential mortgage loan or shortly thereafter, OITRS would sell or securitize the majority of its mortgage loan originations. OITRS also sold mortgage loans insured or guaranteed by various government-sponsored entities and private insurance agencies. The insurance or guaranty was provided primarily on a nonrecourse basis to OITRS, except where limited by the Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Administration and their respective loan programs.  Mortgage loans held for sale consist of the following as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

(in thousands)

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Mortgage loans held for sale, and other, net
  $ 3,637     $ 4,780  
Valuation allowance
    (3,181 )     (3,797 )
Total
  $ 456     $ 983  

(b) – Retained interest, trading

      Retained interest, trading is the subordinated interests retained by OITRS resulting from securitizations and includes the over-collateralization and residual net interest spread remaining after payments to the Public Certificates and NIM Notes. Retained interest, trading represents the present value of estimated cash flows to be received from these subordinated interests in the future. The subordinated interests retained are classified as “trading securities” and are reported at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported in earnings.

The total fair value of these retained interests was approximately $14.4 million as of September 30, 2008. Fluctuations in value of retained interests are primarily driven by projections of future interest rates (the forward LIBOR curve), the discount rate used to determine the present value of the residual cash flows and prepayment and loss estimates on the underlying mortgage loans. Due to higher loss severity assumptions and discount rates, the fair value of the retained interests decreased by $43.1 million and $8.3 million for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. Due to higher forward LIBOR rates and increased loss assumptions on the underlying mortgage loans, the fair value of the retained interests decreased by $28.1 million and $0.6 million for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007.

All of OITRS’s securitizations were structured and are accounted for as sales in accordance with SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. Generally, to meet the sale treatment requirements of SFAS No. 140, the REMIC trust is structured as a “qualifying special purpose entity” or QSPE, which specifically limits the REMIC trust's activities, and OITRS surrenders control over the mortgage loans upon their transfer to the REMIC trust.

Valuation of Investments. OITRS classifies its retained interests as trading securities and therefore records these securities at their estimated fair value. In order to value these unrated, unquoted securities, OITRS records these assets at their estimated fair value utilizing pricing information available directly from dealers, when available, and the present value calculated by projecting the future cash flows of a security on a publicly available analytical system. When a publicly available analytical system is utilized, OITRS will input the following variable factors which will have an impact on determining the fair value:

Interest Rate Forecast. LIBOR interest rate curve.

Discount Rate. The present value of all future cash flows utilizing a discount rate assumption established at the discretion of OITRS to represent market conditions and value of similar instruments with similar risks.  Discount rates used will vary over time.  Management observes discount rates used for assets with similar risk profiles.  In selecting which assets to monitor for variations in discount rates, management seeks to identify assets that share most, if not all of the risk attributes of the Company’s retained interests, trading.  Such assets are typically traded between market participants whereby the discount rate is the primary variable.

Prepayment Forecast. The prepayment forecast may be expressed by OITRS in accordance with one of the following standard market conventions: 1) Constant Prepayment Rate (CPR) or 2) Percentage of a Prepayment Vector (PPV). Prepayment forecasts may be changed as OITRS observes trends in the underlying collateral as delineated in the Statement to Certificate Holders generated by the REMIC trust’s Trustee for each underlying security.  Prepayment forecast will also vary over time as the level of interest rates change, the difference between rates available to borrowers on adjustable rate versus fixed rate mortgages change and non-interest rate related variables fluctuate such as home price appreciation, among others.

Credit Performance Forecast. A forecast of future credit performance of the underlying collateral pool will include an assumption of default frequency, loss severity, and a recovery lag. In general, OITRS will utilize the combination of default frequency and loss severity in conjunction with a collateral prepayment assumption to arrive at a target cumulative loss to the collateral pool over the life of the pool based on historical performance of similar collateral by the originator. The target cumulative loss forecast will be developed and noted at the pricing date of the individual security but may be updated by OITRS consistent with observations of the actual collateral pool performance.

Default Frequency may be expressed by OITRS in accordance with any of three standard market conventions: 1) Constant Default Rate (CDR) 2) Percentage of a Standard Default Assumption (SDA) curve, or 3) a vector or curve established to meet forecasted performance for specific collateral pools.

Loss Severity will be expressed by OITRS in accordance with historical performance of similar collateral and the standard market conventions of a percentage of the unpaid principal balance of the forecasted defaults lost during the foreclosure and liquidation process.

During the first year of a new issue OITRS may balance positive or adverse effects of the prepayment forecast and the credit performance forecast allowing for deviation between actual and forecasted performance of the collateral pool. After the first year, OITRS will generally adjust the Prepayment and Credit Performance Forecasts to replicate actual performance trends without balancing adverse and positive effects.

The following table summarizes OITRS’s residual interests in securitizations as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

 (in thousands)

Series
Issue Date
 
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
HMAC 2004-1
March 4, 2004
  $ 1,744     $ 2,460  
HMAC 2004-2
May 10, 2004
    1,424       1,408  
HMAC 2004-3
June 30, 2004
    386       880  
HMAC 2004-4
August 16, 2004
    1,023       1,506  
HMAC 2004-5
September 28, 2004
    1,874       3,043  
HMAC 2004-6
November 17, 2004
    1,534       5,181  
OMAC 2005-1
January 31, 2005
    2,182       6,948  
OMAC 2005-2
April 5, 2005
    631       7,046  
OMAC 2005-3
June 17, 2005
    2,428       10,736  
OMAC 2005-4
August 25, 2005
    470       9,752  
OMAC 2005-5
November 23, 2005
    180       7,717  
OMAC 2006-1
March 23, 2006
    508       10,835  
OMAC 2006-2
June 26, 2006
    -       1,789  
              Total
    $ 14,384     $ 69,301  
 
As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, key economic assumptions and the sensitivity of the current fair value of residual cash flows to the immediate 10% and 20% adverse change in those assumptions are as follows:

(in thousands)

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Balance sheet carrying value of retained interests – fair value
  $ 14,384     $ 69,301  
Weighted average life (in years)
    3.99       4.09  
Prepayment assumption (annual rate)
    19.93 %     26.37 %
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change
  $ (1,388 )   $ (6,908 )
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change
  $ (2,042 )   $ (12,577 )
Expected credit losses (% of original unpaid principal balance)
    3.40 %     1.22 %
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change
  $ (2,577 )   $ (6,409 )
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change
  $ (4,200 )   $ (13,633 )
Residual cash-flow discount rate
    27.50 %     20.00 %
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change
  $ (1,396 )   $ (4,138 )
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change
  $ (2,600 )   $ (7,907 )
Interest rates on variable and adjustable loans and bonds
 
Forward LIBOR Yield Curve
   
Forward LIBOR Yield Curve
 
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change
  $ (4,876 )   $ (14,906 )
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change
  $ (7,294 )   $ (28,225 )

These sensitivities are hypothetical and should be used with caution. As the figures indicate, changes in fair value based upon a 10% variation in assumptions generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in assumption to the change in fair value may not be linear. Also, in this table, the effect of the variation in a particular assumption on the fair value of the retained interest is calculated without changing any other assumption; in reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another which may magnify or counteract the sensitivities. To estimate the impact of a 10% and 20% adverse change of the Forward LIBOR curve, a parallel shift in the Forward LIBOR curve was assumed based on the Forward LIBOR curve as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

Credit loss percentages are calculated by using the original unpaid principal balance of each pool of assets as the denominator. The following credit loss percentages are calculated based upon all OITRS securitizations that have been completed to date:

(in thousands)

Series
Issue Date
 
Original Unpaid Principal Balance
   
Actual Losses Through September 30, 2008
   
Projected Future Credit Losses as of September 30, 2008
   
Projected Total Credit Losses as of September 30, 2008
 
HMAC 2004-1
March 4, 2004
  $ 309,710       0.57 %     0.36 %     0.93 %
HMAC 2004-2
May 10, 2004
    388,737       0.78 %     0.46 %     1.24 %
HMAC 2004-3
June 30, 2004
    417,055       0.59 %     0.66 %     1.25 %
HMAC 2004-4
August 16, 2004
    410,123       0.54 %     0.55 %     1.09 %
HMAC 2004-5
September 28, 2004
    413,875       0.67 %     0.80 %     1.47 %
HMAC 2004-6
November 17, 2004
    761,027       0.91 %     1.15 %     2.06 %
OMAC 2005-1
January 31, 2005
    802,625       0.84 %     1.44 %     2.28 %
OMAC 2005-2
April 5, 2005
    883,987       0.95 %     1.62 %     2.57 %
OMAC 2005-3
June 17, 2005
    937,117       0.78 %     1.88 %     2.66 %
OMAC 2005-4
August 25, 2005
    1,321,739       1.02 %     2.75 %     3.77 %
OMAC 2005-5
November 23, 2005
    986,277       1.11 %     3.87 %     4.98 %
OMAC 2006-1
March 23, 2006
    934,441       0.95 %     4.60 %     5.55 %
OMAC 2006-2
June 26, 2006
    491,572       1.81 %     8.69 %     10.50 %
Total
    $ 9,058,285       0.93 %     2.47 %     3.40 %
 
The table below summarizes certain cash flows received from and paid to securitization trusts:

(in thousands)

   
September 30, 2008
   
September 30, 2007
 
Servicing fees received
  $ 1,055     $ 11,375  
Servicing advances and repayments
    92       5,110  
Cash flows received on retained interests
    11,831       4,479  

The following information presents quantitative information about delinquencies and credit losses on securitized financial assets as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

(in thousands)

As of Date
 
Total Principal Amount of Loans
   
Principal Amount of Loans 60 Days or more delinquent
   
Net Credit Losses
 
September 30, 2008
  $ 4,068,088     $ 701,639     $ 83,895  
December 31, 2007
    4,528,481       457,872       23,639  

 (c) – Mortgage Servicing Rights, Net

Owing to the excessive and increasing burden of the monthly advancing requirement on delinquent loans serviced by OITRS, coupled with the Company’s reduced liquidity, OITRS was unable to meet such servicing advance requirements in September of 2008 and as a result committed a servicer event of default under the various pooling and servicing agreements under which OITRS serviced loans.  Accordingly, such servicing was surrendered to the master servicer and the carrying value of the related servicing right was written off.  Such charge was approximately $2.0 million.  All advances made on such loans prior to the event of default, net of any costs incurred by the master servicer related to the servicing transfer, will be returned to the Company as the delinquent loans are liquidated over time.  The balance of the receivable at September 30, 2008 was $19.6 million.  Thr Company believes that the balance is fully collectible; therefore, no valuation allowance has been provided.

For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, OITRS had net servicing loss of $1.4 million and $2.3 million.  The results were driven primarily by the surrender of the MSRs owing to the event of default resulting from the inability of OITRS to continue to meet servicing advance requirements.

The table below provides the elements of the change in carrying value of the MSRs for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

(in thousands)

   
September 30, 2008
   
September 30, 2007
 
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 3,073     $ 98,859  
Additions
    -       7,727  
Sales, net of reserve for prepayment protection
    (1,344 )     (87,603 )
Changes in fair value:
               
     Due to changes in market conditions and run-off
    614       (13,785 )
     Due to change in valuation assumptions
    -       (2,558 )
Mortgage servicing rights surrendered
    (2,028 )     -  
Valuation Allowance
    (315 )     -  
Balance at end of period
  $ -     $ 2,640  
 
(d) – Receivables

A summary of receivables as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is presented below:

(in thousands)

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Servicing advances (principal and interest)
  $ 11,385     $ 5,636  
Servicing advances (taxes and insurance)
    8,185       7,495  
Servicing sale receivable
    3,899       4,681  
Other receivables
    454       56  
Totals
  $ 23,923     $ 17,868  

 
(e) – Secured Borrowings

Secured borrowings consisted of a line of credit for $80.0 million that was secured by the retained interests in securitizations. The line was paid in full on May 26, 2008.  The agreement provided for interest rate based on LIBOR plus 3.00%.
 
         (f)  - Income taxes
 
OITRS is a taxpaying entity for income tax purposes and is taxed separately from Bimini Capital.  Therefore, OITRS separately reports an income tax provision or benefit based on its own taxable activities.  As of September 30, 2008, all deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities, are offset in their entirety by a deferred tax asset valuation allowance.  Substantially all of the net deferred tax assets are a result of net tax losses incurred. The amount of the gross tax benefit generated by these losses are reduced by an offsetting valuation allowance of the same amount.

For the period ended September 30, 2007, OITRS has recorded a provision of $7.2 million for the nine months then ended, and a benefit of $4.3 million for the three months then ended. At December 31, 2006, OITRS had recorded net deferred tax assets of approximately $7.1 million. During the three month ended March 31, 2007, OITRS recorded a valuation allowance (among other items) resulting in OITRS recording an income tax provision of $11.5 million, which reduced the December 31, 2006 net deferred tax asset to a net deferred tax liability at March 31, 2007 of approximately $4.3 million. As part of the recording of this allowance at March 31, 2007, State tax NOLs were fully allowanced, as their availability to fully offset recorded deferred tax liabilities was not assured. The losses incurred by OITRS from March 31, 2007 through September 30, 2007 were sufficient to ensure that the State NOLs will be available to offset recorded deferred tax liabilities and realized gains on sales of OITRS assets; therefore the net deferred tax liability of $4.3 million was offset by the deferred tax assets related to the State NOLs expected to be realized as of September 30, 2007.  Consequently, the benefit for income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2007 is $4.3 million, and the provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 is $7.2 million. 

The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income within OITRS.  Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment.  At this time, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize the full benefits of all of the federal and state tax loss carryforwards, and that the Company will not realize any benefit of the other deferred tax assets.  Therefore, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance against all the net deferred tax assets of OITRS.  

(g) – Commitments and Contingencies

Loans Sold to Investors. Generally, OITRS was not exposed to significant credit risk on the loans it sold to investors. In the normal course of business, OITRS provided certain representations and warranties during the sale of mortgage loans which obligated it to repurchase loans which were subsequently unable to be sold through the normal investor channels. The repurchased loans were secured by the related real estate properties, and could usually be sold directly to other permanent investors.

OITRS recognized a liability for the estimated fair value of this obligation at the inception of each mortgage loan sale based on the anticipated repurchase levels and historical experience. The liability was recorded as a reduction of the gain on sale of mortgage loans and included as part of liabilities related to assets held for sale in the accompanying financial statements.

Changes in this liability during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:

(in thousands)
 
   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2008
   
September 30, 2007
 
Balance—Beginning of period
  $ 5,260     $ 7,136  
Reclassification from other liabilities
    1,700       -  
Provision
    1,759       16,159  
Charge-Offs
    (1,416 )     (14,013 )
Balance—End of period
  $ 7,303     $ 9,282  
 
    Litigation Contingencies. OITRS is involved in various lawsuits and claims, both actual and potential, including some that it has asserted against others, in which monetary damages and other relief is sought.  The resolution of such lawsuits and claims is inherently unpredictable.  In accordance with GAAP, it is the policy of OITRS to accrue for loss contingencies only when it is both probable that a loss has actually been incurred and an amount of such loss is reasonably estimable.  The lawsuits and claims involving OITRS, the most significant of which are described below, relate primarily to contractual disputes arising out of the ordinary course of OITRS's business as previously conducted. 

On June 14, 2007, a complaint was filed in the Circuit Court of the Twelfth Judicial District in and for Manatee County, Florida by Coast Bank of Florida against OITRS seeking monetary damages and specific performance and alleging breach of contract for allegedly failing to repurchase approximately fifty loans.  On September 5, 2007, OITRS filed a motion to dismiss Coast’s complaint.  On February 25, 2008, the Court denied OITRS’s motion to dismiss.  On March 14, 2008, the Court entered an order clarifying its order entered on February 25, 2008 and stating that it was unable to determine whether Coast’s claims are barred under Florida law without hearing additional facts.  As a result of the Court’s orders, discovery has now commenced.  OITRS believes it has meritorious defenses in this action.

On July 2, 2008, an amended complaint was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, Central District by IndyMac Bank, F.S.B. against OITRS and others seeking monetary damages and specific performance and alleging, among other allegations, breach of contract for allegedly failing to repurchase thirty-six loans.  On August 11, 2008, OITRS filed a special demurrer to various causes of action set forth in the amended complaint.  On August 18, 2008, the Court entered an order substituting the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), as conservator for IndyMac Federal Bank, F.S.B., in the place of IndyMac Bank, F.S.B.  On September 29, 2008, the Court denied OITRS’s special demurrer.  OITRS believes it has meritorious defenses in this action.

(h) – Fair Value

OITRS measures or monitors many of its assets on a fair value basis. Fair value is used on a recurring basis for certain assets in which fair value is the primary basis of accounting. Examples of these include, loans held for sale, retained interests, trading, securities held for sale and mortgage servicing rights. Additionally, fair value is used on a non-recurring basis to evaluate assets for impairment.  Examples of these non-recurring uses of fair value include goodwill, and long-lived assets. Depending on the nature of the asset or liability, OITRS uses various valuation techniques and assumptions when estimating the instrument’s fair value. These valuation techniques and assumptions are in accordance with SFAS No. 157.

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at and/or marked to fair value, OITRS considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. When possible, OITRS looks to active and observable markets to price identical assets or liabilities. When identical assets and liabilities are not traded in active markets, OITRS looks to market observable data for similar assets and liabilities. Nevertheless, certain assets and liabilities are not actively traded in observable markets and OITRS must use alternative valuation techniques to derive a fair value measurement.
 
The following table presents financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

(in thousands)

         
Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2008, Using
 
   
Fair Value Measurements
September 30, 2008
   
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Mortgage loans held for sale
  $ 456     $ -     $ -     $ 456  
Retained interests, trading
    14,384       -       -       14,384  
Securities held for sale
    15       -       -       15  
Originated mortgage servicing rights
    -       -       -       -  

A reconciliation of activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 for assets measured at fair value based on significant unobservable (non-market) information (Level 3) is presented in the following table:

(in thousands)

   
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
   
Retained Interests, Trading
   
Securities Held for Sale
   
Originated Mortgage Servicing Rights
 
Beginning balance
  $ 983     $ 69,301     $ 173     $ 3,073  
Gains (losses) included in earnings
    (19 )     (43,085 )     (27 )     (1,729 )
Purchases, issuances and settlements
    (508 )     (11,832 )     (131 )     (1,344 )
Ending Balance
  $ 456     $ 14,384     $ 15     $ -  

Gains and losses included in earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 are reported in loss on discontinued mortgage banking activities.




ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
When used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) or in press releases or other written or oral communications, statements which are not historical in nature, including those containing words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “should,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend” and similar expressions, are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
 
These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described or incorporated by reference in Part II - Item 1A - Risk Factors of this Form 10-Q. These and other risks, uncertainties and factors, including those described in reports that the Company files from time to time with the Commission, could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of such statements.

The following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report.

Introduction

As used in this document, discussions related to “Bimini Capital,” the parent company, the registrant, and to real estate investment trust (“REIT”) qualifying activities or the general management of Bimini Capital’s portfolio of mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) refer to “Bimini Capital Management, Inc.”  Further, discussions related to Bimini Capital’s taxable REIT subsidiary or non-REIT eligible assets refer to Orchid Island TRS, LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries. This entity, which was previously named Opteum Financial Services, LLC, and referred to as “OFS,” was renamed Orchid Island TRS, LLC effective July 3, 2007.   Hereinafter, any historical mention, discussion or references to Opteum Financial Services, LLC or to OFS (such as in previously filed documents or Exhibits) now means Orchid Island TRS, LLC or “OITRS.”  Discussions relating to the “Company” refer to the consolidated entity (the combination of Bimini Capital and OITRS).

Bimini Capital Management, Inc., formerly Opteum Inc. and Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., was formed in September 2003 to invest primarily in but not limited to, residential mortgage related securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (more commonly known as Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (more commonly known as Freddie Mac) and the Government National Mortgage Association (more commonly known as Ginnie Mae). Bimini Capital attempts to earn a return on the spread between the yield on its assets and its costs, including the interest expense on the funds it borrows. It generally intends to borrow between eight and twelve times the amount of its equity capital in an attempt to enhance its returns to stockholders. For purposes of this calculation, Bimini Capital treats its junior subordinated notes as an equity capital equivalent. This leverage may be adjusted above or below this range to the extent management or the Company’s Board of Directors deems necessary or appropriate.  During the third quarter of 2008 Bimini Capital expanded its investment strategy to include the use of inverse interest only and interest only securities due to disruption in the repurchase agreement funding market.  Such securities are collateralized by mortgages with similar characteristics as those collateralizing the residential mortgage related securities that the Company invests in otherwise. Bimini Capital is self-managed and self-advised and has elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

On April 18, 2007, the Board of Managers of OITRS, at the recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Company, approved the closure of the wholesale and conduit mortgage loan origination channels.  Both channels ceased accepting new applications for mortgage loans on April 20, 2007.  On May 7, 2007, OITRS signed a binding agreement to sell its retail mortgage loan origination channel to a third party as well.  On June 30, 2007, OITRS completed such sale and ceased its mortgage loan origination business and therefore the results of the mortgage origination business are reported as discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The results of the ongoing activities associated with the wind-down of the mortgage loan origination business for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 are likewise reported as discontinued operations.


DIVIDENDS TO STOCKHOLDERS

In order to maintain its qualification as a REIT, Bimini Capital is required (among other provisions) to annually distribute dividends to its stockholders in an amount at least equal to, generally, 90% of Bimini Capital’s REIT taxable income. REIT taxable income is a term that describes Bimini Capital’s operating results calculated in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.  As a REIT, Bimini Capital may be subject to a federal excise tax if Bimini Capital distributes less than 85% of its taxable income by the end of the calendar year.

Bimini Capital’s REIT taxable income is computed differently from net income as computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP net income"), as reported in the Company’s accompanying consolidated financial statements.  Depending on the number and size of the various items or transactions being accounted for differently, the differences between REIT taxable income and GAAP net income can be substantial and each item can affect several reporting periods. Generally, these items are timing or temporary differences between years; for example, an item that may be a deduction for GAAP net income in the current year may not be a deduction for REIT taxable income until a later year.

The Company has negative retained earnings (titled “Accumulated deficit” in the stockholders’ equity (deficit) section of the financial statements) as of September 30, 2008.  This deficit is computed on a GAAP basis, and does not directly affect the REIT’s ability to pay dividends except as otherwise limited by Maryland law.  As described in Note 9 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the differences between GAAP results and REIT taxable income is substantial;  from inception to September 30, 2008, Bimini Capital’s REIT taxable income is approximately $77.9 million greater than Bimini Capital’s results as reported in its GAAP financial statements. 

Results of Operations

PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW

Described below are the Company’s results of operations for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, as compared to the Company’s results of operations for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company ceased all mortgage origination business at OITRS. As stated above, results of those operations are reported in the financial statements as discontinued operations.

Consolidated net loss for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, was $54.1 million and $14.4 million, compared to a consolidated net loss of $245.3 million and $4.7 million, respectively, for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007. The consolidated net loss for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008 was primarily the result of negative mark to market adjustments to the retained interests, trading of OITRS of $43.1 million and $8.3 million, respectively. For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, Bimini Capital had a loss from continuing operations of $5.8 million and $2.3 million, respectively.  The consolidated net loss for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007 was primarily the result of an other-than-temporary impairment of $55.3 million taken on the Company’s MBS portfolio during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and a loss from discontinued operations at OITRS of $154.8 million and $1.5 million, respectively, for the nine and three month periods ended September 30, 2007. Consolidated net loss per basic and diluted share of Class A Common Stock was $2.12 and $0.56, respectively, for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, compared to a consolidated net loss per basic and diluted share of Class A Common Stock of $9.84 and $0.19, respectively, for the comparable prior period.

For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, comprehensive loss was $54.1 million and $14.4 million, respectively.  For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007, comprehensive loss was $168.5 million and $4.7 million, including the net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities of $2.1 million and $0.0 million and the reclassification of other-than-temporary loss on MBS of $55.3 million.

Unrealized gains/(losses) on available-for-sale securities is a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, which is included in stockholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheet.  The unrealized gains/(losses) on available-for-sale securities is the difference between the fair market value of the portfolio of MBS securities and their cost basis.  The unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, was driven by a combination of a decrease in short term rates for the period, which tends to increase the fair market value of the Company’s portfolio of MBS securities, and increased amortization of net premium for the period, which lowers the cost basis in the portfolio of MBS securities.  The increased amortization for the period was the result of the continued upward resetting of adjustable-rate mortgage (“ARM”) securities in the portfolio, which results in higher coupons on the securities relative to their booked yields, and therefore greater amortization.

On February 15, 2007, the FASB issued statement No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (“SFAS 159”).  This standard permits an entity to measure financial instruments and certain other items at estimated fair value. The fair value option created by SFAS 159 permits an entity to measure eligible items at fair value as of specified election dates. The Company adopted SFAS 159 on January 1, 2008, and in connection with the adoption of SFAS No. 159, the Company elected to record available-for-sale mortgage-backed securities at fair value and to transfer these securities to its trading portfolio.  As a result, fluctuations in value of the entire MBS portfolio are recorded in earnings effective January 1, 2008.

PERFORMANCE OF BIMINI CAPITAL’S MBS PORTFOLIO

For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, Bimini Capital generated $23.0 million and $6.1 million, respectively, of interest income from MBS assets and $17.3 million and $4.2 million, respectively, of interest expense on repo liabilities, resulting in gross portfolio interest income of $5.8 million and $2.0 million, respectively.  In addition, for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, Bimini Capital incurred $6.3 million and $2.1 million, respectively, of interest expense on the junior subordinated notes resulting in net interest expense of $0.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively.  Gross portfolio interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased by approximately $7.3 million and for the three months ended September 30, 2008 decreased by $1.5 million, from the same respective periods of 2007.  The $7.3 million increase is due to higher net interest margin available in the market in 2008, offset to some extent by a substantially reduced portfolio. The results for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, were also positively impacted by the Company’s implementation of its alternative investment strategy which employed inverse interest only (IIO) securities.  Such securities benefited from lower levels of one month LIBOR and slower repayments, even though they were only deployed for a portion of the nine and three month period.

For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, Bimini Capital’s general and administrative costs were approximately $4.3 million and $1.1, respectively. For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, compensation and related benefits were $1.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively, lower than for the same period in 2007, while costs associated with the Company’s evaluation of possible strategic options caused other administrative expenses to increase $0.5 million and $0.04 million, respectively.

Bimini Capital had $0.8 million and $0.05 million, respectively, in realized gains from the sales of securities in the MBS portfolio during the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, compared to losses of $20.5 million and $1.1 million, respectively, during the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007.

For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, Bimini Capital had a loss from continuing operations of $5.8 million and $2.3 million, respectively.
 
As of September 30, 2008, the MBS pass through portfolio consisted of $226.6 million of agency or government MBS at fair value and had a weighted average coupon on assets of 5.47% and a net weighted average borrowing cost of 2.99%.  The following tables summarize Bimini Capital’s agency and government mortgage related securities as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

(in thousands)

Asset Category
 
Market Value
Percentage of
Entire
Portfolio
Weighted
Average
Coupon
Weighted
Average
Maturity in
Months
Longest
Maturity
Weighted
Average Coupon
Reset in Months
Weighted
Average
Lifetime Cap
Weighted
Average
Periodic Cap
September 30, 2008
                 
Adjustable-Rate MBS
$
84,387
37.24%
5.17%
279
1-Jan-36
6.48
10.49%
8.82%
Fixed-Rate MBS
 
65,244
28.80%
6.62%
336
1-Jul-38
n/a
n/a
n/a
Hybrid Adjustable-Rate MBS
 
62,915
27.77%
5.03%
338
1-Apr-38
52.69
10.03%
2.00%
Total Mortgage Backed Pass Through
 
212,546
93.81%
5.57%
314
1-Jul-38
26.21
10.29%
3.49%
Inverse IO MBS
 
14,022
6.19%
3.91%
351
25-Jan-38
0.31
n/a
n/a
Total Mortgage Assets
$
226,568
100.00%
5.47%
316
1-Jul-38
23.96
n/a
3.49%
December 31, 2007
                 
Adjustable-Rate MBS
$
177,608
25.72%
6.58%
294
1-Apr-44
5.49
10.61%
2.47%
Fixed-Rate MBS
 
110,297
15.97%
6.98%
335
1-Oct-37
n/a
n/a
n/a
Hybrid Adjustable-Rate MBS
 
398,982
57.78%
6.11%
344
1-Sep-37
39.62
11.92%
3.62%
Fixed-Rate CMO
 
3,692
0.53%
7.00%
233
18-May-27
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total Portfolio
$
690,579
100.00%
6.37%
329
1-Apr-44
29.11
11.52%
3.41%

(in thousands)

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Agency
 
Market Value
   
Percentage of
Entire Portfolio
   
Market Value
   
Percentage of
Entire Portfolio
 
Fannie Mae
  $ 217,707       96.09 %   $ 638,763       92.50 %
Freddie Mac
    7,684       3.39 %     46,318       6.70 %
Ginnie Mae
    1,177       0.52 %     5,498       0.80 %
Total Portfolio
  $ 226,568       100.00 %   $ 690,579       100.00 %

Entire Portfolio
 
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Weighted Average Pass Through Purchase Price
  $ 102.83     $ 102.32  
Weighted Average Derivative Purchase Price
    6.86       -  
Weighted Average Pass Through Current Price
  $ 101.03     $ 101.94  
Weighted Average Derivative Current Price
  $ 7.04     $ -  
Effective Duration (1)
    2.789       1.267  

(1) Effective duration of 2.789 indicates that an interest rate increase of 1.0% would be expected to cause a 2.789% decline in the value of the MBS in the Company’s investment portfolio at September 30, 2008.  Effective duration of 1.267 indicates that an interest rate increase of 1.0% would be expected to cause a 1.267% decline in the value of the MBS in the Company’s investment portfolio at December 31, 2007. These figures include the derivative securities in the portfolio.

In evaluating the MBS pass through portfolio assets and their performance, Bimini Capital’s management team primarily evaluates these critical factors: asset performance in differing interest rate environments, duration of the security, yield to maturity, potential for prepayment of principal and the market price of the investment.

Bimini Capital’s portfolio of MBS pass throughs will typically be comprised of adjustable-rate MBS, fixed-rate MBS, hybrid adjustable-rate MBS and balloon maturity MBS. Bimini Capital seeks to acquire low duration assets. Although the duration of an individual asset can change as a result of changes in interest rates, Bimini Capital strives to maintain a portfolio with an effective duration of less than 2.0. The stated contractual final maturity of the mortgage loans underlying Bimini Capital’s portfolio of MBS generally ranges up to 30 years. However, the effect of prepayments of the underlying mortgage loans tends to shorten the resulting cash flows from investments substantially. Prepayments occur for various reasons, including refinancing of underlying mortgages and loan payoffs in connection with home sales.

Prepayments on the loans underlying MBS can alter the timing of the cash flows from the underlying loans to the Company. As a result, Bimini Capital gauges the interest rate sensitivity of its assets by measuring their effective duration. While modified duration measures the price sensitivity of a bond to movements in interest rates, effective duration captures both the movement in interest rates and the fact that cash flows to a mortgage related security are altered when interest rates move. Accordingly, when the contract interest rate on a mortgage loan is substantially above prevailing interest rates in the market, the effective duration of securities collateralized by such loans can be quite low because of expected prepayments. Although some of the fixed-rate MBS in Bimini Capital’s portfolio are collateralized by loans with a lower propensity to prepay when the contract rate is above prevailing rates, their price movements track securities with the same contract rates but lack such lower propensity to prepay, and therefore exhibit similar effective duration.

Bimini Capital’s sub-portfolio of inverse interest only securities have underlying borrower and loan characteristics as that of the MBS pass through sub-portfolio.  The values of inverse interest only securities are impacted by movements in one month LIBOR and the interest rate caps associated with the security, which directly affect the coupon of such securities, as well as prepayments.  Generally interest only securities are more sensitive to prepayment behavior owing to their lack of a principal balance.  Also, as market conditions fluctuate over time the relative attractiveness of inverse interest only and interest only securities can also vary. Owing to the smaller size of the inverse interest only and interest only market in relation to the MBS pass through market, such fluctuations can exacerbate price movements.  Bimini Capital does not intend to pledge such securities as collateral under repurchase agreement funding arrangements and so will not be exposed to price related margin calls from lenders.

As of September 30, 2008, approximately 27.8% of Bimini Capital’s portfolio is comprised of hybrid adjustable rate MBS and 28.8% are premium fixed rate MBS pass throughs. Bimini Capital favors such securities since they offer superior income potential in the current slow prepayment environment.  Going forward, to the extent such superior relative income potential is not available, the composition of the portfolio may be changed to better take advantage of opportunities in the market at that time.

The value of the MBS portfolio changes as interest rates rise or fall.  Bimini Capital faces the risk that the market value of its assets will increase or decrease at different rates than that of its liabilities.  Bimini Capital primarily assesses its interest rate risk by estimating the duration of its assets and the duration of its liabilities. Duration essentially measures the market price volatility of financial instruments as interest rates change. Bimini Capital generally calculates duration using various financial models and empirical data and different models and methodologies can produce different duration numbers for the same securities.
 
The following sensitivity analysis shows the estimated impact on the fair value of Bimini Capital's interest rate-sensitive investments as of September 30, 2008, assuming rates instantaneously fall 100 basis points, rise 100 basis points and rise 200 basis points:

(in thousands)

         
Interest Rates Fall 100 BPS
   
Interest Rates Rise 100 BPS
   
Interest Rates Rise 200 BPS
 
Adjustable Rate MBS
                       
Fair Value
  $ 84,387                    
Change in Fair Value
          $ 816     $ (816 )   $ (1,632 )
Change as a % of Fair Value
            0.97 %     (0.97 %)     (1.93 %)
Fixed Rate MBS
                               
Fair Value
  $ 65,244                          
Change in Fair Value
          $ 1,781     $ (1,781 )   $ (3,562 )
Change as a % of Fair Value
            2.73 %     (2.73 %)     (5.46 %)
Hybrid Adjustable Rate MBS
                               
Fair Value
  $ 62,915                          
Change in Fair Value
          $ 1,833     $ (1,833 )   $ (3,666 )
Change as a % of Fair Value
            2.91 %     (2.91 %)     (5.83 %)
Derivatives
                               
Fair Value
  $ 14,022                          
Change in Fair Value
          $ 1,889     $ (1,889 )   $ (3,778 )
Change as a % of Fair Value
            13.47 %     (13.47 %)     (26.94 %)
Cash
                               
Fair Value
  $ 12,377                          
Portfolio Total
                               
Fair Value
  $ 226,568                          
Change in fair Value
          $ 6,319     $ (6,319 )   $ (12,638 )
Change as a % of Fair Value
            2.79 %     (2.79 %)     (5.58 %)
 
The table below reflects the same analysis presented above but with the figures in the columns that indicate the estimated impact of a 100 basis point fall or rise adjusted to reflect the impact of convexity.

(in thousands)

         
Interest Rates Fall 100 BPS
   
Interest Rates Rise 100 BPS
   
Interest Rates Rise 200 BPS
 
Adjustable Rate MBS
                       
Fair Value
  $ 84,387                    
Change in fair Value
          $ 909     $ (1,329 )   $ (2,977 )
Change as a % of Fair Value
            1.08 %     (1.57 %)     (3.53 %)
Fixed Rate MBS
                               
Fair Value
  $ 65,244                          
Change in fair Value
          $ 1,236     $ (2,395 )   $ (5,399 )
Change as a % of Fair Value
            1.89 %     (3.67 %)     (8.28 %)
Hybrid Adjustable Rate MBS
                               
Fair Value
  $ 62,915                          
Change in fair Value
          $ 522     $ (792 )   $ (1,864 )
Change as a % of Fair Value
            0.83 %     (1.26 %)     (2.96 %)
Derivatives
                               
Fair Value
  $ 14,022                          
Change in Fair Value
          $ (1,105 )   $ (2,946 )   $ (6,949 )
Change as a % of Fair Value
            (7.88 %)     (21.01 %)     (49.56 %)
Cash
                               
Fair Value
  $ 12,377                          
Portfolio Total
                               
Fair Value
  $ 226,568                          
Change in fair Value
          $ 1,562     $ (7,462 )   $ (17,189 )
Change as a % of Fair Value
            0.69 %     (3.29 %)     (7.59 %)

In addition to changes in interest rates, other factors impact the fair value of Bimini Capital's interest rate-sensitive investments and hedging instruments, such as the shape of the yield curve, the level of one month LIBOR (IIO’s), market expectations as to future interest rate changes and disruptions in the financial markets. Accordingly, in the event of changes in actual interest rates, the change in the fair value of Bimini Capital's assets would likely differ from that shown above and such difference might be material and adverse to Bimini Capital's stockholders.
 
The table below shows Bimini Capital’s average investments held, total interest income, yield on average earning assets, average repurchase obligations outstanding, interest expense, average cost of funds, net interest income and net interest spread for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, and the eighteen previous quarters for Bimini Capital’s portfolio of MBS securities only. The data in the table below does not include information pertaining to discontinued operations at OITRS.

RATIOS FOR THE QUARTERS HAVE BEEN ANNUALIZED
(in thousands)

Quarter Ended
 
Average
Investment
Securities Held
   
Total Interest Income
   
Quarterly Retrospective Adj.
   
Premium Lost due to Paydowns
   
Yield on Average Interest Earning Assets (1)
   
Average Balance of Repurchase Agreements Outstanding
   
Interest Expense (2)
   
Average Cost of Funds (2)
   
Net Interest Income
   
Net Interest Spread
   
Trust Preferred Interest Expense
 
September 30, 2008
  $ 375,239       6,149       -       568,213       5.95 %   $ 326,577       4,193       5.14 %   $ 1,956       0.81 %   $ 1,933  
June 30, 2008
    519,614       6,787       -       415       4.91 %     471,732       5,448       4.62 %     1,339       0.29 %     1,933  
March 31, 2008
    602,948       10,112       -       652       6.28 %     584,597       7,590       5.19 %     2,522       1.08 %     1,933  
December 31, 2007
    972,236       11,364       (345 )     -       4.68 %     944,832       10,531       4.46 %     833       0.22 %     1,933  
September 30, 2007
    1,536,265       24,634       (404 )     -       6.41 %     1,497,409       20,998       5.61 %     3,636       0.81 %     1,933  
June 30, 2007
    2,375,216       26,970       (6,182 )     -       4.54 %     2,322,727       33,444       5.76 %     (6,475 )     (1.22 %)     1,933  
March 31, 2007
    2,870,265       38,634       1,794       -       5.38 %     2,801,901       37,405       5.34 %     1,229       0.04 %     1,933  
December 31, 2006
    2,944,397       31,841       (4,013 )     -       4.33 %     2,869,210       39,448       5.50 %     (7,607 )     (1.17 %)     1,933  
September 30, 2006
    3,243,674       43,051       3,523       -       5.31 %     3,151,813       42,683       5.42 %     368       (0.11 %)     1,933  
June 30, 2006
    3,472,921       54,811       13,395       -       6.31 %     3,360,421       41,674       4.96 %     13,137       1.35 %     1,933  
March 31, 2006
    3,516,292       40,512       1,917       -       4.61 %     3,375,777       36,566       4.33 %     3,946       0.28 %     1,933  
December 31, 2005
    3,676,175       43,140       3,249       -       4.69 %     3,533,486       35,337       4.00 %     7,803       0.69 %     1,858  
September 30, 2005
    3,867,263       43,574       4,348       -       4.51 %     3,723,603       32,345       3.48 %     11,230       1.03 %     973  
June 30, 2005
    3,587,629       36,749       2,413       -       4.10 %     3,449,744       26,080       3.02 %     10,668       1.07 %     454  
March 31, 2005
    3,136,142       31,070       1,013       -       3.96 %     2,976,409       19,731       2.65 %     11,339       1.31 %     -  
December 31, 2004
    2,305,748       20,463       1,250       -       3.55 %     2,159,891       10,796       2.00 %     9,667       1.55 %     -  
September 30, 2004
    1,573,343       11,017       -       -       2.80 %     1,504,919       4,253       1.13 %     6,764       1.67 %     -  
June 30, 2004
    1,512,481       10,959       -       -       2.90 %     1,452,004       4,344       1.20 %     6,615       1.70 %     -  
March 31, 2004
    871,140       7,194       -       -       3.30 %     815,815       2,736       1.34 %     4,458       1.96 %     -  

(1)  
Adjusted for premium lost on paydowns
(2)  
Excludes Trust Preferred Interest

The net interest figures in the table above exclude interest associated with the trust preferred debt, which is reflected in the last column separately. The net interest figures do reflect the quarterly retrospective adjustment, where applicable.  As a result of the entire MBS portfolio being classified as held for trading for the three months ended September 30, 2008, there are no longer quarterly retrospective adjustments.  For the three months ended September 30, 2008, the net margin was 81 basis points on a portfolio of MBS securities classified entirely as held for trading.   For the three months ended September 30, 2007, ($0.4) million of the $24.6 million of interest income was attributable to the quarterly retrospective adjustment. As a result of the retrospective adjustment, the yield on average interest earning assets for such period was reduced by 10.5 basis points to 641.4 basis points.

PERFORMANCE OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS OF OITRS

As stated previously, the Company has sold or discontinued all residential mortgage origination activities at OITRS. The principal business activities of OITRS were the origination and sale of mortgage loans.  In addition, as part of the securitization of loans sold, OITRS retained an interest in the resulting residual interest cash flows more fully described below.  Finally, OITRS serviced the loans securitized as well as some loans sold on a whole loan basis.

Currently, there are no operating activities at OITRS and all income and expenses at OITRS are attributable to mark to market adjustments on the retained interest, trading (market value of $14.4 million as of September 30, 2008), the remaining originated mortgage servicing rights (market value as of September 30, 2008 of $0.0 million), the remaining mortgage loans held for sale (market value as of September 30, 2008 of $0.5 million) and general and administrative expenses associated with the wind down of operations.

The retained interests in securitizations represent residual interest in pools of loans securitized.  The total fair value of these retained interests was approximately $14.4 million as of September 30, 2008. Fluctuations in value of retained interests are primarily driven by projections of future interest rates (the forward LIBOR curve), the discount rate used to determine the present value of the residual cash flows and prepayment and loss estimates on the underlying mortgage loans. Due to significantly higher levels of seriously delinquent loans in the underlying securitizations and higher loss severity assumptions going forward, the fair value of the retained interests decreased by $43.1 million and $8.3 million for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. Due to higher forward London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) rates and increased loss assumptions on the underlying mortgage loans, the fair value of the retained interests decreased by $28.1 million and $0.6 million for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007.

As of September 30, 2008, OITRS owned $0.5 million of mortgage loans, net of fair value adjustments, which were classified as mortgage loans held for sale.  As stated above, OITRS no longer originates mortgage loans and the remaining loan inventory is being liquidated.  Losses realized on the discontinued mortgage banking activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, were $43.2 million and consist primarily of fair value adjustments on the retained interests, trading.

The table below provides details of OITRS’s loss on discontinued mortgage banking activities for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.  OITRS recognizes a gain or loss on sale of mortgages held for sale only when the loans are actually sold.

(in thousands)

   
Nine Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2008
   
September 30, 2007
   
September 30, 2008
   
September 30, 2007
 
Fair value adjustment of retained interests, trading
  $ (43,085 )   $ (28,126 )   $ (8,255 )   $ (634 )
Losses on sales of mortgage loans and securities
    (43 )     (6,064 )     (8 )     (11,006 )
Fees on brokered loans
    -       1,749       -       -  
Gains/(losses) on derivatives
    -       (4,473 )     -       246  
Direct loan origination expenses, deferred
    -       (7,122 )     -       (1,627 )
Fees earned, brokering
    -       887       -       182  
Direct loan origination expenses, reclassified
    -       (22,181 )     -       -  
Change in market value of IRLC’s
    -       14       -       -  
Change in market value of mortgage loans held for sale
    (83 )     (3,604 )     (71 )     5,734  
Loss on discontinued mortgage banking activities
  $ (43,211 )   $ (68,920 )   $ (8,334 )   $ (7,105 )

For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007, losses realized on the discontinued mortgage banking activities were $68.9 million and $7.1 million.  Mark to market gains/(losses) of loans held for sale of ($3.6) million and $5.7 million, for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007, were the result of a sharp deterioration in the secondary market for the loans originated and sold.  Losses from discontinued mortgage banking activities also include changes in the fair value of retained interests in securitizations and the associated hedge gains or losses.  Excluding changes in fair value of retained interests in securitizations net of hedge gains and losses, OITRS had losses from sales of mortgages held for sale of $36.3 million and $6.7 million for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007.

For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007, OITRS originated $1.5 billion and $0.0 billion, respectively, and sold $2.1 billion and $0.1 billion, respectively, of mortgage loans.  Of the originated mortgage loans sold during the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007, $0.8 billion and $0.0 billion, respectively, were sold on a servicing retained basis.

Owing to the excessive and increasing burden of the monthly advancing requirement on delinquent loans serviced by OITRS, coupled with the Company’s reduced liquidity, OITRS was unable to meet such servicing advance requirement in September of 2008 which resulted in a servicer event of default under the various pooling and servicing agreements under which OITRS serviced loans.  Accordingly, such servicing was surrendered to the master servicer and the carrying value of the related servicing was written off.  Such charge was $2.0 million.  All advances made on such loans prior to the event of default, net of any costs incurred by the master servicer related to the servicing transfer, will be returned to the Company as the delinquent loans are liquidated over time.  The balance of the receivable at September 30, 2008 was $19.6 million.

For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, OITRS had net servicing loss of $1.4 million and $2.3 million.  The results were driven primarily by the surrender of the MSRs owing to the event of default resulting from the inability of OITRS to continue to meet servicing advance requirements.

For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007, OITRS had net servicing loss of $13.9 million and $1.2 million.  The results were driven primarily by negative fair value adjustments to the MSRs (inclusive of run-off of the servicing portfolio).

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal sources of cash generally consist of borrowings under repurchase agreements, payments of principal and interest we receive on our MBS portfolio, and cash flows received by OITRS from the residual interests that are used to repay intercompany debt.  Our principal uses of cash are the repayment of principal and interest on our repurchase agreements, purchases of MBS, funding our operations and, to the extent dividends are declared, making dividend payments on our capital stock.    

During the three months ended September 30, 2008, we purchased $13.8 million of MBS (consisting entirely of IIO securities), using prepayments and sales of MBS and existing cash.  During the third quarter of 2008, we received cash of $21.2 million from prepayments on our MBS. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we generated net proceeds of $288.6 million from the sale of MBS.  Also, the residual interests at OITRS generated $11.8 million and $1.2 million, respectively, in cash flows for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008.

As of September 30, 2008, Bimini Capital had outstanding balances under master repurchase agreements with various counterparties.  None of the counterparties to these agreements are affiliates of Bimini Capital. These agreements are secured by Bimini Capital’s MBS and bear interest rates that are based on a spread to LIBOR.

As of September 30, 2008, Bimini Capital had obligations outstanding under its repurchase agreements totaling $200.7 million with a net weighted average borrowing cost of 2.99%.  As of September 30, 2008, all of Bimini Capital’s outstanding repurchase agreement obligations are due in less than 6 months with $0.0 million maturing overnight, $85.5 million maturing between 2 and 30 days and the remaining $115.2 million maturing between 31 and 90 days.  Securing these repurchase agreement obligations as of September 30, 2008, were MBS with an estimated fair value of $208.9 million and a weighted average maturity of 316 months.

The following summarizes information regarding the Company’s amounts at risk with individual counterparties greater than 10% of the Company’s equity as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

 (in thousands)

Repurchase Agreement Counterparties
 
Amount
at Risk(1)
   
Weighted Average
Maturity of
Repurchase
Agreements
in Days
 
September 30, 2008
           
MF Global Inc.
    6,461       47  
RBS Greenwich Capital
    1,998       27  
December 31, 2007
               
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.
    8,823       193  
Goldman Sachs
    2,931       19  

(1)
Equal to the fair value of securities sold, plus accrued interest income, minus the sum of repurchase agreement liabilities, plus accrued interest expense.

Bimini Capital’s master repurchase agreements have no stated expiration, but can be terminated at any time at Bimini Capital’s option or at the option of the counterparty. However, once a definitive repurchase agreement under a master repurchase agreement has been entered into, it generally may not be terminated by either party absent an event of default.  A negotiated termination can occur, but may involve a fee to be paid by the party seeking to terminate the repurchase agreement transaction.

As discussed above, increases in short-term interest rates could negatively impact the valuation of Bimini Capital’s MBS portfolio.  Should this occur, Bimini Capital’s repurchase agreement counterparties could initiate margin calls, thus inhibiting its liquidity or forcing us to sell assets.

During the nine month period ended September 30, 2008, the Company undertook a series of asset sales intended to raise funds necessary to service the residual financing line of OITRS, de-lever to the extent funding was not available and maintain adequate liquidity during the continuing period of disruption in the mortgage market.  On October 27, 2008, $29.3 million of repurchase agreement obligations matured and could not be extended.  The Company was forced to sell the associated MBS assets pledged to satisfy the obligation.  Such sales may have to continue to the extent funding is not available in the future.

Given the current difficulties with respect to the availability of funding via the repurchase market, the Company has opted to augment its existing leveraged MBS portfolio with alternative sources of income.  The Company has employed an alternative investment strategy utilizing derivative mortgage backed securities collateralized by MBS with comparable borrower and prepayment characteristics to the securities currently in the portfolio.  Such securities are not funded in the repurchase market but instead are owned free and clear.  The leverage inherent in the securities replaces the leverage obtained by acquiring pass-through securities and funding them in the repurchase market.

In May 2005, Bimini Capital completed a private offering of $51.6 million of trust preferred securities of Bimini Capital Trust I (“BCTI”) resulting in the issuance by Bimini Capital of $51.6 million of junior subordinated notes. The interest rate payable by Bimini Capital on the BCTI junior subordinated notes is fixed for the first five years at 7.61% and then floats at a spread of 3.30% over three-month LIBOR for the remaining 25 years. However, the BCTI junior subordinated notes and the corresponding BCTI trust preferred securities are redeemable at Bimini Capital’s option at the end of the first five year period and at any subsequent date that Bimini Capital chooses.

In addition, in October 2005, Bimini Capital completed a private offering of an additional $51.5 million of trust preferred securities of Bimini Capital Trust II (“BCTII”) resulting in the issuance by Bimini Capital of an additional $51.5 million of junior subordinated notes. The interest rate on the BCTII junior subordinated notes and the corresponding BCTII trust preferred securities is fixed for the first five years at 7.8575% and then floats at a spread of 3.50% over three-month LIBOR for the remaining 25 years. However, the BCTII junior subordinated notes and the corresponding BCTII trust preferred securities are redeemable at Bimini Capital’s option at the end of the first five year period and at any subsequent date that Bimini Capital chooses.

The Company presently believes that its equity and junior subordinated debt capital, combined with the cash flow from operations and retained interests, will be sufficient to enable the Company to meet its anticipated liquidity requirements. Continued disruptions in market conditions could, however, adversely affect the Company’s liquidity, including the lack of available financing for the Company’s MBS assets, increases in interest rates, increases in prepayment rates substantially above expectations and decreases in value of assets held for sale. Therefore, in spite of the efforts contemplated above to address any potential loss of sufficient repurchase agreement funding, no assurances can be made regarding the Company's ability to satisfy its liquidity and working capital requirements.

Outlook

The Company's results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 were impacted by the unprecedented disruptions in the mortgage-backed securities market and the global fixed income and equity markets generally, which brought about a severe tightening of credit conditions and volatile asset prices.  The result was a substantial deleveraging of the financial system and substantial losses incurred by various market participants.  In an effort to combat these developments, the world’s central banks, the Congress of the United States, the US Treasury and Federal Reserve Bank have taken numerous actions, most of which are unprecedented.  The outcome of these developments continues to unfold and the end result is unclear.

The funding costs of the MBS portfolio, while low, have not fully stabilized but the coupon on the MBS assets now exceeds the associated repo funding costs. Also, the Company no longer needs to fund negative cash flow operations at OITRS, which in the past precluded the Company from reinvesting monthly pay-downs and also required the Company to sell MBS assets to generate funds throughout much of 2006 and 2007.

Going forward, at current interest rate levels, the lack of cash flow needs for OITRS and resulting halt of asset sales should allow the net interest margin (“NIM”) of the MBS portfolio to remain positive. As mentioned above, credit conditions have deteriorated materially and access to funding is precarious.  Accordingly, no assurance can be made of our ability to maintain a positive NIM or for rates to remain at current levels.  The Company has implemented an alternative investment strategy to supplement the levered MBS strategy in an effort to continue to maximize our net interest income until market conditions improve. Nonetheless, even with any potential for an expanded NIM and the alternative investment strategy, the reduced size of the portfolio in relation to the Company’s operating expenses will constrain the earnings potential of the Company in the near term.

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the Company’s accompanying consolidated financial statements.

GAAP requires the Company’s management to make some complex and subjective decisions and assessments. The Company’s most critical accounting policies involve decisions and assessments which could significantly affect reported assets and liabilities, as well as reported revenues and expenses. The Company believes that all of the decisions and assessments upon which its financial statements are based were reasonable at the time made based upon information available to it at that time. Management has identified its most critical accounting policies to be the following:

MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES

The Company’s investments in MBS are classified as held for trading.  Changes in fair value of securities held for trading are recorded through the statement of operations. The Company’s MBS have fair values determined by management based on the average of third-party broker quotes received and/or by independent pricing sources when available. Because the price estimates may vary to some degree between sources, management must make certain judgments and assumptions about the appropriate price to use to calculate the fair values for financial reporting purposes. Alternatively, management could opt to have the value of all of its positions in MBS determined by either an independent third-party pricing source or do so internally based on management’s own estimates. Management believes pricing on the basis of third-party broker quotes is the most consistent with the definition of fair value described in SFAS No. 107, Disclosures about the Fair Value of Financial Instruments.

RETAINED INTEREST, TRADING

Retained interest, trading is the subordinated interests retained by the Company from the Company’s various securitizations and includes the over-collateralization and residual net interest spread remaining after payments to the Public Certificates and NIM Notes (see Note 11 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements). Retained interest, trading represents the present value of estimated cash flows to be received from these subordinated interests in the future.  The subordinated interests retained are classified as “trading securities” and are reported at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported in earnings.  In order to value these unrated and unquoted retained interests, the Company utilizes either pricing available directly from dealers, when available, or calculates their present value by projecting their future cash flows on a publicly-available analytical system. When a publicly-available analytical system is employed, the Company uses the following variable factors in estimating the fair value of these assets:

Interest Rate Forecast. LIBOR interest rate curve.

Discount Rate. The present value of all future cash flows utilizing a discount rate assumption established at the discretion of the Company to represent market conditions and value.

Prepayment Forecast. The prepayment forecast may be expressed by the Company in accordance with one of the following standard market conventions: Constant Prepayment Rate (“CPR”) or Percentage of a Prepayment Vector. Prepayment forecasts are made utilizing Citigroup Global Markets Yield Book and/or management estimates based on historical experience. Conversely, prepayment speed forecasts could have been based on other market conventions or third-party analytical systems. Prepayment forecasts may be changed as OITRS observes trends in the underlying collateral as delineated in the Statement to Certificate Holders generated by the securitization trust’s Trustee for each underlying security.

Credit Performance Forecast. A forecast of future credit performance of the underlying collateral pool will include an assumption of default frequency, loss severity and a recovery lag. In general, the Company will utilize the combination of default frequency and loss severity in conjunction with a collateral prepayment assumption to arrive at a target cumulative loss to the collateral pool over the life of the pool based on historical performance of similar collateral by the originator. The target cumulative loss forecast will be developed and noted at the pricing date of the individual security but may be updated by the Company consistent with observations of the actual collateral pool performance.

As of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, key economic assumptions and the sensitivity of the current fair value of retained interests to the immediate 10% and 20% adverse change in those assumptions are as follows:

(in thousands)

   
September 30, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Balance Sheet Carrying value of retained interests – fair value
  $ 14,384     $ 69,301  
Weighted average life (in years)
    3.99       4.09  
Prepayment assumption (annual rate)
    19.93 %     26.37 %
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change
  $ (1,388 )   $ (6,908 )
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change
  $ (2,042 )   $ (12,577 )
Expected Credit losses (annual rate)
    3.40 %     1.22 %
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change
  $ (2,577 )   $ (6,409 )
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change
  $ (4,200 )   $ (13,633 )
Residual Cash-Flow Discount Rate
    27.50 %     20.00 %
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change
  $ (1,396 )   $ (4,138 )
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change
  $ (2,600 )   $ (7,907 )
Interest rates on variable and adjustable loans and bonds
 
Forward LIBOR Yield Curve
   
Forward LIBOR Yield Curve
 
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change
  $ (4,876 )   $ (14,906 )
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change
  $ (7,294 )   $ (28,225 )

These sensitivities are entirely hypothetical and should be used with caution. As the figures indicate, changes in fair value based upon 10% and 20% variations in assumptions generally cannot be extrapolated to greater or lesser percentage variations because the relationship of the change in assumption to the change in fair value may not be linear. Also, in this table, the effect of the variation in a particular assumption on the fair value of the subordinated interest is calculated without changing any other assumption.  In reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another that may magnify or counteract the sensitivities. To estimate the impact of a 10% and 20% adverse change of the forward LIBOR curve, a parallel shift in the forward LIBOR curve was assumed based on the forward LIBOR curve as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007.

INCOME RECOGNITION

For securities classified as held for trading, interest income is based on the stated interest rate and the outstanding principal balance; premium or discount associated with the purchase of the MBS are not amortized.  As of January 1, 2008, all MBS portfolio securities are classified as held for trading.

All securities in the MBS portfolio as of September 30, 2008 are classified as held for trading securities. All securities are either MBS pass through securities, interest only securities or inverse interest only securities. Income on MBS pass through securities classified as held for trading is based on the stated interest rate of the security. Premium or discount present at the date of purchase is not amortized. For inverse interest only and interest only securities classified as held for trading, the income is accrued based on the carrying value and the effective yield. As cash is received it is first applied to accrued interest and then to reduce the carrying value. At each reporting date, the effective yield is adjusted prospectively from the reporting period based on the new estimate of prepayments. The new effective yield is calculated based on the carrying value at the end of the previous reporting period, the new prepayment estimates and the contractual terms of the security.  Changes in fair value during the period are recorded in earnings and reported as fair value adjustment-held for trading securities in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

INCOME TAXES

Bimini Capital has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code. As further described below, Bimini Capital’s subsidiary, OITRS a taxpaying entity for income tax purposes and is taxed separately from Bimini Capital. Bimini Capital will generally not be subject to federal income tax on its REIT taxable income to the extent that Bimini Capital distributes its REIT taxable income to its stockholders and satisfies the ongoing REIT requirements, including meeting certain asset, income and stock ownership tests. A REIT must generally distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders, of which 85% generally must be distributed within the taxable year, in order to avoid the imposition of an excise tax. The remaining balance may be distributed up to the end of the following taxable year, provided the REIT elects to treat such amount as a prior year distribution and meets certain other requirements.

OITRS and its activities are subject to corporate income taxes and the applicable provisions of SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  To the extent management believes deferred tax assets will not be fully realized in future periods, a provision is recorded so as to reflect the net portion, if any, of the deferred tax asset management expects to realize.

FAIR VALUES

The Company measures or monitors many of its assets on a fair value basis. Fair value is used on a recurring basis for certain assets and liabilities in which fair value is the primary basis of accounting. Examples of these include trading securities, loans held for sale, retained interests and mortgage servicing rights (MSRs).  Additionally, fair value is used on a non-recurring basis to evaluate assets or liabilities for impairment.

Fair value is the price that could be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. If observable market prices are not available, then fair value is estimated using modeling techniques such as discounted cash flow analyses. These modeling techniques utilize assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or the liability, including assumptions about the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique, the effect of a restriction on the sale or use of an asset, and the risk of nonperformance. To increase consistency and comparability in fair value measures, SFAS No. 157 establishes a three-level hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in valuation techniques between observable inputs that reflect quoted prices in active markets, inputs other than quoted prices with observable market data, and unobservable data such as the Company’s own data.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As previously discussed, OITRS previously pooled loans originated or purchased and then sold them or securitized them to obtain long-term financing for its assets. Securitized loans are transferred to a trust where they serve as collateral for asset-backed bonds, which the trust primarily issues to the public. Since mid-2006, OITRS has not executed a securitization and is not expected to do so in the future. However, OITRS held approximately $14.4 million of retained interests from securitizations as of September 30, 2008.

The cash flows associated with OITRS’s securitization activities over the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, were as follows:

(in thousands)

   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2008
 
Servicing fees received
  $ 1,055     $ 210  
Servicing advances and repayments
    92       (694 )
Cash flows received on retained interests
    11,831       1,160  

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

Not Applicable.

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures.  Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 4T.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Not Applicable.


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

The Company is involved in various lawsuits and claims, both actual and potential, including some that it has asserted against others, in which monetary damages and other relief is sought. The resolution of such lawsuits and claims is inherently unpredictable.  See Notes 8 and 11(g) to the Company’s accompanying consolidated financial statements for a description of certain of these matters.

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS.

During the period covered by this report, and except as described below, there were no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed under  Item 1A – Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period for the period December 31, 2007 as filed on March 14, 2008.  The information set forth under Item 1A – Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2007, is incorporated herein by reference.

As stated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the Company currently has negative consolidated net worth.  The lack of positive consolidated net worth could further hamper the Company’s ability to obtain sufficient access to funding for the MBS portfolio.  To the extent the Company is unable to obtain other sources of revenue, our ability to cover expenses and/or generate earnings will be impaired. The Company may need to alter its investment strategy if it is unable to obtain sufficient access to funding for its MBS portfolio.
 
ITEM 6.                        EXHIBITS.

Exhibit No.

   3.1
Articles of Amendment and Restatement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form S-11/A, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2004
   3.2
Articles Supplementary, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 3, 2005, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2005
   3.3
Articles of Amendment, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 10, 2006, filed with the SEC on February 15, 2006
3.4
Articles of Amendment, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated September 24, 2007, filed with the SEC on September 24, 2007
3.5
Certificate of Notice, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 28, 2008, filed with the SEC on February 1, 2008
   3.6
Articles of Amendment, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 27, 2008, filed with the SEC on May 29, 2008
3.7
Amended and Restated Bylaws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated September 24, 2007, filed with the SEC on September 24, 2007
10.1
Bimini Capital Management, Inc. 2003 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended September 28, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2007
10.2
Bimini Capital Management, Inc. 2004 Performance Bonus Plan, as amended September 28, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2007
10.3
Form of Phantom Share Award Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2007
10.4
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2007
10.5
Separation Agreement and General Release, dated as of June 29, 2007, by and among Opteum Inc., Opteum Financial Services, LLC and Peter R. Norden, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on July 5, 2007
 10.6
Separation Agreement and General Release by and between Bimini Capital Management, Inc. and Jeffrey J. Zimmer, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 14, 2008, filed with the SEC on April 16, 2008
 10.7
Retention and Severance Agreement between Bimini Capital Management, Inc. and G. Hunter Haas, IV, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 18, 2008, filed with the SEC on April 18, 2008
10.8
Retention and Severance Agreement between Bimini Capital Management, Inc. and J. Christopher Clifton, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 18, 2008, filed with the SEC on April 18, 2008
10.9
Employment Agreement dated as of April 27, 2006, by and between Opteum Inc. and J. Christopher Clifton, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, dated August 11, 2008, filed with the SEC on August 11, 2008
  10.10
Voting Agreement, among certain stockholders of Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., Jeffrey J. Zimmer, Robert E. Cauley, Amber K. Luedke, George H. Haas, IV, Kevin L. Bespolka, Maureen A. Hendricks, W. Christopher Mortenson, Buford H. Ortale, Peter Norden, certain of Mr. Norden’s affiliates, Jason Kaplan, certain of Mr. Kaplan’s affiliates and other former owners of Opteum Financial Services, LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99(D) to the Schedule 13D, dated November 3, 2005, filed with the SEC on November 14, 2005
  10.11
Membership Interest Purchase, Option and Investor Rights Agreement among Opteum Inc., Opteum Financial Services, LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp. dated as of December 21, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 21, 2006, filed with the SEC on December 21, 2006
  10.12
Seventh Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Orchid Island TRS, LLC, dated as of July 20, 2007, made and entered into by Opteum Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2007
10.13
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated May 7, 2007, by and among Opteum Financial Services, LLC, Opteum Inc. and Prospect Mortgage Company, LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 7, 2007, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2007
10.14
First Amendment to Purchase Agreement, dated June 30, 2007, by and among Metrocities Mortgage, LLC – Opteum Division, Opteum Financial Services, LLC and Opteum Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on July 5, 2007
10.15
Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated May 27, 2008, by and among Bimini Capital Management, Inc., Orchid Island TRS, LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 27, 2008, filed with the SEC on May 29, 2008
10.16
Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company of Orchid Island TRS, LLC, dated as of May 27, 2008, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 27, 2008, filed with the SEC on May 29, 2008
*10.17
Amended and Restated Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2005, between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as trustee.
*10.18
Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2005, among the Company, as depositor, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as property trustee, Chase Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware trustee and the Administrative Trustees named therein.
*10.19
Indenture, dated as of October 5, 2005, between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as debenture trustee.
*10.20
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of October 5, 2005, by and among Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as institutional trustee, the Company, as sponsor, and Jeffrey J. Zimmer, Robert E. Cauley and Amber K. Luedke, as administrators.
  *31.1
Certification of the Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 *31.2
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 *32.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 *32.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
* Filed herewith.
Management compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

 







Signatures

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

BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.


Date:                      November 6, 2008                                                                           By:/s/ G. Hunter Haas, IV                                                      
G. Hunter Haas, IV
Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer,
Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer


 
 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.

   3.1
Articles of Amendment and Restatement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form S-11/A, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2004
   3.2
Articles Supplementary, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 3, 2005, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2005
   3.3
Articles of Amendment, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 10, 2006, filed with the SEC on February 15, 2006
3.4
Articles of Amendment, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated September 24, 2007, filed with the SEC on September 24, 2007
3.5
Certificate of Notice, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 28, 2008, filed with the SEC on February 1, 2008
   3.6
Articles of Amendment, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 27, 2008, filed with the SEC on May 29, 2008
3.7
Amended and Restated Bylaws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated September 24, 2007, filed with the SEC on September 24, 2007
10.1
Bimini Capital Management, Inc. 2003 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended September 28, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2007
10.2
Bimini Capital Management, Inc. 2004 Performance Bonus Plan, as amended September 28, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2007
10.3
Form of Phantom Share Award Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2007
10.4
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2007
10.5
Separation Agreement and General Release, dated as of June 29, 2007, by and among Opteum Inc., Opteum Financial Services, LLC and Peter R. Norden, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on July 5, 2007
 10.6
Separation Agreement and General Release by and between Bimini Capital Management, Inc. and Jeffrey J. Zimmer, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 14, 2008, filed with the SEC on April 16, 2008
 10.7
Retention and Severance Agreement between Bimini Capital Management, Inc. and G. Hunter Haas, IV, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 18, 2008, filed with the SEC on April 18, 2008
10.8
Retention and Severance Agreement between Bimini Capital Management, Inc. and J. Christopher Clifton, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 18, 2008, filed with the SEC on April 18, 2008
10.9
Employment Agreement dated as of April 27, 2006, by and between Opteum Inc. and J. Christopher Clifton, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, dated August 11, 2008, filed with the SEC on August 11, 2008
  10.10
Voting Agreement, among certain stockholders of Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., Jeffrey J. Zimmer, Robert E. Cauley, Amber K. Luedke, George H. Haas, IV, Kevin L. Bespolka, Maureen A. Hendricks, W. Christopher Mortenson, Buford H. Ortale, Peter Norden, certain of Mr. Norden’s affiliates, Jason Kaplan, certain of Mr. Kaplan’s affiliates and other former owners of Opteum Financial Services, LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99(D) to the Schedule 13D, dated November 3, 2005, filed with the SEC on November 14, 2005
  10.11
Membership Interest Purchase, Option and Investor Rights Agreement among Opteum Inc., Opteum Financial Services, LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp. dated as of December 21, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 21, 2006, filed with the SEC on December 21, 2006
  10.12
Seventh Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Orchid Island TRS, LLC, dated as of July 20, 2007, made and entered into by Opteum Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2007
10.13
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated May 7, 2007, by and among Opteum Financial Services, LLC, Opteum Inc. and Prospect Mortgage Company, LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 7, 2007, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2007
10.14
First Amendment to Purchase Agreement, dated June 30, 2007, by and among Metrocities Mortgage, LLC – Opteum Division, Opteum Financial Services, LLC and Opteum Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on July 5, 2007
10.15
Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated May 27, 2008, by and among Bimini Capital Management, Inc., Orchid Island TRS, LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 27, 2008, filed with the SEC on May 29, 2008
10.16
Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company of Orchid Island TRS, LLC, dated as of May 27, 2008, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 27, 2008, filed with the SEC on May 29, 2008
*10.17
Amended and Restated Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2005, between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as trustee.
*10.18
Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2005, among the Company, as depositor, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as property trustee, Chase Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware trustee and the Administrative Trustees named therein.
*10.19
Indenture, dated as of October 5, 2005, between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as debenture trustee.
*10.20
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of October 5, 2005, by and among Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as institutional trustee, the Company, as sponsor, and Jeffrey J. Zimmer, Robert E. Cauley and Amber K. Luedke, as administrators.
  *31.1
Certification of the Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 *31.2
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 *32.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 *32.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
* Filed herewith.
Management compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.



bmnm10q09302008ex10_17.htm

Exhibit 10.17
Execution Version

 

 
AMENDED & RESTATED
 
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
 

 
between
 

 

 
BIMINI MORTGAGE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 

 

 

 
and
 

 

 

 
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
 
as Trustee
 

 
________________
 

 
Dated as of September 26, 2005
 

 

________________
 



5093320 04310929
   

 
 

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION 
1
 
 
Section 1.1.
Definitions 
1
 
 
Section 1.2.
Compliance Certificate and Opinions 
9
 
 
Section 1.3.
Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee 
10
 
 
Section 1.4.
Acts of Holders 
10
 
 
Section 1.5.
Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company 
12
 
 
Section 1.6.
Notice to Holders; Waiver 
12
 
 
Section 1.7.
Effect of Headings and Table of Contents 
13
 
 
Section 1.8.
Successors and Assigns 
13
 
 
Section 1.9.
Separability Clause 
13
 
 
Section 1.9.
 Benefits of Indenture
13
 
 
Section 1.11.
 Governing Law
13
 
 
Section 1.12.
 Submission to Jurisdiction
14
 
 
Section 1.13.
 Non-Business Days
14
 
ARTICLE II
SECURITY FORMS 
14
 
 
Section 2.1.
Form of Security 
14
 
 
Section 2.2.
Restricted Legend 
18
 
 
Section 2.3.
Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
20
 
 
Section 2.4.
Temporary Securities 
20
 
 
Section 2.5.
Definitive Securities 
21
 
  ARTICLE III
 THE SECURITIES
21
 
 
Section 3.1.
Payment of Principal and Interest 
21
 
 
Section 3.2.
Denominations 
23
 
 
Section 3.3.
Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating
23
 
 
Section 3.4.
Global Securities 
24
 
 
Section 3.5.
Registration, Transfer and Exchange Generally 
26
 
 
Section 3.6.
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities
27
 
 
Section 3.7.
Persons Deemed Owners 
28
 
 
Section 3.8.
Cancellation 
28
 
 
Section 3.9.
Reserved 
29
 

5093320 04310929
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
 

                                
 
 
 
Section 3.10. 
 
Section 3.11.
Reserved
 
Agreed Tax Treatment
29
 
29
 
 
Section 3.12.
CUSIP Numbers
29
 
 ARTICLE IV
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
29
 
 
Section 4.1.
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 
29
 
 
Section 4.2.
Application of Trust Money 
30
 
  ARTICLE V
 REMEDIES
31
 
 
Section 5.1.
Events of Default 
31
 
 
Section 5.2.
Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment 
32
 
 
Section 5.3.
Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. 
33
 
 
Section 5.4.
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 
33
 
 
Section 5.5.
Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of Securities 
34
 
 
Section 5.6.
Application of Money Collected 
34
 
 
Section 5.7.
Limitation on Suits 
34
 
 
Section 5.8.
Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest; Direct Action by Holders of Preferred Securities 
35
 
 
Section 5.9.
Restoration of Rights and Remedies 
35
 
 
Section 5.10.
 Rights and Remedies Cumulative
 35
 
 
Section 5.11.
Delay or Omission Not Waiver
36
 
 
Section 5.12.
Control by Holders
36
 
 
Section 5.13.
Waiver of Past Defaults
36
 
 
Section 5.14.
Undertaking for Costs
37
 
 
Section 5.15.
Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws
37
 
  ARTICLE VI
 THE TRUSTEE
  37
 
 
Section 6.1.
Corporate Trustee Required 
37
 
 
Section 6.2.
Certain Duties and Responsibilities 
38
 
 
Section 6.3.
Notice of Defaults 
39
 
 
Section 6.4.
Certain Rights of Trustee 
40
 
 
Section 6.5.
May Hold Securities 
42
 
 
Section 6.6.
Compensation; Reimbursement; Indemnity 
42
 

5093320 04310929
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
 

 
 
Section 6.7.
 
Section 6.8.
Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor 
 
Acceptance of Appointment by Successor 
43
 
43
 
 
Section 6.9.
Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business 
44
 
 
Section 6.10.
Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities
44
 
 
Section 6.11.
Appointment of Authenticating Agent
44
 
  ARTICLE VII
 HOLDER’S LISTS AND REPORTS BY COMPANY
46
 
 
Section 7.1.
Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders 
46
 
 
Section 7.2.
Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders 
46
 
 
Section 7.3.
Reports by Company 
46
 
  ARTICLE VIII
 CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
 47
 
 
Section 8.1.
Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms 
47
 
 
Section 8.2.
Successor Company Substituted 
48
 
  ARTICLE IX
 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
49
 
 
Section 9.1.
Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders 
49
 
 
Section 9.2.
 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders
 49
 
 
Section 9.3.
Execution of Supplemental Indentures 
50
 
 
Section 9.4.
Effect of Supplemental Indentures 
50
 
 
Section 9.5.
Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures 
51
 
  ARTICLE X
 COVENANTS
  51
 
 
 Section 10.1.  Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest
 51
 
 
 Section 10.2.  Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust
 51
 
 
 Section 10.3.  Statement as to Compliance
52
 
 
 Section 10.4.  Calculation Agent
 52
 
 
 Section 10.5.  Additional Tax Sums
53
 
 
 Section 10.6.  Additional Covenants
53
 
 
 Section 10.7.  Waiver of Covenants
 54
 
 
 Section 10.8.  Treatment of Securities
 55
 
  ARTICLE XI
   REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES  
 55
 
 
 Section 11.1.  Optional Redemption
 55
 
 
 Section 11.2.  Special Event Redemption
 55
 
 
 Section 11.3.  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee
 55
 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
 

                                                                                                              
 
Section 11.4. 
 
Section 11.5.
 Notice of Redemption
 
Selection of Securities to be Redeemed      
56
 
56
 
 
 Section 11.6.  Deposit of Redemption Price
57
 
 
 Section 11.7.  Payment of Securities Called for Redemption
 57
 
  ARTICLE XII
 SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES  
   58
 
 
 Section 12.1.  Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt
58
 
 
 Section 12.2.  No Payment When Senior Debt in Default; Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.
58
 
 
 Section 12.3.  Payment Permitted If No Default
59
 
 
 Section 12.4.  Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Debt
60
 
 
 Section 12.5.  Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights
60
 
 
 Section 12.6.  Trustee to Effectuate Subordination
 60
 
 
 Section 12.7.  No Waiver of Subordination Provisions
61
 
 
 Section 12.8.  Notice to Trustee
 61
 
 
 Section 12.9.  Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent
62
 
 
 Section 12.10.  Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Debt
62
 
 
 Section 12.11.  Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Debt; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights
62
 
 
 Section 12.12.  Article Applicable to Paying Agents
62
 
SCHEDULES
 
Schedule A  –  Determination of LIBOR
 
Exhibit A      –  Form of Officer’s Financial Certificate
 

5093320 04310929
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This Amended & Restated Junior Subordinated Indenture (as amended and restated, the “Indenture”), dated as of September 26, 2005, between Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”).
 
Recitals of the Company
 
Whereas, the Company and the Trustee previously entered into an Indenture, dated as of May 17, 2005, in order to provide for the issuance of its unsecured junior subordinated interest notes (the “Securities”) issued to evidence loans made to the Company of the proceeds from the issuance by Bimini Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), of undivided preferred beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the “Preferred Securities”) and undivided common beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the “Common Securities and, collectively with the Preferred Securities, the “Trust Securities”), and to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered;
 
Whereas, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done; and
 
Whereas, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Amended and Restated Indenture to provide for two separate series of the Securities (“Series A Securities” and “Series B Securities”), the only difference between each such Series being the difference in certain dates related to the Trust Securities, including, but not limited to, the Interest Payment Dates, the Expiration Dates, the Fixed Rate Periods and the Stated Maturity dates.
 
Now, therefore, this Indenture Witnesseth:
 
For and in consideration of the premises herein set forth, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities, as follows:
 
ARTICLE I
 

 
Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application
 
SECTION 1.1.  Definitions.
 
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
 
(a)  the terms defined in this Article I have the meanings assigned to them in this Article I;
 
(b)  the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”;
 
(c)  all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;
 

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(d)  unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture;
 
(e)  the words “hereby”, “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;
 
(f)  a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and
 
(g)  the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
 
Act when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.
 
Administrative Trustee” means, with respect to the Trust, each Person identified as an “Administrative Trustee” in the Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as Administrative Trustee of the Trust under the Trust Agreement and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Administrative Trustee appointed as therein provided.
 
Additional Interest means the interest, if any, that shall accrue on any amounts payable on the Securities, the payment of which has not been made on the applicable Interest Payment Date and which shall accrue at the rate per annum specified or determined as specified in such Security, in each case to the extent legally enforceable.
 
Additional Tax Sums has the meaning specified in Section 10.5.
 
Additional Taxes means taxes, duties or other governmental charges imposed on the Trust as a result of a Tax Event (which, for the sake of clarity, does not include amounts required to be deducted or withheld by the Trust from payments made by the Trust to or for the benefit of the Holder of, or any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, the Securities).
 
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 Depositary Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Security, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
 
Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.11 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate the Securities.
 
Board of Directors means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.
 

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Board Resolution means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.
 
Business Day” means any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday, (ii) a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed or (iii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is closed for business.
 
Calculation Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 10.4.
 
Common Securities has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.
 
Common Stock means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
 
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, the written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, its Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, its Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President, and by its Chief Financial Officer, its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
 
Corporate Trust Office means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of this Indenture is located at 600 Travis, 50th Floor, Houston, Texas 77019 Attn: Worldwide Securities Services— Bimini Capital Trust I.
 
Debt” means, with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person, whether currently existing or hereafter incurred and whether or not contingent and without duplication, (i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such Person; (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable or other accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person; (vi) all indebtedness of such Person, whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred, for claims in respect of derivative products, including interest rate, foreign exchange rate and commodity forward contracts, options and swaps and similar arrangements; (vii) every obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of another Person and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such Person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable for, directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise; and (viii) any renewals, extensions, refundings, amendments or modifications of any obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vii).
 

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Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.1.
 
Delaware Trustee” means, with respect to the Trust, the Person identified as the “Delaware Trustee” in the Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust under the Trust Agreement and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Delaware Trustee appointed as therein provided.
 
Depositary means an organization registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act that is designated as Depositary by the Company or any successor thereto.  DTC will be the initial Depositary.
 
Depositary Participant” means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Depositary effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Depositary.
 
Distributions” means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as provided in the Trust Agreement and referred to therein as “Distributions.”
 
Dollar” or $ means the currency of the United States of America that, as at the time of payment, is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
 
DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation, or any successor thereto.
 
Event of Default has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.
 
Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
 
Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.
 
Fixed Rate Period” shall have the meaning in the form of Security set forth in Section 2.1.
 
 “GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, from time to time in effect.
 
Global Security means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities, the ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Depositary.
 
Government Obligation means (a) any security that is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (b) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any Government Obligation that is specified in clause (a) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any
 

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specific payment of principal of or interest on any Government Obligation that is so specified and held, 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 depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.
 
Holder means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Securities Register.
 
Indenture means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented by one or more amendments or indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof.
 
Interest Payment Date(s) means the Series A Interest Payment Dates and the Series B Interest Payment Dates, as applicable.
 
Interest Payment Period” means  with respect to any Interest Payment Date, the period commencing on the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date  (or, in the case of the Interest Payment Period relating to the first Interest Payment Date, commencing on the Closing Date) and ending on the day immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date; provided, that, with respect to Series B Notes, for the Interest Payment Date in October 2005, the Interest Payment Period shall commence June 30, 2005.
 
Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
 
Investment Company Event” means the receipt by the Company of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation (including any announced prospective change) or a written change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within ninety (90) days of the date of such opinion will be, considered an “investment company” that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Securities.
 
LIBOR” has the meaning specified in Schedule A.
 
LIBOR Business Day” has the meaning specified in Schedule A.
 
LIBOR Determination Date” has the meaning specified in Schedule A.
 
Liquidation Amount” has the meaning specified in the Trust Agreement.
 
Maturity, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or any installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
 

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Notice of Default means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 5.1(c).
 
Officers’ Certificate means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and by the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company and delivered to the Trustee.
 
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for or an employee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.
 
Optional Redemption Price” means the Series A Optional Redemption Price and/or the Series B Optional Redemption Price, as applicable, as set forth in Section 11.1.
 
Original Issue Date” means the date of original issuance of each Security.
 
Outstanding means, when used in reference to any Securities, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
 
(i)  Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
 
(ii)  Securities for whose payment or redemption 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 and/or its Affiliates 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 provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and
 
(iii)  Securities that have been paid or in substitution for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Securities are held by Holders in whose hands such Securities are valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company;
 
provided, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding unless the Company shall hold all Outstanding Securities, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities 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 such other obligor.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Securities initially issued to the Trust that are owned by the Trust shall be deemed to be Outstanding
 

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notwithstanding the ownership by the Company or an Affiliate of any beneficial interest in the Trust.
 
Paying Agent means the Trustee or any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on, or other amounts in respect of, any Securities on behalf of the Company.
 
Person means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government, or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
 
Place of Payment means, with respect to the Securities, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
 
Preferred Securities has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.
 
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. For the purposes of this definition, any security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 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.
 
Proceeding has the meaning specified in Section 12.2.
 
Property Trustee means the Person identified as the “Property Trustee” in the Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust under the Trust Agreement and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Property Trustee appointed as therein provided.
 
Redemption Date” means, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, 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, in whole or in part, the Special Redemption Price or the Optional Redemption Price, as applicable, at which such Security or portion thereof is to be redeemed as fixed by or pursuant to this Indenture.
 
Reference Banks” has the meaning specified in Schedule A.
 
Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date with respect to the Securities means the date that is fifteen (15) days preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day).
 
Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, the officer in the Worldwide Securities Services department of the Trustee having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
 

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Rights Plan means a plan of the Company providing for the issuance by the Company to all holders of its Common Stock of rights entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Company which rights (i) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of such Common Stock and (ii) are also issued in respect of future issuances of such Common Stock, in each case until the occurrence of a specified event or events.
 
Securities or “Security” means any debt securities or debt security, including both Series A Securities and Series B Securities, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that except as expressly provided for in this Indenture, the Series A Securities and Series B Securities shall be pari passu in all respects.
 
Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 or any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
 
Securities Register and “Securities Registrar have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.
 
Senior Debt means the principal of and any premium and interest on (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company, whether or not such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) all Debt of the Company, whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless it is provided in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the Securities issued under this Indenture; provided, that Senior Debt shall not be deemed to include any other debt securities (and guarantees, if any, in respect of such debt securities) issued to any trust other than the Trust (or a trustee of any such trust), partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is a financing vehicle of the Company (a "financing entity") in connection with the issuance by such financing entity of equity securities or other securities guaranteed by the Company pursuant to an instrument that ranks pari passu with or junior in right of payment to this Indenture.
 
Series A Interest Payment Date(s) means March 30, June 30, September 30 and December 30 of each year during the term of this Indenture.
 
Series B Interest Payment Date(s) means January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 of each year during the term of this Indenture.
 
Series A Optional Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(a) hereto.
 
Series B Optional Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(b) hereto.
 
Series A Security” and “Series A Securities” has the meaning set forth in the second recital hereto, as set forth in more detail in Section 2.1 hereto, in the aggregate principal amount of $1,001,000.
 

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Series B Security” and “Series B Securities” has the meaning set forth in the second recital hereto, as set forth in more detail in Section 2.1 hereto, in the aggregate principal amount of $50,549,000.
 
 “Series A Special Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(a) hereto.
 
Series B Special Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(b) hereto.
 
 “Series A Stated Maturity” means March 30, 2035.
 
 “Series B Stated Maturity” means April 30, 2035.
 
Special Event means the occurrence of an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event.
 
Special Record Date for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.1.
 
Special Redemption Price” means the Series A Special Redemption Price or the Series B Special Redemption Price, as applicable, as set forth in Section 11.2.
 
Stated Maturity” means the Series A Stated Maturity and the Series B Stated Maturity, as applicable.
 
Subsidiary” means a Person more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock or other voting interests of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries.  For purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock that ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.
 
Tax Event” means the receipt by the Company of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (b) any judicial decision or any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum or field service advice) or regulatory procedure, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt any such pronouncement or procedure (an “Administrative Action”), regardless of whether such judicial decision or Administrative Action is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Company or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, change, judicial decision or Administrative Action is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case, on or after the date of issuance of the Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be within ninety (90) days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Securities, (ii) interest payable by the Company on the Securities is not, or within ninety (90) days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within ninety (90) days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
 

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Trust” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.
 
Trust Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement executed and delivered by the Company, the Property Trustee, Chase Bank USA, National Association, as  Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees named therein, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Indenture, for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
 
Trustee means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument, solely in its capacity as such and not in its individual capacity, 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.
 
Trust Indenture Act means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and as in effect on the date as of this Indenture.
 
Trust Securities” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.
 
SECTION 1.2.  Compliance Certificate and Opinions.
 
(a)           Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall, if requested by the Trustee, furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent (including covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent), if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent (including covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent), if any, have been complied with.
 
(b)           Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificate provided pursuant to Section 10.3) shall include:
 
(i)  a statement by each individual signing such certificate or opinion that such individual has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;
 
(ii)  a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions of such individual contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
 
(iii)  a statement that, in the opinion of 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 covenant or condition has been complied with; and
 
(iv)  a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
 

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SECTION 1.3.  Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
 
(a)           In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
 
(b)           Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or after reasonable inquiry should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to matters upon which his or her certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or after reasonable inquiry should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.
 
(c)           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.
 
(d)           Whenever, subsequent to the receipt by the Trustee of any Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate, Opinion of Counsel or other document or instrument, a clerical, typographical or other inadvertent or unintentional error or omission shall be discovered therein, a new document or instrument may be substituted therefor in corrected form with the same force and effect as if originally received in the corrected form and, irrespective of the date or dates of the actual execution and/or delivery thereof, such substitute document or instrument shall be deemed to have been executed and/or delivered as of the date or dates required with respect to the document or instrument for which it is substituted.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Securities issued under the authority of such defective document or instrument shall nevertheless be the valid obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of this Indenture equally and ratably with all other Outstanding Securities.
 
SECTION 1.4.  Acts of Holders.
 
(a)           Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given to or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent thereof duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments (including any appointment of an agent) is or are delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company.  Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments.  Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and
 

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conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.4.
 
(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 the certificate of any 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 Person acting in 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 by any Person of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee or the Company, as the case may be, deems sufficient and in accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine.
 
(c)           The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Securities Register.
 
(d)           Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by 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 or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.
 
(e)           Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.
 
(f)           Except as set forth in paragraph (g) of this Section 1.4, the Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1.4(h)) by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities on such record date.  Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect).  Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.
 
(g)           The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration or rescission or annulment thereof referred to in Section 5.2, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.7(b) or (iv) any
 

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direction referred to in Section 5.12. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect).  Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.
 
(h)           With respect to any record date set pursuant to paragraph (f) or (g) of this Section 1.4, the party hereto that sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided, that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities in the manner set forth in Section 1.6, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 1.4, the party hereto that set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the ninetieth (90th) day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the one hundred eightieth (180th) day after the applicable record date.
 
SECTION 1.5.  Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company.
 
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, Act of Holders, or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with:
 
(a)           the Trustee by any Holder, any holder of Preferred Securities or the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with and received by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, or
 
(b)           the Company by the Trustee, any Holder or any holder of Preferred Securities shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if in writing and mailed, first class, postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at 3305 Flamingo Dr., Vero Beach, FL 32963, Attention:  Jeffrey J. Zimmer, with a copy to:  Clifford Chance US LLP, 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, Attention:  Robert E. Kind, Jr., or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.
 
SECTION 1.6.  Notice to Holders; Waiver.
 
Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first class, postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event to the address of such Holder as it
 

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appears in the Securities Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. If, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or for any other reason, it shall be impossible or impracticable to mail notice of any event to Holders when said notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
 
SECTION 1.7.  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
 
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Indenture.
 
SECTION 1.8.  Successors and Assigns.
 
This Indenture shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any successor to the Company and the Trustee, including any successor by operation of law.  Except in connection with a transaction involving the Company that is permitted under Article VIII and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Company’s obligations hereunder, the Company shall not assign its obligations hereunder.
 
SECTION 1.9.  Separability Clause.
 
If any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and there shall be deemed substituted for the provision at issue a valid, legal and enforceable provision as similar as possible to the provision at issue.
 
SECTION 1.10.  Benefits of Indenture.
 
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors and assigns, the holders of Senior Debt, the Holders of the Securities and, to the extent expressly provided in Sections 5.2, 5.8, 5.9, 5.11, 5.13, 9.2 and 10.7, the holders of Preferred Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
 
SECTION 1.11.  Governing Law.
 
This Indenture and the rights and obligations of each of the Holders, the Company and the Trustee shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York without reference to its conflict of laws provisions (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law).
 

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SECTION 1.12.  Submission to Jurisdiction.
 
ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY OR AGAINST ANY PARTY HERETO OR WITH RESPECT TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS INDENTURE MAY BE BROUGHT IN OR REMOVED TO THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, OR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (IN EACH CASE SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN). BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS INDENTURE, EACH PARTY ACCEPTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS (AND COURTS OF APPEALS THEREFROM) FOR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.
 
SECTION 1.13.  Non-Business Days.
 
If any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or the Securities) payment of interest, premium, if any, or principal or other amounts in respect of such Security shall not be made on such date, but shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts whose payment is so delayed for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, until such next succeeding Business Day) except that, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date or at the Stated Maturity.
 
ARTICLE II
 

 
Security Forms
 
SECTION 2.1.  Form of Security.
 
Any Security issued hereunder shall be in substantially the following form:
 
BIMINI MORTGAGE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Note due 2035
 
No. _____________                                                                                                           $ ___________
 
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Maryland (hereinafter called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, not in its individual capacity, but solely as trustee for Bimini Capital Trust I, or registered assigns, the principal sum of [Amount] Thousand Dollars ($[__________]) [if the Security is a Global Security, then insert— or such other principal amount represented hereby as may be set forth in the records of the Securities Registrar hereinafter referred to in accordance with the Indenture] on [in the case of Series A Securities, March 30, 2035/in the case of Series B Securities, April 30, 2035].  The Company
 

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further promises to pay interest on said principal sum from May 17, 2005, or from the most recent date on and to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly in arrears on [for Series A Securities, March 30, June 30, September 30 and December 30/for Series B Securities, January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30] of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts whose payment is so delayed for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date until such next succeeding Business Day), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, at a fixed rate equal to 7.61% per annum through the Interest Payment Date on [in the case of Series A Securities, March 30, 2010/in the case of Series B Securities, April 30, 2010] (“Fixed Rate Period”) and thereafter at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.30% per annum, together with Additional Tax Sums, if any, as provided in Section 10.5 of the Indenture, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment; provided, further, that any overdue principal, premium, if any, or Additional Tax Sums and any overdue installment of interest shall bear Additional Interest at a fixed rate equal to 7.61% through the Interest Payment Date on [in the case of Series A Securities, March 30, 2010/in the case of Series B Securities, April 30, 2010] (‘Fixed Rate Period”) and thereafter at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.30% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand.
 
During the Fixed Rate Period, the amount of interest payable shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the amount payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  Upon expiration of the Fixed Rate Period, the amount of interest payable for any Interest Payment Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant interest period. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest installment.  Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities not less than ten (10) days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.
 
Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Security shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.  Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest due at the Maturity of this Security shall be made at the Place of Payment upon surrender of such Securities to the Paying Agent, and payments of interest shall be made, subject to such surrender where applicable, by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Paying Agent at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto unless proper written transfer
 

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instructions have not been received by the relevant record date, in which case such payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of such Person as such address shall appear in the Security Register.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Holder of this Security is the Property Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including any overdue installment of interest and Additional Tax Sums, if any) on this Security will be made at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Property Trustee.
 
The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt, and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.  Each Holder of this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Debt, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.
 
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
 
[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
 
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (the “Securities”) issued under the Amended and Restated Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2005 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, the holders of Senior Debt, the Holders of the Securities and the holders of the Preferred Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.
 
All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture or in the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of May 17, 2005 (as modified, amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Trust Agreement”), relating to the Bimini Capital Trust I (the “Trust”) among the Company, as Depositor, the Trustees named therein and the Holders from time to time of the Trust Securities issued pursuant thereto, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture or the Trust Agreement, as the case may be.
 
The Company may, on any Interest Payment Date, at its option, upon not less than thirty (30) days’ nor more than sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Holders of the Securities (unless a shorter notice period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) on or after [For Series A Securities, March 30, 2010/for Series B Securities, April 30, 2010] and subject to the terms and conditions of Article XI of the Indenture, redeem this Security in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a Redemption Price equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount hereof,
 

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together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest, through but excluding the date fixed as the Redemption Date.
 
In addition, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Special Event, the Company may, at its option, upon not less than thirty (30) days’ nor more than sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Holders of the Securities (unless a shorter notice period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), redeem this Security, in whole but not in part, subject to the terms and conditions of Article XI of the Indenture at a Redemption Price equal to one hundred seven and one half percent (107.5%) of the principal amount hereof, together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest, through but excluding the date fixed as the Redemption Date.
 
In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.  If less than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security.
 
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Company and the Trustee at any time to enter into a supplemental indenture or indentures for the purpose of modifying in any manner the rights and obligations of the Company and of the Holders of the Securities, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
 
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium, if any, and interest, including any Additional Interest (to the extent legally enforceable), on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
 
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is restricted to transfers to “Qualified Purchasers” (as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,) and is registrable in the Securities Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Securities Registrar and duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities, of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
 

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The Securities are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $100,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
 
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
 
The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
 
The Company and, by its acceptance of this Security or a beneficial interest herein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, this Security agree that, for United States federal, state and local tax purposes, it is intended that this Security constitute indebtedness.
 
This Security shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflict of laws provisions (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law).
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed on this ____ day of __________, 20__.
 
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc.


By:  _______________________________
Name:
 
Title:
 
SECTION 2.2.  Restricted Legend.
 
(a)           Any Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
 
[IF THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY INSERT: THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) OR A NOMINEE OF DTC.  THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC
 

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OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
 
UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]
 
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND SUCH SECURITIES, AND ANY INTEREST THEREIN, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.  EACH PURCHASER OF ANY SECURITIES IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THE SECURITIES MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
 
THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) SUCH SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) TO THE COMPANY OR (II) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED PURCHASER” (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2(a)(51) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED), AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF ANY SECURITIES FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.
 
 
THE SECURITIES WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF SUCH SECURITIES FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF PRINCIPAL OF OR INTEREST ON SUCH SECURITIES, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN SUCH SECURITIES.
 

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THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF OR THEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE.”
 
(b)           The above legends shall not be removed from any Security unless there is delivered to the Company satisfactory evidence, which may include an Opinion of Counsel, as may be reasonably required to ensure that any future transfers thereof may be made without restriction under or violation of the provisions of the Securities Act and other applicable law.  Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall deliver, upon receipt of a Company Order directing it to do so, a Security that does not bear the legend.
 
SECTION 2.3.  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.
 
The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
 
This is one of the Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
 
Dated:
 
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee
 
By:  __________________________________
              Authorized Signatory

 
SECTION 2.4.  Temporary Securities.
 
(a)           Pending the preparation of definitive Securities, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
 

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(b)           If temporary Securities are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities upon surrender of the temporary Securities at the office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of any authorized denominations having the same Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity and having the same terms as such temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities.
 
SECTION 2.5.  Definitive Securities.
 
The Securities issued on the Original Issue Date shall be in definitive form.  The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved, or produced by any combination of these methods, if required by any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, on a steel engraved border or steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
 
ARTICLE III
 

 
The Securities
 
SECTION 3.1.
 
(a)           Payment of Principal and Interest.
 
(i)  Series A Securities: The unpaid principal amount of the Securities shall bear interest at a fixed rate equal to 7.61% per annum through the Interest Payment Date on March 30, 2010 and thereafter at a variable rate of LIBOR plus 3.30% per annum until paid or duly provided for, such interest to accrue from the Original Issue Date or from the most recent date on and to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, and any overdue principal, premium, if any, or Additional Tax Sums and any overdue installment of interest shall bear Additional Interest at the rate equal to a fixed rate equal to 7.61% per annum through the Interest Payment Date on March 30, 2010 and thereafter at a variable rate of LIBOR plus 3.30% per annum, compounded quarterly from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or funds for the payment thereof are made available for payment.
 
(ii)  Series B Securities:   The unpaid principal amount of the Securities shall bear interest at a fixed rate equal to 7.61% per annum through the Interest Payment Date on April 30, 2010 and thereafter at a variable rate of LIBOR plus 3.30% per annum until paid or duly provided for, such interest to accrue from the Original Issue Date or from the most recent date on and to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, and any overdue principal, premium, if any, or Additional Tax Sums and any overdue installment of interest shall bear Additional Interest at the rate equal to a fixed rate equal to 7.61%
 

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per annum through the Interest Payment Date on April 30, 2010 and thereafter at a variable rate of LIBOR plus 3.30% per annum compounded quarterly from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or funds for the payment thereof are made available for payment.
 
(b)           Interest and Additional Interest on any 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, except that interest and any Additional Interest payable on the Stated Maturity (or any date of principal repayment upon early maturity) of the principal of a Security or on a Redemption Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. The initial payment of interest on any Security that is issued between a Regular Record Date and the related Interest Payment Date shall be payable as provided in such Security.
 
(c)           Any interest on any Security that is due and payable, but is not timely paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in paragraph (i) or (ii) below:
 
(i)  The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest (a “Special Record Date”), which shall be fixed in the following manner.  At least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the proposed payment, the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be not more than fifteen (15) days and not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than ten (10) days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first class, postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Security at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities Register not less than ten (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 so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such Special Record Date; or
 
(ii)  The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities may be listed, traded or quoted and,
 

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upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system (or by the Trustee if the Securities are not listed), if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
 
(d)           Payments of interest on the Securities shall include interest accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates. During the Fixed Rate Period, the amount of interest payable shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the amount payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  Upon expiration of the Fixed Rate Period, the amount of interest payable for any Interest Payment Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant interest period.
 
(e)           Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.  Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest due at the Maturity of such Securities shall be made at the Place of Payment upon surrender of such Securities to the Paying Agent and payments of interest shall be made subject to such surrender where applicable, by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Paying Agent at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto unless proper written transfer instructions have not been received by the relevant record date, in which case such payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of such Person as such address shall appear in the Security Register.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Security is the Property Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including any overdue installment of interest and Additional Tax Sums, if any) on this Security will be made at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Property Trustee.
 
(f)           Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.1, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon 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, that were carried by such other Security.
 
SECTION 3.2.  Denominations.
 
The Securities shall be in registered form without coupons and shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $100,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
 
SECTION 3.3.  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
 
(a)           At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture,  the Company may deliver Securities in an aggregate principal amount (including all then Outstanding Securities) not in excess of Fifty One Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($51,550,000) 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. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture
 

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in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon:
 
(i)  a copy of any Board Resolution relating thereto; and
 
(ii)  an Opinion of Counsel stating that: (1) such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute, and the Indenture constitutes, valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, each enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; (2) the Securities have been duly authorized and executed by the Company and have been delivered to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture; (3) the Securities are not required to be registered under the Securities Act; and (4) the Indenture is not required to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
 
(b)           The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President or one of its Vice Presidents. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.  Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
 
(c)           No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.8, 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.
 
(d)           Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
 
SECTION 3.4.  Global Securities.
 
(a)           Upon the election of the Holder after the Original Issue Date, which election need not be in writing, the Securities owned by such Holder shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee. Each Global Security issued under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated by the Company for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.
 

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(b)           Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for registered Securities, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (i) such Depositary advises the Trustee and the Company in writing that such Depositary is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities as Depositary with respect to such Global Security, and no qualified successor is appointed by the Company within ninety (90) days of receipt by the Company of such notice, (ii) such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and no successor is appointed by the Company within ninety (90) days after obtaining knowledge of such event, (iii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order stating that the Company elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary or (iv) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.  Upon the occurrence of any event specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, the Trustee shall notify the Depositary and instruct the Depositary to notify all owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security of the occurrence of such event and of the availability of Securities to such owners of beneficial interests requesting the same.  The Trustee may conclusively rely, and be protected in relying, upon the written identification of the owners of beneficial interests furnished by the Depositary, and shall not be liable for any delay resulting from a delay by the Depositary.  Upon the issuance of such Securities and the registration in the Securities Register of such Securities in the names of the Holders of the beneficial interests therein, the Trustees shall recognize such holders of beneficial interests as Holders.
 
(c)           If any Global Security is to be exchanged for other Securities or canceled in part, or if another Security is to be exchanged in whole or in part for a beneficial interest in any Global Security, then either (i) such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article III or (ii) the principal amount thereof shall be reduced or increased by an amount equal to (x) the portion thereof to be so exchanged or canceled, or (y) the principal amount of such other Security to be so exchanged for a beneficial interest therein, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Securities Registrar, whereupon the Trustee, in accordance with the Applicable Depositary Procedures, shall instruct the Depositary or its authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records. Upon any such surrender or adjustment of a Global Security by the Depositary, accompanied by registration instructions, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver any Securities issuable in exchange for such Global Security (or any portion thereof) in accordance with the instructions of the Depositary. The Trustee shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, such instructions.
 
(d)           Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.
 
(e)           Securities distributed to holders of Book-Entry Preferred Securities (as defined in the applicable Trust Agreement) upon the dissolution of the Trust shall be distributed in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee, and deposited with the Securities Registrar, as custodian for such Depositary, or with such Depositary, for credit by the Depositary to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of the
 

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Securities represented thereby (or such other accounts as they may direct).  Securities distributed to holders of Preferred Securities other than Book-Entry Preferred Securities upon the dissolution of the Trust shall not be issued in the form of a Global Security or any other form intended to facilitate book-entry trading in beneficial interests in such Securities.
 
(f)           The Depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of a Global Security, shall be the Holder of such Global Security for all purposes under this Indenture and the Securities, and owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Depositary Procedures. Accordingly, any such owner’s beneficial interest in a Global Security shall be shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or its Depositary Participants.  The Securities Registrar and the Trustee shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary for all purposes of this Indenture relating to a Global Security (including the payment of principal and interest thereon and the giving of instructions or directions by owners of beneficial interests therein and the giving of notices) as the sole Holder of the Security and shall have no obligations to the owners of beneficial interests therein.  Neither the Trustee nor the Securities Registrar shall have any liability in respect of any transfers effected by the Depositary.
 
(g)           The rights of owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between such owners and the Depositary and/or its Depositary Participants.
 
(h)           No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever.  None of the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee 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 Global Security or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 a Depositary or impair, as between a Depositary and such holders of beneficial interests, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of any Security.
 
SECTION 3.5.  Registration, Transfer and Exchange Generally.
 
(a)           The Trustee shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office a register (the “Securities Register”) in which the registrar and transfer agent with respect to the Securities (the “Securities Registrar”), subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers and exchanges of Securities. The Trustee shall at all times also be the Securities Registrar.  The provisions of Article VI shall apply to the Trustee in its role as Securities Registrar.
 
(b)           Subject to compliance with Section 2.2(b), upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security at the offices or agencies of the Company designated for that purpose the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the
 

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designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of any authorized denominations of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
 
(c)           At the option of the Holder, Securities may be exchanged for other Securities of any authorized denominations, of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
 
(d)           All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
 
(e)           Every Security presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Securities Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.
 
(f)           No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Securities.
 
(g)           Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be required pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.5 (g): (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen (15) days before the day of selection for redemption of Securities pursuant to Article XI and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing of the notice of redemption or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any such Security to be redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be redeemed.
 
(h)           The Company shall designate an office or offices or agency or agencies where Securities may be surrendered for registration or transfer or exchange.  The Company initially designates the Corporate Trust Office as its office and agency for such purposes.  The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee and to the Holders of any change in the location of any such office or agency.
 
(i)           The Securities may only be transferred to a “Qualified Purchaser” as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act.
 
(j)           Neither the Trustee nor the Securities Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer hereunder complies with the registration provisions of or any exemptions from the Securities Act, applicable state securities laws or the applicable laws of any other jurisdiction, ERISA, the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Investment Company Act; provided, that if a certificate is specifically required by the express terms of this Section 3.5 to be delivered to the Trustee or the Securities Registrar by a Holder or transferee of a Security, the Trustee and the Securities Registrar shall be under a duty to receive and examine the same to determine whether or not the certificate substantially conforms on its
 

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face to the requirements of this Indenture and shall promptly notify the party delivering the same if such certificate does not comply with such terms.
 
SECTION 3.6.  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
 
(a)           If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Trustee to save the Company and the Trustee harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of like tenor and aggregate principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
 
(b)           If there shall be delivered to the Trustee (i) evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by it to save each of the Company and the Trustee harmless, then, in the absence of 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 written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of like tenor and aggregate principal amount as such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
 
(c)           If 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.
 
(d)           Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 3.6, 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.
 
(e)           Every new Security issued pursuant to this Section 3.6 in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, 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 duly issued hereunder.
 
(f)           The provisions of this Section 3.6 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.
 
(g)           The Securities may only be transferred to a “Qualified Purchaser” as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act.
 
SECTION 3.7.  Persons Deemed Owners.
 
The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
 

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SECTION 3.8.  Cancellation.
 
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and Securities surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section 3.8, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities shall be retained or disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary practices and the Trustee shall deliver to the Company a certificate of such disposition.
 
SECTION 3.9. Reserved.
 
SECTION 3.10.  Reserved.
 
SECTION 3.11.  Agreed Tax Treatment.
 
Each Security issued hereunder shall provide that the Company and, by its acceptance or acquisition of a Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a direct or indirect beneficial interest in, such Security, intend and agree to treat such Security as indebtedness of the Company for United States Federal, state and local tax purposes and to treat the Preferred Securities (including but not limited to all payments and proceeds with respect to the Preferred Securities) as an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the Securities (and any other Trust property) (and payments and proceeds therefrom, respectively) for United States Federal, state and local tax purposes.  The provisions of this Indenture shall be interpreted to further this intention and agreement of the parties.
 
SECTION 3.12.  CUSIP Numbers.
 
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption and other similar or related materials as a convenience to Holders; provided, that any such notice or other materials may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption or other materials and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
 
SECTION 3.13.  Replacement Securities.
 
As of the date hereof, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Trustee Floating Rate Series A Junior Subordinated Note in the principal sum of One Million One Thousand Dollars ($1,001,000) and Floating Rate Series B Junior Subordinated Note in the principal sum of Fifty Million Five Hundred Forty Nine Thousand Dollars ($50,549,000) against the receipt by the Company of the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Note in the principal sum of Fifty One Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($51,550,000).
 

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ARTICLE IV
 

 
Satisfaction and Discharge
 
SECTION 4.1.  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
 
This Indenture shall, upon Company Request, cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for and as otherwise provided in this Section 4.1) and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
 
(a)           either
 
(i) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) Securities that have been mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6 and (B) Securities 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 10.2) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
 
(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
 
(A)           have become due and payable, or
 
(B)           will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year of the date of deposit, or
 
(C)           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,
 
and the Company, in the case of subclause (ii)(A), (B) or (C) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose (x) an amount in the currency or currencies in which the Securities are payable, (y) Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than the due date of any payment, money in an amount or (z) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, 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 the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities that have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity (or any date of principal repayment upon early maturity) or Redemption Date, as the case may be;
 
(b)           the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and
 

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(c)           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 have been complied with.
 
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.6, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.11 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (a)(ii) of this Section 4.1, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.2 and Section 10.2(e) shall survive.
 
SECTION 4.2.  Application of Trust Money.
 
Subject to the provisions of Section 10.2(e), all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment in accordance with Section 3.1, 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 any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) for the payment of which such money or obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee.  Moneys held by the Trustee under this Section 4.2 shall not be subject to the claims of holders of Senior Debt under Article XII.
 
ARTICLE V
 

 
Remedies
 
SECTION 5.1.  Events of Default.
 
Event of Default” means, wherever used herein with respect to the Securities, any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
 
(a)           default in the payment of any interest upon any Security, including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of thirty (30) days; or
 
(b)           default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security at its Maturity; or
 
(c)           default in the performance, or breach in any material respect, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture and continuance of such default or breach for a period of thirty (30) days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities 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;
 

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(d)           the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of  a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days;
 
(e)           the institution by the Company of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by the Company to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by the Company of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due and its willingness to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or
 
(f)           the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its existence, except in connection with (1) the distribution of the Securities to holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (2) the redemption of all of the outstanding Preferred Securities or (3) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as and to the extent permitted by the Trust Agreement.
 
SECTION 5.2.  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
 
(a)           If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities may declare the principal amount of all the Securities to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), provided, that if, upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than twenty five percent (25%) in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities fail to declare the principal of all the Outstanding Securities to be immediately due and payable, the holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration by a notice in writing to the Property Trustee, the Company and the Trustee; and upon any such declaration the principal amount of and the accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on all the Securities shall become immediately due and payable.
 
(b)           At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article V, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, by written notice to the Indenture Trustee, or the holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, by written
 

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notice to the Property Trustee, the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
 
(i)  the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:
 
(A)           all overdue installments of interest on all Securities,
 
(B)           any accrued Additional Interest on all Securities,
 
(C)           the principal of and any premium on any Securities that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest (including any Additional Interest) thereon at the rate borne by the Securities, and
 
(D)           all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Property Trustee and their agents and counsel; and
 
(ii)  all Events of Default with respect to Securities, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities that has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13;
 
provided, that if the Holders of such Securities fail to annul such declaration and waive such default, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then outstanding shall also have the right to rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences by written notice to the Property Trustee, the Company and the Trustee, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section 5.2.  No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
 
SECTION 5.3.  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
 
(a)           The Company covenants that if:
 
(i)  default is made in the payment of any installment of interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of thirty (30) days, or
 
(ii)  default is made in the payment of the principal of and any premium on any Security at the Maturity thereof,
 
the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) and, in addition thereto, all amounts owing the Trustee under Section 6.6.
 
(b)           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 and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by
 

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law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities, wherever situated.
 
(c)           If an Event of Default with respect to Securities 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 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 5.4.  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
 
In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or similar judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized hereunder in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized 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 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 first pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts owing the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee and other Persons under Section 6.6.
 
SECTION 5.5.  Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of Securities.
 
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or 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, subject to Article XII and after provision for the payment of all the amounts owing the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee and other Persons under Section 6.6, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
 
SECTION 5.6.  Application of Money Collected.
 
Any money or property collected or to be applied by the Trustee with respect to the Securities pursuant to this Article V 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 or property on account of principal or any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest), 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, any predecessor Trustee and other Persons under Section 6.6;
 

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SECOND: To the payment of all Senior Debt of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XII;
 
THIRD:  Subject to Article XII, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities for principal and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) 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 amounts due and payable on the Securities for principal and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest), respectively; and
 
FOURTH: The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled thereto.
 
SECTION 5.7.  Limitation on Suits.
 
Subject to Section 5.8, no Holder of any Securities shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
 
(a)           such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities;
 
(b)           the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities 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;
 
(c)           such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
 
(d)           the Trustee after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding for sixty (60) days; and
 
(e)           no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such sixty (60)-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities;
 
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 itself of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders of Securities, 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 5.8.  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest; Direct Action by Holders of Preferred Securities.
 
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 any premium on such Security at its Maturity and payment of interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Security when due and payable and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder. Any
 

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registered holder of the Preferred Securities shall have the right, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described in Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.1(b), to institute a suit directly against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities having a principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities held by such holder.
 
SECTION 5.9.  Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
 
If the Trustee, any Holder or any holder of Preferred Securities 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, such Holder or such holder of Preferred Securities, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee, such Holders and such holder of Preferred 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, such Holder and such holder of Preferred Securities shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
 
SECTION 5.10.  Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
 
Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.6(f), no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or the Holders 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 5.11.  Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
 
No delay or omission of the Trustee, any Holder of any Securities or any holder of any Preferred 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 an acquiescence therein.  Every right and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders and the right and remedy given to the holders of Preferred Securities by Section 5.8 may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee, the Holders or the holders of Preferred Securities, as the case may be.
 
SECTION 5.12.  Control by Holders.
 
The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities (or, as the case may be, the holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities)  shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee; provided, that:
 
(a)           such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,
 
(b)           the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction, and
 

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(c)           subject to the provisions of Section 6.2, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow such direction if a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee shall, in good faith, reasonably determine that the proceeding so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not joining in any such direction or would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
 
SECTION 5.13.  Waiver of Past Defaults.
 
(a)           The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities or the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities may waive any past Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except an Event of Default:
 
(i)  in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Outstanding Security (unless such Event of Default has been cured and the Company has paid to or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all installments of interest (including any Additional Interest) due and past due and all principal of and any premium on all Securities due otherwise than by acceleration), or
 
(ii)  in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each Holder of any Outstanding Security.
 
(b)           Any such waiver shall be deemed to be on behalf of the Holders of all the Outstanding Securities or, in the case of a waiver by holders of Preferred Securities issued by such Trust, by all holders of Preferred Securities.
 
(c)           Upon any such waiver, such Event of 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 Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
 
SECTION 5.14.  Undertaking for Costs.
 
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his or her acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.14 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 ten percent (10%) in aggregate 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 any premium on the Security after the Stated Maturity or any interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security after it is due and payable.
 

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SECTION 5.15.  Waiver of Usury, 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 usury, 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.
 
ARTICLE VI
 

 
The Trustee
 
SECTION 6.1.  Corporate Trustee Required.
 
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities.  The Trustee shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof, authorized to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority and having an office within the United States. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of such supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this Section 6.1, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.  If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.1, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article VI.
 
SECTION 6.2.  Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
 
Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
 
(i)  the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
 
(ii)  in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; provided, that in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they substantially conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture.
 
(b)           If an Event of Default known to the Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall, prior to the receipt of directions, if any, from the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities (or, if applicable, from the holders of at least a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities), exercise such of the
 

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rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
 
(c)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 adequate indemnity 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 6.2.  To the extent that, at law or in equity, the Trustee has duties and liabilities relating to the Holders, the Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder or any holder of Preferred Securities for the Trustee’s good faith reliance on the provisions of this Indenture.  The provisions of this Indenture, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Trustee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Company and the Holders and the holders of Preferred Securities to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Trustee.
 
(d)           No provisions of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability with respect to matters that are within the authority of the Trustee under this Indenture for its own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, except that:
 
(i)  the Trustee shall not be liable for any error or judgment made in good faith by an authorized officer of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
 
(ii)  the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities (or, as the case may be, the holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities) relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee under this Indenture; and
 
(iii)  the Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company and money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
 
(e)           If at any time the Trustee hereunder is not the same Person as the Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement:
 
(i)  whenever a reference is made herein to the dissolution, termination or liquidation of the Trust, the Trustee shall be entitled to assume that no such dissolution, termination, or liquidation has occurred so long as the Securities are or continue to be registered in the name of such Property Trustee, and the Trustee shall be charged with notice or knowledge of such dissolution, termination or liquidation only upon written notice thereof given to the Trustee by the Depositor under the Trust Agreement; and
 

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(ii)  the Trustee shall not be charged with notice or knowledge that any Person is a holder of Preferred Securities or Common Securities issued by the Trust or whether any group of holders of Preferred Securities constitutes any specified percentage of all outstanding Preferred Securities for any purpose under this Indenture, unless and until the Trustee is furnished with a list of holders by such Property Trustee and the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then outstanding.  The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in relying on such list.
 
(f)           Notwithstanding Section 1.10, the Trustee shall not, and shall not be deemed to, owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of any of the Trust Securities issued by the Trust and shall not be liable to any such holder (other than for the willful misconduct or negligence of the Trustee) if the Trustee in good faith (i) pays over or distributes to a registered Holder of the Securities or to the Company or to any other Person, cash, property or securities to which such holders of such Trust Securities shall be entitled or (ii) takes any action or omits to take any action at the request of the Holder of such Securities.  Nothing in this paragraph shall affect the obligation of any other such Person to hold such payment for the benefit of, and to pay such amount over to, such holders of Preferred Securities or Common Securities or their representatives.
 
SECTION 6.3.  Notice of Defaults.
 
Within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of any default actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall give the Holders notice of such default unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, that except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities, the Trustee shall be fully protected in withholding the notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of holders of Securities; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.1(c), no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least thirty (30) days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section 6.3, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default.
 
SECTION 6.4.  Certain Rights of Trustee.
 
Subject to the provisions of Section 6.2:
 
(a)           the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith and in accordance with the terms hereof 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;
 
(b)           if (i) in performing its duties under this Indenture the Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action, (ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee finds ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein or (iii) the Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this Indenture, then, except as to any matter as to which the Holders are entitled to decide under the terms of this Indenture, the
 

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Trustee shall deliver a notice to the Company requesting the Company’s written instruction as to the course of action to be taken and the Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Trustee shall be instructed in writing to take, or to refrain from taking, by the Company; provided, that if the Trustee does not receive such instructions from the Company within ten Business Days after it has delivered such notice or such reasonably shorter period of time set forth in such notice the Trustee may, but shall be under no duty to, take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Trustee shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the Holders, in which event the Trustee shall have no liability except for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct;
 
(c)           any request or direction of the Company shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
 
(d)           the Trustee may consult with counsel (which counsel may be counsel to the Trustee, the Company or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of its employees) 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;
 
(e)           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 or any holder of Preferred Securities pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders (or such holders of Preferred Securities) shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction, including reasonable advances as may be requested by the Trustee;
 
(f)           the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, indenture, note or other paper or document, but the Trustee in its discretion may make such inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;
 
(g)           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 such agent, attorney, custodian or nominee appointed with due care by it hereunder;
 
(h)           whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action with respect to enforcing any remedy or right hereunder, the Trustees (i) may request instructions from the Holders (which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities as would be entitled to direct the Trustee under this Indenture in respect of such remedy, right or action), (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such action until such instructions are received and (iii) shall be protected in acting in accordance with such instructions;
 

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(i)           except as otherwise expressly provided by this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Indenture;
 
(j)           without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with any bankruptcy, insolvency or other proceeding referred to in clauses (d) or (e) of the definition of Event of Default, such expenses (including legal fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy laws or law relating to creditors rights generally;
 
(k)           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 bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate addressing such matter, which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Company;
 
(l)           the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default unless either (i) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge or (ii) the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a Holder; and
 
(m)           in the event that the Trustee is also acting as Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent or Securities Registrar hereunder, the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI shall also be afforded such Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent,  or  Securities Registrar.
 
SECTION 6.5.  May Hold Securities.
 
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Securities Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Securities Registrar or such other agent.
 
SECTION 6.6.  Compensation; Reimbursement; Indemnity.
 
(a)           The Company agrees:
 
(i)  to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in such amounts as the Company and the Trustee shall agree from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
 
(ii)  to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct; and
 

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(iii)  to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify the Trustee and its Affiliates, and their officers, directors, shareholders, agents, representatives and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, damage, liability, tax (other than income, franchise or other taxes imposed on amounts paid pursuant to (i) or (ii) hereof), penalty, expense or claim of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or the performance of the Trustee’s 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.
 
(b)           To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 6.6, the Company hereby grants and pledges to the Trustee and the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, other than money or property held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Securities.  Such lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
 
(c)           The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.6 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.
 
(d)           In no event shall the Trustee be liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, lost profits, even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
 
(e)           In no event shall the Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder because of circumstances beyond its control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot, embargo, government action, including any laws, ordinances, regulations, governmental action or the like which delay, restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Indenture.
 
SECTION 6.7.  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 VI shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 6.8.
 
(b)           The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Company.
 
(c)           Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Trustee may be removed at any time by the Company by a Board Resolution.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Trustee may be removed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.
 
(d)           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 reason, at a time when no Event of Default
 

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shall have occurred and be continuing, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee, and such successor Trustee and the retiring Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.8. 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 reason, at a time when an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holders, by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee, and such successor Trustee and the retiring Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.8. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment within sixty (60) days after the giving of a notice of resignation by the Trustee or the removal of the Trustee in the manner required by Section 6.8, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of such Holder and all others similarly situated, and any resigning Trustee may, at the expense of the Company, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
 
(e)           The Company shall give notice to all Holders in the manner provided in Section 1.6 of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee.  Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
 
SECTION 6.8.  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
 
(a)           In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee, each successor Trustee so appointed 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 the 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.
 
(b)           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 rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 6.8.
 
(c)           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 VI.
 
SECTION 6.9.  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
 
Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided, that such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article VI. In case any Securities shall
 

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have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation or as otherwise provided above in this Section 6.9 to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated, and in case any Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor Trustee or in the name of such successor Trustee, and in all cases the certificate of authentication shall have the full force which it is provided anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
 
SECTION 6.10.  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
 
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates 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. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Securities or the proceeds thereof.
 
SECTION 6.11.  Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
 
(a)           The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to the Securities, which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.6, 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. 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. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, or of any State or Territory thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.11 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. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.11, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 6.11.
 
(b)           Any Person into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent shall be the successor Authenticating Agent hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise eligible under this Section 6.11, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
 

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(c)           An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof 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 6.11, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under the provisions of this Section 6.11, which shall be acceptable to the Company, and shall give notice of such appointment to all Holders. 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.
 
(d)           The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 6.11 in such amounts as the Company and the Authenticating Agent shall agree from time to time.
 
(e)           If an appointment of an Authenticating Agent is made pursuant to this Section 6.11, the Securities may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:
 
This is one of the Securities referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.
 
Dated:
 
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, National Association, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee
 

 

 
By:  __________________________________
 
       Authenticating Agent
 
By:  __________________________________
 
       Authorized Signatory
 

 

 
ARTICLE VII
 

 
Holder’s Lists and Reports by Company
 
SECTION 7.1.  Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.
 
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
 
(a)           semiannually, on or before June 30 and December 31 of each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of a date not more than fifteen (15) days prior to the delivery thereof, and
 

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(b)           at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within thirty (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 fifteen (15) days prior to the time such list is furnished,
 
in each case to the extent such information is in the possession or control of the Company and has not otherwise been received by the Trustee in its capacity as Securities Registrar.
 
SECTION 7.2.  Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders.
 
(a)           The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Securities Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
 
(b)           The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided in the Trust Indenture Act.
 
(c)           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 agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of information as to the names and addresses of the Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.
 
SECTION 7.3.  Reports by Company.
 
(a)           The Company shall furnish to the Holders and to prospective purchasers of Securities, upon their request, the information required to be furnished pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. The delivery requirement set forth in the preceding sentence may be satisfied by compliance with Section 7.3(b) hereof.
 
(b)           The Company shall furnish to each of (i) the Trustee, (ii) the Holders and to subsequent holders of Securities, (iii) Taberna Capital Management, LLC, 450 Park, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10022, Attn:  Mitchell Kahn (or such other address as designated by Taberna Capital Management, LLC) and (iv) any beneficial owner of the Securities reasonably identified to the Company (which identification may be made either by such beneficial owner or by Taberna Capital Management, LLC), a duly completed and executed certificate substantially and substantively in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, including the financial statements referenced in such Exhibit, which certificate and financial statements shall be so furnished by the Company not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company and not later than ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company.  The delivery requirements under this Section 7.3(b) may be satisfied by compliance with Section 8.16(b) of the Trust Agreement.
 
(c)           If the Company intends to file its annual and quarterly information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in electronic form pursuant to Regulation S-T of the Commission using the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) system, the Company shall notify the Trustee in the manner prescribed herein of each such annual and quarterly filing.  The Trustee is hereby authorized and directed to
 

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access the EDGAR system for purposes of retrieving the financial information so filed.  Compliance with the foregoing shall constitute delivery by the Company of its financial statements to the Trustee in compliance with the provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable.  The Trustee shall have no duty to search for or obtain any electronic or other filings that the Company makes with the Commission, regardless of whether such filings are periodic, supplemental or otherwise.  Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.3(c) shall be solely for purposes of compliance with this Section 7.3(c) and, if applicable, with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.  The Trustee’s receipt of such reports, information and documents shall not constitute notice to it of the content thereof or any matter determinable from the content thereof, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder, as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely upon Officers’ Certificates.
 
ARTICLE VIII
 

 
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease
 
SECTION 8.1.  Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.
 
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and no Person shall consolidate with or merge into the Company or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Company, unless:
 
(a)           if the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the entity formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person that acquires by conveyance or transfer, or that leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be an entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;
 
(b)           immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and
 
(c)           the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, any such supplemental indenture comply with this Article VIII and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with; and the Trustee may rely upon such Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that such transaction complies with this Section 8.1.
 

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SECTION 8.2.  Successor Company Substituted.
 
(a)           Upon any consolidation or merger by the Company with or into any other Person, or any conveyance, transfer or lease by the Company of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 8.1 and the execution and delivery to the Trustee of the supplemental indenture described in Section 8.1(a), the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; and in the event of any such conveyance or transfer, following the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and the Securities.
 
(b)           Such successor Person may cause to be executed, 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 Person 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 Person thereafter shall cause to be executed and delivered to the Trustee on its behalf. 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.
 
(c)           In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease, such changes in phraseology and form may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate to reflect such occurrence.
 
ARTICLE IX
 

 
Supplemental Indentures
 
SECTION 9.1.  Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.
 
Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by 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 reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
 
(a)           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; or
 
(b)           to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee; or
 
(c)           to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make or amend any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Indenture, provided, that such action pursuant to
 

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this clause (b) shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holders or the holders of the Preferred Securities; or
 
(d)           to comply with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the Securities may be listed, traded or quoted; or
 
(e)           to add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the Company or to add to the Events of Default, provided, that such action pursuant to this clause (c) shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holders or the holders of the Preferred Securities; or
 
(f)           to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the Indenture or the Securities to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Securities are treated as indebtedness of the Company for United States Federal income tax purposes, provided, that such action pursuant to this clause (d) shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holders or the holders of the Preferred Securities.
 
SECTION 9.2.  Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.
 
(a)           Subject to Section 9.1, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities under this Indenture; provided, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security,
 
(i)  change the Stated Maturity of the principal or any premium of any Security or change the date of payment of any installment of interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof or change the place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or interest thereon is payable, or restrict or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, or
 
(ii)  reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with any provision of this Indenture or of defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture, or
 
(iii)  modify any of the provisions of this Section 9.2, Section 5.13 or Section 10.7, except to increase any percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, the consent of whose Holders is required for any reason, or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Security;
 
provided, further, that, so long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, no amendment under this Section 9.2 shall be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of
 

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the Preferred Securities shall have consented to such amendment; provided, further, that if the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security is required for any amendment under this Indenture, such amendment shall not be effective until the holder of each Outstanding Preferred Security shall have consented to such amendment.
 
(b)           It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
 
SECTION 9.3.  Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
 
In executing or accepting the additional trusts created by any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such action 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, indemnities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.  Copies of the final form of each supplemental indenture shall be delivered by the Trustee at the expense of the Company to each Holder, and, if the Trustee is the Property Trustee, to each holder of Preferred Securities, promptly  after the execution thereof.
 
SECTION 9.4.  Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
 
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article IX, 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 and every holder of Preferred Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.
 
SECTION 9.5.  Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
 
Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article IX may, and shall if required by the Company, bear a notation in form approved by the Company as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture.  If the Company shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of 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.
 
ARTICLE X
 

 
Covenants
 
SECTION 10.1.  Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest.
 
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.
 

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SECTION 10.2.  Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust.
 
(a)           If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to the Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of and any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest (including Additional Interest) 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 in writing of its failure so to act.
 
(b)           Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents, it will, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided in the Trust Indenture Act and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its failure so to act.
 
(c)           The Company will cause each Paying Agent for the Securities 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 10.2, that such Paying Agent will (i) comply with the provisions of this Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (ii) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities.
 
(d)           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 money.
 
(e)           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 any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal and any premium or interest has become due and payable shall (unless otherwise required by mandatory provision of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law) be paid on Company Request to the Company, or (if then held by the Company) shall (unless otherwise required by mandatory provision of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law) 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 thereof, 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, 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 a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, notice that
 

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such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than thirty (30) days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
 
SECTION 10.3.  Statement as to Compliance.
 
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate covering the preceding calendar year, stating whether or not to the knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder), and if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.  The delivery requirements of this Section 10.3 may be satisfied by compliance with Section 8.16(a) of the Trust Agreement.
 
SECTION 10.4.  Calculation Agent.
 
(a)           The Company hereby agrees that for so long as any of the Securities remain Outstanding, there will at all times be an agent appointed to calculate LIBOR in respect of each Interest Payment Date in accordance with the terms of Schedule A (the “Calculation Agent”).  The Company has initially appointed the Property Trustee as Calculation Agent for purposes of determining LIBOR for each Interest Payment Date.  The Calculation Agent may be removed by the Company at any time.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Property Trustee holds any of the Securities, the Calculation Agent shall be the Property Trustee.  If the Calculation Agent is unable or unwilling to act as such or is removed by the Company, the Company will promptly appoint as a replacement Calculation Agent the London office of a leading bank which is engaged in transactions in Eurodollar deposits in the international Eurodollar market and which does not control or is not controlled by or under common control with the Company or its Affiliates.  The Calculation Agent may not resign its duties without a successor having been duly appointed.
 
(b)           The Calculation Agent shall be required to agree that, as soon as possible after 11:00 a.m. (London time) on each LIBOR Determination Date (as defined in Schedule A), but in no event later than 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the Business Day immediately following each LIBOR Determination Date, the Calculation Agent will calculate the interest rate (the Interest Payment shall be rounded to the nearest cent, with half a cent being rounded upwards) for the related Interest Payment Date, and will communicate such rate and amount to the Company, the Trustee, each Paying Agent and the Depositary. The Calculation Agent will also specify to the Company the quotations upon which the foregoing rates and amounts are based and, in any event, the Calculation Agent shall notify the Company before 5:00 p.m. (London time) on each LIBOR Determination Date that either:  (i) it has determined or is in the process of determining the foregoing rates and amounts or (ii) it has not determined and is not in the process of determining the foregoing rates and amounts, together with its reasons therefor.  The Calculation Agent’s determination of the foregoing rates and amounts for any Interest Payment Date will (in the absence of manifest error) be final and binding upon all parties.  For the sole purpose of calculating the interest rate for the Securities, “Business Day” shall be defined as any day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.
 

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SECTION 10.5.  Additional Tax Sums.
 
So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, if (a) the Trust is the Holder of all of the Outstanding Securities and (b) a Tax Event described in clause (i) or (iii) in the definition of Tax Event in Section 1.1 hereof has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall pay to the Trust (and its permitted successors or assigns under the related Trust Agreement) for so long as the Trust (or its permitted successor or assignee) is the registered holder of the Outstanding Securities, such amounts as may be necessary in order that the amount of Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement)) then due and payable by the Trust on the Preferred Securities and Common Securities that at any time remain outstanding in accordance with the terms thereof shall not be reduced as a result of any Additional Taxes arising from such Tax Event (additional such amounts payable by the Company to the Trust, the “Additional Tax Sums”).  Whenever in this Indenture or the Securities there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payments of the Additional Tax Sums provided for in this Section 10.5 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Tax Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.5 and express mention of the payment of Additional Tax Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Tax Sums in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.
 
SECTION 10.6.  Additional Covenants.
 
(a)           The Company covenants and agrees with each Holder of Securities that if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, it shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any shares of the Company’s capital stock (for the avoidance of doubt, the term “capital stock” includes both common stock and preferred stock of the Company), (ii) vote in favor of or permit or otherwise allow any of its subsidiaries to declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to or otherwise retire, any shares of such subsidiaries preferred stock (for the avoidance of doubt, whether such preferred stock is perpetual or otherwise), or (iii) make any payment of principal of or any interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Securities (other than (A) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the Event of Default, (B) as a result of an exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (C) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (D) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any Rights Plan, the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any Rights Plan or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto or (E) any dividend in the form of
 

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stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock).
 
(b)           The Company also covenants with each Holder of Securities (i) to hold, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Common Securities of the Trust, provided, that any permitted successor of the Company hereunder may succeed to the Company’s ownership of such Common Securities, (ii) as holder of such Common Securities, not to voluntarily dissolve, wind-up or liquidate the Trust other than (A) in connection with a distribution of the Securities to the holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust or (B) in connection with certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations permitted by the Trust Agreement and (iii) to use its reasonable commercial efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of the Trust Agreement, to cause the Trust to continue to be taxable as a grantor trust and not as a corporation for United States Federal income tax purposes.
 
(c)           The Company also agrees to use its reasonable efforts to meet the requirements to qualify, for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004 and all future fiscal years, as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
SECTION 10.7.  Waiver of Covenants.
 
The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition contained in Section 10.6 if, before or after the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities shall, by Act of such Holders, and at least a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then outstanding, by consent 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 in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
 
SECTION 10.8.  Treatment of Securities.
 
The Company will treat the Securities as indebtedness, and the amounts, other than payments of principal, payable in respect of the principal amount of such Securities as interest, for all U.S. federal income tax purposes.  All payments in respect of the Securities will be made free and clear of U.S. withholding tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or W-8BEN (or any substitute or successor form) establishing its U.S. or non-U.S. status for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or any other applicable form establishing a complete exemption from U.S. withholding tax.
 
ARTICLE XI
 

 
Redemption of Securities
 
SECTION 11.1.  Optional Redemption.
 
(a)           Series A Securities: The Company may, at its option, on any Interest Payment Date, on or after March 30, 2010, redeem the Series A Securities in whole at any time or in part
 

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from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount thereof (or of the redeemed portion thereof, as applicable), together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued and unpaid interest, including any Additional Interest, through but excluding the date fixed as the Redemption Date (the “Series A Optional Redemption Price”).
 
(b)           Series B Securities:  The Company may, at its option, on any Interest Payment Date, on or after April 30, 2010, redeem the Series B Securities in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount thereof (or of the redeemed portion thereof, as applicable), together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued and unpaid interest, including any Additional Interest, through but excluding the date fixed as the Redemption Date (the “Series B Optional Redemption Price”).
 
SECTION 11.2.  Special Event Redemption.
 
(a)           Series A Securities:  Prior to March 30, 2010, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Special Event, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Series A Securities, in whole but not in part, at a Redemption Price equal to one hundred seven and one half percent (107.5%) of the principal amount thereof, together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest, through but excluding the date fixed as the Redemption Date (the “Series A Special Redemption Price”).
 
(b)           Series B Securities:  Prior to April 30, 2010, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Special Event, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Series B Securities, in whole but not in part, at a Redemption Price equal to one hundred seven and one half percent (107.5%) of the principal amount thereof, together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest, through but excluding the date fixed as the Redemption Date (the “Series B Special Redemption Price”).
 
SECTION 11.3.  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, the Company shall, not less than forty-five (45) days and not more than seventy-five (75) days prior to the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee and the Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement in writing of such date and of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed and provide the additional information required to be included in the notice or notices contemplated by Section 11.5. In the case of any redemption of Securities, in whole or in part, (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in this Indenture or the Securities or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in this Indenture or the Securities, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.
 
SECTION 11.4.  Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
 
(a)           If less than all the Series A Securities or Series B Securities, as the case may be, are to be redeemed, the particular Securities of such Series to be redeemed shall be selected and
 

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redeemed on a pro rata basis not more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of such Series not previously called for redemption, provided, that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security of such Series shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security of such Series.
 
(b)           The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities of such Series selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities of such Series 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.
 
(c)           The provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 11.4 shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.
 
SECTION 11.5.  Notice of Redemption.
 
(a)           Notice of redemption shall be given not later than the thirtieth (30th) day, and not earlier than the sixtieth (60th) day, prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Property Trustee under the related Trust Agreement).
 
(b)           With respect to Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part, each notice of redemption shall state:
 
(i)  the Redemption Date;
 
(ii)  the Redemption Price or, if the Redemption Price cannot be calculated prior to the time the notice is required to be sent, the estimate of the Redemption Price, as calculated by the Company, together with a statement that it is an estimate and that the actual Redemption Price will be calculated on the fifth Business Day prior to the Redemption Date (and if an estimate is provided, a further notice shall be sent of the actual Redemption Price on the date that such Redemption Price is calculated);
 
(iii)  if less than all Outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the respective principal amounts) of the amount of and particular Securities to be redeemed;
 
(iv)  that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security or portion thereof, and that any interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Security or such portion, as the case may be, shall cease to accrue on and after said date; and
 
(v)  the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price..
 

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(c)                                Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable. The notice if mailed in the manner provided above shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, a failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Security.
 
SECTION 11.6.  Deposit of Redemption Price.
 
Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in Section 11.5, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more Paying Agents (or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, the Company will segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.2) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and any accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on, all the Securities (or portions thereof) that are to be redeemed on that date.
 
SECTION 11.7.  Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.
 
(a)           If any notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 11.5, the Securities or portion of Securities with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price, together with accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) to the Redemption Date. On presentation and surrender of such Securities at a Place of Payment specified in such notice, the Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price, together with accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) to the Redemption Date.
 
(b)           Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities, of authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented and having the same Original Issue Date, Stated Maturity and terms.
 
(c)           If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal of and any premium on such Security shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.
 
ARTICLE XII
 

 
Subordination of Securities
 
SECTION 12.1.  Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt.
 
The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Security, by its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth in this Article XII, the payment of the principal of and any premium and interest (including any
 

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Additional Interest) on each and all of the Securities are hereby expressly made subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt.
 
SECTION 12.2.  No Payment When Senior Debt in Default; Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.
 
(a)           In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of any principal of or any premium or interest on any Senior Debt (following any grace period, if applicable) when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise, then, upon written notice of such default to the Company by the holders of such Senior Debt or any trustee therefor, unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off or otherwise) shall be made or agreed to be made on account of the principal of or any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any of the Securities, or in respect of any redemption, repayment, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Securities.
 
(b)           In the event of a bankruptcy, insolvency or other proceeding described in clause (d) or (e) of the definition of Event of Default (each such event, if any, herein sometimes referred to as a “Proceeding”), all Senior Debt (including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made to any Holder of any of the Securities on account thereof. Any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other entity provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), which would otherwise (but for these subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the Securities shall be paid or delivered directly to the holders of Senior Debt in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Debt  (including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any Proceeding) shall have been paid in full.
 
(c)           In the event of any Proceeding, after payment in full of all sums owing with respect to Senior Debt, the Holders of the Securities, together with the holders of any obligations of the Company ranking on a parity with the Securities, shall be entitled to be paid from the remaining assets of the Company the amounts at the time due and owing on account of unpaid principal of and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities and such other obligations before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property or otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital stock or any obligations of the Company ranking junior to the Securities and such other obligations. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of any character or any security, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other entity provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment) shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder in contravention of any of the terms hereof and before all Senior Debt
 

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shall have been paid in full, such payment or distribution or security shall be received in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the Senior Debt at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Debt (including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any Proceeding) in full. In the event of the failure of the Trustee or any Holder to endorse or assign any such payment, distribution or security, each holder of Senior Debt is hereby irrevocably authorized to endorse or assign the same.
 
(d)           The Trustee and the Holders, at the expense of the Company, shall take such reasonable action (including the delivery of this Indenture to an agent for any holders of Senior Debt or consent to the filing of a financing statement with respect hereto) as may, in the opinion of counsel designated by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Senior Debt at the time outstanding, be necessary or appropriate to assure the effectiveness of the subordination effected by these provisions.
 
(e)           The provisions of this Section 12.2 shall not impair any rights, interests, remedies or powers of any secured creditor of the Company in respect of any security interest the creation of which is not prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture.
 
(f)           The securing of any obligations of the Company, otherwise ranking on a parity with the Securities or ranking junior to the Securities, shall not be deemed to prevent such obligations from constituting, respectively, obligations ranking on a parity with the Securities or ranking junior to the Securities.
 
SECTION 12.3.  Payment Permitted If No Default.
 
Nothing contained in this Article XII or elsewhere in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent (a) the Company, at any time, except during the pendency of the conditions described in paragraph (a) of Section 12.2 or of any Proceeding referred to in Section 12.2, from making payments at any time of principal of and any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities or (b) the application by the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of and any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities or the retention of such payment by the Holders, if, at the time of such application by the Trustee, it did not have knowledge (in accordance with Section 12.8) that such payment would have been prohibited by the provisions of this Article XII, except as provided in Section 12.8.
 
SECTION 12.4.  Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Debt.
 
Subject to the payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on all Senior Debt, or the provision for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior Debt, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the extent of the payments or distributions made to the holders of such Senior Debt pursuant to the provisions of this Article XII (equally and ratably with the holders of all indebtedness of the Company that by its express terms is subordinated to Senior Debt of the Company to substantially the same extent as the Securities are subordinated to the Senior Debt and is entitled to like rights of subrogation by reason of any payments or distributions made to holders of such Senior Debt) to
 

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the rights of the holders of such Senior Debt to receive payments and distributions of cash, property and securities applicable to the Senior Debt until the principal of and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities shall be paid in full. For purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Debt of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XII, and no payments made pursuant to the provisions of this Article XII to the holders of Senior Debt by Holders of the Securities or the Trustee, shall, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Debt, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of the Senior Debt.
 
SECTION 12.5.  Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights.
 
The provisions of this Article XII are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities on the one hand and the holders of Senior Debt on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article XII or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall (a) impair, as between the Company and the Holders of the Securities, the obligations of the Company, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, (b) affect the relative rights against the Company of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than their rights in relation to the holders of Senior Debt or (c) prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security (or to the extent expressly provided herein, the holder of any Preferred Security) from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, including filing and voting claims in any Proceeding, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XII of the holders of Senior Debt to receive cash, property and securities otherwise payable or deliverable to the Trustee or such Holder.
 
SECTION 12.6.  Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.
 
Each Holder of a Security by his or her acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XII and appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
 
SECTION 12.7.  No Waiver of Subordination Provisions.
 
(a)           No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Debt to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with.
 
(b)           Without in any way limiting the generality of paragraph (a) of this Section 12.7, the holders of Senior Debt may, at any time and from to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, without incurring responsibility to such Holders of
 

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the Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XII or the obligations hereunder of such Holders of the Securities to the holders of Senior Debt, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Debt, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner Senior Debt or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Debt is outstanding, (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Debt, (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the payment of Senior Debt and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.
 
SECTION 12.8.  Notice to Trustee.
 
(a)           The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XII or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder of Senior Debt or from any trustee, agent or representative therefor; provided, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 12.8 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any monies may become payable for any purpose (including, the payment of the principal of and any premium on or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such monies and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.
 
(b)           The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or herself to be a holder of Senior Debt (or a trustee, agent, representative or attorney-in-fact therefor) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Debt (or a trustee, agent, representative or attorney-in-fact therefor). In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Debt to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XII, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Debt held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XII, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
 
SECTION 12.9.  Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.
 
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XII, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such Proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the
 

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Trustee or to the Holders of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XII.
 
SECTION 12.10.  Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Debt.
 
The Trustee, in its capacity as trustee under this Indenture, shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other Person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XII or otherwise.
 
SECTION 12.11.  Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Debt; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights.
 
The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XII with respect to any Senior Debt that may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Debt, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
 
SECTION 12.12.  Article Applicable to Paying Agents.
 
If at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article XII shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article XII in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided, that Sections 12.8 and 12.11 shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if the Company or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.
 
* * * *
 
This instrument 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 instrument.
 
* * * *
 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amended and Restated Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
 
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc.



By:  ________________________________
Name:  Jeffrey J. Zimmer
 
Title:  Chief Executive Officer
 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Trustee


By:  __________________________________
Name:
 
Title:
 


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Schedule A

DETERMINATION OF LIBOR
 
With respect to the Securities, the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) shall be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following provisions (in each case rounded to the nearest .000001%):
 
(1)           On the second LIBOR Business Day (as defined below) prior to an Interest Payment Date (except with respect to the first Interest Payment Period, such date shall be May 13, 2005) (each such day, a “LIBOR Determination Date”), LIBOR for any given security shall for the following Interest Payment Period equal the rate, as obtained by the Calculation Agent from Bloomberg Financial Markets Commodities News, for three-month Eurodollar deposits that appears on Dow Jones Telerate Page 3750 (as defined in the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. 2000 Interest Rate and Currency Exchange Definitions), or such other page as may replace such Page 3750, as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such LIBOR Determination Date.
 
(2)           If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, such rate does not appear on Dow Jones Telerate Page 3750 or such other page as may replace such Page 3750, the Calculation Agent shall determine the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations of the Reference Banks (as defined below) to leading banks in the London interbank market for three-month Eurodollar deposits in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent by reference to requests for quotations as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the LIBOR Determination Date made by the Calculation Agent to the Reference Banks.  If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, at least two of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, LIBOR shall equal such arithmetic mean of such quotations.  If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, only one or none of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, LIBOR shall be deemed to be the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations that leading banks in the City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting on the relevant LIBOR Determination Date for three-month Eurodollar deposits in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent by reference to the principal London offices of leading banks in the London interbank market; provided that, if the Calculation Agent is required but is unable to determine a rate in accordance with at least one of the procedures provided above, LIBOR shall be LIBOR as determined on the previous LIBOR Determination Date.
 
(3)           As used herein: “Reference Banks” means four major banks in the London interbank market selected by the Calculation Agent; and “LIBOR Business Day” means a day on which commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in London.
 

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Schedule A-
 

 
 

 
 Exhibit A

Form of Officer’s Financial Certificate
 
The undersigned, the [Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer/Assistant Treasurer/ Secretary/ Assistant Secretary, Chairman/ViceChairman/Chief Executive Officer/President/Vice President] hereby certifies, pursuant to Section 7.3(b) of the Amended and Restated Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of September [__], 2005 (the “Indenture”), among Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc. (the “Company”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as trustee, that, as of [date], [20__], the Company and its Subsidiaries, if applicable, had the following ratios and balances:
 
As of [Quarterly/Annual Financial Date], 20__
 

   
Senior secured indebtedness for borrowed money (“Debt”)
$_____
Senior unsecured Debt
$_____
Subordinated Debt
$_____
Total Debt
$ _____
Ratio of (x) senior secured and unsecured Debt to (y) total Debt
  _____%

·
A table describing the quarterly report calculation procedures is provided on page 3 hereof
 
[FOR FISCAL YEAR END:  Attached hereto are the audited consolidated financial statements (including the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows, and notes thereto, together with the report of the independent accountants thereon) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the three years ended [date], 20__.]
 
[FOR FISCAL QUARTER END:  Attached hereto are the unaudited consolidated and consolidating  financial statements (including the balance sheet and income statement) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter ended [date], 20__.]
 
The financial statements fairly present in all material respects, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, and the results of operations and changes in financial condition as of the date, and for the [quarter] [annual] period ended [date], 20__, and such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period involved (expect as otherwise noted therein).
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Officer’s Financial Certificate as of this _____ day of _____________, 20__.
 

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 Exhibit A


 
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc.


_______________________________
 
By:
 
Name:
 
 
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc.
 
3305 Flamingo Drive
Vero Beach, FL 32963
772-231-1400
 
 

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bmnm10q09302008ex10_18.htm
 
 
   
Exhibit 10.18
Execution Copy


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT
 

 
among
 

 

BIMINI MORTGAGE MANAGEMENT, INC.,
 
as Depositor
 

 

 
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 
as Property Trustee
 

 

 

 

 
CHASE BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
 
as Delaware Trustee
 

 
and
 

 

 
THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN
 
as Administrative Trustees
 

 
________________
 

 

 
Dated as of September 26, 2005
 

 
________________
 

 
BIMINI CAPITAL TRUST I

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Clause                                            60;                                                                                     Page
 


Defined Terms 
1
 
 
Section 1.1.
Definitions 
1
 
ARTICLE II.
 The Trust
 11
 
 
Section 2.1.
Name 
11
 
 
Section 2.2.
Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business 
11
 
 
Section 2.3.
Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Fees, Costs and Expenses 
11
 
 
Section 2.4.
Purposes of Trust 
11
 
 
Section 2.5.
Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions
12
 
 
Section 2.6.
Assets of Trust 
14
 
 
Section 2.7.
Title to Trust Property 
14
 
ARTICLE III.
 Payment Account;  Paying Agents
15
 
 
Section 3.1.
Payment Account 
15
 
 
Section 3.2.
Appointment of Paying Agents 
15
 
  ARTICLE IV.
 Distributions; Redemption
16
 
 
Section 4.1.
Distributions 
16
 
 
Section 4.2.
Redemption 
17
 
 
Section 4.3.
Subordination of Common Securities 
19
 
 
Section 4.4.
Payment Procedures 
20
 
 
Section 4.5.
Withholding Tax 
20
 
 
Section 4.6.
Tax Returns and Other Reports 
21
 
 
Section 4.7.
Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Trust 
21
 
 
Section 4.8.
Payments under Indenture or Pursuant to Direct Actions 
21
 
 
Section 4.9.
Exchanges 
21
 
 
 Section 4.10.  Calculation Agent
 22
 
 
 Section 4.11.  Certain Accounting Matters
 23
 
  ARTICLE V.
 Securities
 24
 
 
Section 5.1.
Initial Ownership 
24
 
 
Section 5.2.
Authorized Trust Securities 
24
 
 
Section 5.3.
Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase of Notes 
24
 
 
Section 5.4.
The Securities Certificates 
24
 
 
Section 5.5.
Rights of Holders 
25
 
 
Section 5.6.
Book-Entry Preferred Securities 
25
 
 
Section 5.7.
Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates 
27
 

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CONTENTS
 
Clause                                           & #160;                                                                                     Page
 
 

                              
 
Section 5.8.
 
Section 5.9.
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities Certificates
 
Persons Deemed Holders 
28
 
29
 
 
 Section 5.10.  Cancellation
29
 
 
 Section 5.11.  Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor
 30
 
 
 Section 5.12.  Restricted Legends
 30
 
 
 Section 5.13.  Form of Certificate of Authentication
 32
 
  ARTICLE VI.
 Meetings; Voting; Acts of Holders
 33
 
 
Section 6.1.
Notice of Meetings 
33
 
 
Section 6.2.
 Meetings of Holders of the Preferred Securities
 33
 
 
Section 6.3.
Voting Rights 
33
 
 
Section 6.4.
Proxies, Etc 
34
 
 
Section 6.5.
Holder Action by Written Consent 
34
 
 
Section 6.6.
Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes 
34
 
 
Section 6.7.
Acts of Holders 
34
 
 
Section 6.8.
Inspection of Records 
35
 
 
Section 6.9.
Limitations on Voting Rights 
35
 
 
 Section 6.10. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission of Annulment; Waivers of Past Defaults
 36
 
  ARTICLE VII.
 Representations and Warranties
 39
 
 
Section 7.1.
Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee 
39
 
 
Section 7.2.
Representations and Warranties of Depositor 
40
 
  ARTICLE VIII.
 The Trustees
 41
 
 
Section 8.1.
Number of Trustees 
41
 
 
Section 8.2.
Property Trustee Required 
41
 
 
Section 8.3.
Delaware Trustee Required 
42
 
 
Section 8.4.
Appointment of Administrative Trustees 
42
 
 
Section 8.5.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustees 
42
 
 
Section 8.6.
Notices of Defaults and Extensions 
44
 
 
Section 8.7.
Certain Rights of Property Trustee 
44
 
 
Section 8.8.
Delegation of Power 
47
 
 
Section 8.9.
May Hold Securities 
47
 
 
 Section 8.10.  Compensation; Reimbursement; Indemnity 
 47
 
 
 Section 8.11.  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor
48
 
 
 Section 8.12.  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor
 49
 
 
 Section 8.13.  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business
50
 

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CONTENTS
 
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 Section 8.14.  
 
 Section 8.15.
 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities
 
Property Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
50
 
50
 
 
 Section 8.16.  Reports to the Property Trustee
51
 
  ARTICLE IX.
 Termination, Liquidation and Merger
52
 
 
Section 9.1.
Dissolution Upon Expiration Date 
52
 
 
Section 9.2.
Early Termination 
52
 
 
Section 9.3.
Termination 
52
 
 
Section 9.4.
Liquidation 
52
 
 
Section 9.5.
Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of Trust 
54
 
  ARTICLE X.
 Miscellaneous Provisions
 55
 
 
 Section 10.1.  Limitation of Rights of Holders
55
 
 
 Section 10.2.  Agreed Tax Treatment of Trust and Trust Securities
 55
 
 
 Section 10.3.  Amendment
 56
 
 
 Section 10.4.  Separability
 57
 
 
 Section 10.5.  Governing Law
57
 
 
 Section 10.6.  Successors
 57
 
 
 Section 10.7.  Headings
 58
 
 
 Section 10.8.  Reports, Notices and Demands
 58
 
 
 Section 10.9. Agreement Not to Petition
58
 
 
 Section 10.10.  Counterparts
59
 
Exhibit A                      Certificate of Trust of Bimini Capital Trust I
Exhibit B                      Form of Common Securities Certificate
Exhibit C                      Form of Preferred Securities Certificate
Exhibit D                      Junior Subordinated Indenture
Exhibit E                      Form of Transferee Certificate to be Executed for Transferees
Exhibit F                      Form of Officer’s Financial Certificate of the Depositor

Schedule A                                Calculation of LIBOR


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This Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2005 (as amended and restated, the “Trust Agreement”), among (i) Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation (including any successors or permitted assigns, the “Depositor”), (ii) JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as property trustee (in such capacity, the “Property Trustee), (iii) Chase Bank USA, National Association, a national banking association, as Delaware trustee (in such capacity, the “Delaware Trustee”), (iv) Jeffrey J. Zimmer, an individual, Robert E. Cauley, an individual, and Amber K. Luedke, an individual, each of whose address is c/o Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., 3305 Flamingo Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963, as administrative trustees (in such capacities, each an “Administrative Trustee” and, collectively, the “Administrative Trustees” and, together with the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, the Trustees”) and (v) the several Holders, as hereinafter defined.
 
Witnesseth
 
Whereas, the Depositor and the Delaware Trustee have heretofore created a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act by entering into a Trust Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2005 (the Original Trust Agreement”), and by executing and filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware the Certificate of Trust, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A;
 
Whereas, the Depositor and the Trustees have previously amended and restated the Original Trust Agreement to provide for, among other things, (i) the issuance of the Common Securities by the Trust to the Depositor, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities by the Trust pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (iii) the acquisition by the Trust from the Depositor of all of the right, title and interest in and to the Notes; and
 
Whereas, the Depositor desires to execute, and has duly authorized the execution and delivery of, this Trust Agreement to provide for two separate series of each of the Trust’s Preferred Securities (“Series A Preferred Securities” and “Series B Preferred Securities” and, collectively, the “Preferred Securities”) and the Trust’s Common Securities (“Series A Common Securities” and “Series B Common Securities” and, collectively, the “Common Securities”), the only difference between each such Series A Trust Securities and Series B Trust Securities being the difference in certain dates related to each such Series A Trust Securities or Series B Trust Securities, including, but not limited to, the Interest Payment Dates, the Expiration Date, the Fixed Rate Period and the Stated Maturity dates.
 
Now, Therefore, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other parties and for the benefit of the Holders, hereby amends and restates the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees as follows:
 

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ARTICLE I.
 

 
Defined Terms
 
SECTION 1.1.                                Definitions.
 
For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
 
(a)           the terms defined in this Article I have the meanings assigned to them in this Article I;
 
(b)           the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”;
 
(c)           all accounting terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles;
 
(d)           unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article”, a “Section”, a “Schedule” or an “Exhibit” refers to an Article, a Section, a Schedule or an Exhibit, as the case may be, of or to this Trust Agreement;
 
(e)           the words “hereby”, “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;
 
(f)           a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and
 
(g)           the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
 
Act” has the meaning specified in Section 6.7.
 
Additional Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.
 
Additional Interest Amount” means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, the amount of Additional Interest paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of Notes for such period.
 
Additional Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.
 
Additional Tax Sums” has the meaning specified in Section 10.5 of the Indenture.
 
Administrative Trustee” means each of the Persons identified as an Administrative Trustee” in the preamble to this Trust Agreement, solely in each such Person’s capacity as Administrative Trustee of the Trust and not in such Person’s individual capacity, or any successor Administrative Trustee appointed as herein provided.
 

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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 Depositary Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Book-Entry Preferred Security, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Book-Entry Preferred Security, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
 
“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person:
 
(a)  the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises (i) judging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, (ii) approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or composition of or in respect of such Person under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, (iii) appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of such Person or of any substantial part of its property or (iv) ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or
 
(b)  the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due and its willingness to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the taking of corporate action by such Person in furtherance of any such action.
 
“Bankruptcy Laws” means all Federal and state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws, including the United States Bankruptcy Code.
 
“Book-Entry Preferred Security” means a Preferred Security, the ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Depositary.
 

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“Business Day” means a day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday, (b) a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed or (c) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office is closed for business.
 
“Calculation Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10.
 
“Closing Date” has the meaning specified in the Purchase Agreement.
 
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act or, if at any time after the execution of this Trust Agreement such Commission is not existing and performing the duties assigned to it, then the body performing such duties at such time.
 
“Common Securities Certificate” means a certificate evidencing ownership of Series A Common Securities or Series B Common Securities, as the case may be, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B.
 
“Common Security” means both the Series A Common Securities and the Series B Common Securities, collectively; provided, however, that except as expressly provided for in this Trust Agreement, the Series A Common Securities and Series B Common Securities shall be pari passu in all respects.
 
“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Property Trustee at which any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of this Trust Agreement is located at 600 Travis, 50th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention:  Worldwide Securities Services— Bimini Capital Trust I.
 
“Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates” means Preferred Securities issued in certificated, fully registered form that are not Global Preferred Securities.
 
“Delaware Statutory Trust Act” means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. Code § 3801 et seq., or any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
 
“Delaware Trustee” means the Person identified as the Delaware Trustee” in the preamble to this Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Delaware Trustee appointed as herein provided.
 
“Depositary” means an organization registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act that is designated as Depositary by the Depositor or any successor thereto.  DTC will be the initial Depositary.
 
“Depositary Participant” means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Depositary effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Depositary.
 

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“Depositor” has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement and any successors and permitted assigns.
 
“Depositor Affiliate” has the meaning specified in Section 4.9.
 
“Distribution Date” means the Series A Distribution Date and the Series B Distribution Date, as applicable.
 
Distribution Period” means  with respect to any Distribution Date, the period commencing on the immediately preceding Distribution Date  (or, in the case of the Distribution Period relating to the first Distribution Date, commencing on the Closing Date) and ending on the day immediately preceding such Distribution Date; provided, that, with respect to Series B Securities, for the Distribution Date in October 2005, the Distribution Period shall commence June 30, 2005.
 
“Distributions” means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as provided in Section 4.1.
 
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation, or any successor thereto.
 
“Early Termination Event” has the meaning specified in Section 9.2.
 
“EDGAR” has the meaning specified in Section 4.11(c).
 
 “Event of Default” means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such event and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
 
(a)  the occurrence of a Note Event of Default; or
 
(b)  default by the Trust in the payment of any Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a period of thirty (30) days; or
 
(c)  default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or
 
(d)  default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect of any covenant or warranty of the Trustees in this Trust Agreement (other than those specified in clause (b) or (c) above) and continuation of such default or breach for a period of thirty (30) days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Trustees and to the Depositor by the Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities a written notice specifying such
 

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default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a Notice of Default” hereunder; or
 
(e)  the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Property Trustee if a successor Property Trustee has not been appointed within ninety (90) days thereof.
 
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
 
“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.1.
 
 “Fiscal Year” shall be the fiscal year of the Trust, which shall be the calendar year, or such other period as is required by the Code.
 
“Fixed Rate Period” shall mean the period through the Interest Payment Date on, in the case of Series A Trust Securities, March 30, 2010 and, in the case of Series B Trust Securities, April 30, 2010.
 
 “Global Preferred Security” means a Preferred Securities Certificate evidencing ownership of Book-Entry Preferred Securities.
 
“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Trust Security or Trust Securities are registered in the Securities Register; any such Person shall be deemed to be a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
 
“Indemnified Person” has the meaning specified in Section 8.10(c).
 
“Indenture” means the Amended and Restated Junior Subordinated Indenture executed and delivered by the Depositor and the Note Trustee contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit D, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
 
Interest Payment Date(s)” means the Series A Interest Payment Dates and the Series B Interest Payment Dates, as applicable.
 
Interest Payment Period” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.
 
“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, or any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
 
Investment Company Event” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.
 
“LIBOR” has the meaning specified in Schedule A.
 
“LIBOR Business Day” has the meaning specified in Schedule A.
 
“LIBOR Determination Date” has the meaning specified in Schedule A.
 

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“Lien” means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever.
 
“Like Amount” means (a) with respect to a redemption of any Trust Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal amount of Notes to be contemporaneously redeemed or paid at maturity in accordance with the Indenture, the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of such Trust Securities, (b) with respect to a distribution of Notes to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a dissolution of the Trust, Notes having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such Notes are distributed and (c) with respect to any distribution of Additional Interest Amounts to Holders of Trust Securities, Notes having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities in respect of which such distribution is made.
 
“Liquidation Amount” means the stated amount of $1,000 per Trust Security.
 
“Liquidation Date” means the date on which assets are to be distributed to Holders in accordance with Section 9.4(a) hereunder following dissolution of the Trust.
 
“Liquidation Distribution” has the meaning specified in Section 9.4(d).
 
“Majority in Liquidation Amount” means either Series A Common Securities, Series A Preferred Securities, Series B Common Securities or Series B Preferred Securities, as the case may be, representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all (or a specified group of) then Outstanding Common or Preferred Securities, as the case may be.
 
“Note Event of Default” means any Event of Default” specified in Section 5.1 of the Indenture.
 
“Note Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Notes to be redeemed under the Indenture, the date fixed for redemption of such Notes under the Indenture.
 
“Note Trustee” means the Person identified as the Trustee” in the Indenture, solely in its capacity as Trustee pursuant to the Indenture and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Trustee appointed as provided in the Indenture.
 
“Notes” means both the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes, collectively; provided, however, that except as expressly provided for in the Indenture, the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes shall be pari passu in all respects.
 
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or an Executive Vice President, and by the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, of the Depositor, and delivered to the Trustees. Any Officers’ Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Trust Agreement (other than the certificate provided pursuant to Section 8.16 which is not an Officers’ Certificate) shall include:
 

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(a)  a statement by each officer signing the Officers’ Certificate that such officer has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
 
(b)  a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by such officer in rendering the Officers’ Certificate;
 
(c)  a statement that such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer’s opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
 
(d)  a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
 
“Operative Documents” means the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Trust Agreement, the Notes and the Trust Securities.
 
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for, or an employee of, the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor.
 
“Optional Note Redemption Price” means the Series A Optional Note Redemption Price and/or the Series B Optional Note Redemption Price, as applicable.
 
 “Optional Redemption Price” means, for all Trust Securities, an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security on the Redemption Date, plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the Redemption Date, plus the related amount of the premium, if any, and/or accrued interest, including Additional Interest, if any, thereon paid by the Depositor upon the concurrent redemption or payment at maturity of a Like Amount of Notes.
 
“Original Trust Agreement” has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Trust Agreement.
 
“Outstanding”, when used with respect to any Trust Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Trust Securities theretofore executed and delivered under this Trust Agreement, except:
 
(a)  Trust Securities theretofore canceled by the Property Trustee or delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation;
 
(b)  Trust Securities for which payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the Holders of such Trust Securities; provided, that if such Trust Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
 

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(c)  Trust Securities that have been paid or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Trust Securities have been executed and delivered pursuant to the provisions of this Trust Agreement, unless proof satisfactory to the Property Trustee is presented that any such Trust Securities are held by Holders in whose hands such Trust Securities are valid, legal and binding obligations of the Trust;
 
provided, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Preferred Securities owned by the Depositor, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor or of any Trustee shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (i) in determining whether any Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Preferred Securities that such Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded and (ii) the foregoing shall not apply at any time when all of the Outstanding Preferred Securities are owned by the Depositor, one or more of the Trustees and/or any such Affiliate. Preferred Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Administrative Trustees the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Preferred Securities and that the pledgee is not the Depositor, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor or of any Trustee.
 
“Owner” means each Person who is the beneficial owner of Book-Entry Preferred Securities as reflected in the records of the Depositary or, if a Depositary Participant is not the beneficial owner, then the beneficial owner as reflected in the records of the Depositary Participant.
 
“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Administrative Trustees to pay Distributions or other amounts in respect of any Trust Securities on behalf of the Trust.
 
“Payment Account” means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate trust account maintained by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Holders in which all amounts paid in respect of the Notes will be held and from which the Property Trustee, through the Paying Agent, shall make payments to the Holders in accordance with Sections 3.1, 4.1 and 4.2.
 
“Person” means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association or government, or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
 
“Preferred Security” means both the Series A Preferred Securities and the Series B Preferred Securities, collectively; provided, however, that except as expressly provided for in this Trust Agreement, the Series A Preferred Securities and Series B Preferred Securities shall be pari passu in all respects.
 
“Preferred Securities Certificate” means a certificate evidencing ownership of Preferred Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C.
 
“Property Trustee” means the Person identified as the Property Trustee” in the preamble to this Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust and not
 

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in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Property Trustee appointed as herein provided.
 
“Purchase Agreement” means the Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 17, 2005, executed and delivered by the Trust, the Depositor, on the one hand, and TABERNA Preferred Funding I, Ltd. and Merrill Lynch International, as purchasers, as amended from time to time.
 
QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
QP” means a “qualified purchaser” as defined in Section 2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
 
QIB/QP” means a QIB that is also a QP.
 
 “Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Trust Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust Agreement; provided, that each Note Redemption Date and the stated maturity (or any date of principal repayment upon early maturity) of the Notes shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust Securities.
 
“Redemption Price” means the Special Redemption Price or Optional Redemption Price, as applicable.  If the Depositor has redeemed the Notes at the Special Note Redemption Price, the Trust shall redeem the Trust Securities at the Special Redemption Price.  If the Depositor has redeemed the Notes at the Optional Note Redemption Price, the Trust shall redeem the Trust Securities at the Optional Redemption Price.
 
“Reference Banks” has the meaning specified in Schedule A.
 
“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to the Property Trustee, the officer in the Worldwide Securities Services department of the Property Trustee having direct responsibility for the administration of this Trust Agreement.
 
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, and any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
 
“Securities Certificate” means any one of the Common Securities Certificates or the Preferred Securities Certificates.
 
“Securities Register” and Securities Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 5.7.
 
“Series A Common Security” has the meaning set forth in the third recital hereto and, more specifically, means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement.
 
 Series B Common Security” has the meaning set forth in the third recital hereto and, more specifically, means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement.
 

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 “Series A Distribution Date” has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(a)(i)(A).
 
 “Series B Distribution Date” has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(a)(i)(B).
 
Series A Interest Payment Date(s)” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.
 
Series B Interest Payment Date(s)” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.
 
Series A Notes” means the Depositor’s Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Series A Notes issued pursuant to the Indenture.
 
Series B Notes” means the Depositor’s Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Series B Notes issued pursuant to the Indenture.
 
 “Series A Optional Note Redemption Price” means, with respect to any Series A Note to be redeemed on any Redemption Date under the Indenture, an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding principal amount of such Series A Note, together with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest (to the extent legally enforceable), thereon through but not including the date fixed as such Redemption Date.
 
 “Series B Optional Note Redemption Price” means, with respect to any Series B Note to be redeemed on any Redemption Date under the Indenture, an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding principal amount of such Series B Note, together with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest (to the extent legally enforceable), thereon through but not including the date fixed as such Redemption Date.
 
 “Series A Preferred Security” has the meaning set forth in the third recital hereto and, more specifically, means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement.
 
“Series B Preferred Security” has the meaning set forth in the third recital hereto and, more specifically, means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement.
 
“Series A Special Note Redemption Price” means, with respect to any Series A Note to be redeemed on any Redemption Date under the Indenture, an amount equal to one hundred seven and one half percent (107.5%) of the outstanding principal amount of such Series A Note, together with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest (to the extent legally enforceable), thereon through but not including the date fixed as such Redemption Date.
 
“Series B Special Note Redemption Price” means, with respect to any Series B Note to be redeemed on any Redemption Date under the Indenture, an amount equal to one hundred seven and one half percent (107.5%) of the outstanding principal amount of such Series B Note, together with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest (to the extent legally enforceable), thereon through but not including the date fixed as such Redemption Date.
 

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“Series A Trust Securities” means the Series A Common Securities and the Series A Preferred Securities, collectively.
 
“Series B Trust Securities” means the Series B Common Securities and the Series B Preferred Securities, collectively.
 
“Special Note Redemption Price” means the Series A Special Note Redemption Price and/or the Series B Special Note Redemption Price, as applicable.
 
 “Special Redemption Price” means, for all Trust Securities, an amount equal to one hundred seven and one half percent (107.5%) of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security on the Redemption Date, plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the Redemption Date, plus the related amount of the premium, if any, and/or accrued interest, including Additional Interest, if any, thereon paid by the Depositor upon the concurrent redemption or payment at maturity of a Like Amount of Notes.
 
“Successor Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 9.5(a).
 
Tax Event” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.
 
“Trust” means the Delaware statutory trust known as “Bimini Capital Trust I,” which was created on May 16, 2005 under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act pursuant to the Original Trust Agreement and the filing of the Certificate of Trust, and continued pursuant to this Trust Agreement.
 
“Trust Agreement” means this Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, including all Schedules and Exhibits.
 
“Trustees” means the Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each as defined in this Article I.
 
“Trust Property” means (a) the Notes, (b) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the Payment Account and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Trust Agreement.
 
“Trust Security” means any one of the Common Securities or the Preferred Securities.
 
“Trust Securities” means the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities, collectively.
 

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ARTICLE II.
 

 
The Trust
 
SECTION 2.1.                                Name.
 
The trust continued hereby shall be known as “Bimini Capital Trust I”, as such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrative Trustees following written notice to the Holders of Trust Securities and the other Trustees, in which name the Trustees may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and be sued.
 
SECTION 2.2.                                Office of the Delaware Trustee; Office of the Trust.
 
The address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is Chase Bank USA, National Association, 500 Stanton Christiana Road, Building 4 (3rd Floor), Newark, DE 19713, Attention:  Worldwide Securities Services, or such other address in the State of Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may designate by written notice to the Holders, the Depositor, the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. The principal executive office of the Trust is 3305 Flamingo Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963, Attention: Jeffrey J. Zimmer, as such address may be changed from time to time by the Administrative Trustees following written notice to the Holders and the other Trustees.
 
SECTION 2.3.                                Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Fees, Costs and Expenses.
 
The Property Trustee acknowledges receipt from the Depositor in connection with the Original Trust Agreement of the sum of ten dollars ($10), which constituted the initial Trust Property. The Depositor shall pay all fees, costs and expenses of the Trust (except with respect to the Trust Securities) as they arise or shall, upon request of any Trustee, promptly reimburse such Trustee for any such fees, costs and expenses paid by such Trustee. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the payment of such fees, costs or expenses.
 
SECTION 2.4.                                Purposes of Trust.
 
(a)           The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are to (i) issue and sell Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the Notes and (ii)  engage in only those activities necessary or incidental thereto. The Delaware Trustee, the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees are trustees of the Trust, and have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein.  The Trustees hereby acknowledge that they are trustees of the Trust.
 
(b)           So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, the Trust (or the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not (i) acquire any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Trust Agreement, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Holders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any other debt, (iv) take or consent to any action that would result in the placement of a Lien on
 

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any of the Trust Property, (v) take or consent to any action that would reasonably be expected to cause the Trust to become taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, (vi) take or consent to any action that would cause the Notes to be treated as other than indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes or (vii) take or consent to any action that would cause the Trust to be deemed to be an “investment company” required to be registered under the Investment Company Act.
 
SECTION 2.5.                                Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions.
 
(a)           The Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Trust Agreement. In accordance with the following provisions (i) and (ii), the Trustees shall have the authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the Trustees to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees, under this Trust Agreement, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including the following:
 
(i)           As among the Trustees, each Administrative Trustee shall severally have the power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters:
 
(A)           the issuance and sale of the Trust Securities;
 
(B)           to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust, such agreements as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the purposes and function of the Trust, including, without limitation, a common securities subscription agreement and a junior subordinated note purchase agreement;
 
(C)           assisting in the sale of the Preferred Securities in one or more transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act, and in compliance with applicable state securities or blue sky laws;
 
(D)           assisting in the sending of notices (other than notices of default) and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Notes to the Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
 
(E)           the appointment of a Paying Agent and Securities Registrar in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
 
(F)           execution of the Trust Securities on behalf of the Trust in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
 
(G)           execution and delivery of closing certificates, if any, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and application for a taxpayer identification number for the Trust;
 

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(H)           preparation and filing of all applicable tax returns and tax information reports that are required to be filed on behalf of the Trust;
 
(I)           establishing a record date with respect to all actions to be taken hereunder that require a record date to be established, except as provided in Section 6.10(a);
 
(J)           unless otherwise required by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act to execute on behalf of the Trust (either acting alone or together with the other Administrative Trustees) any documents that such Administrative Trustee has the power to execute pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
 
(K)           the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as such Administrative Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Trust Agreement.
 
(ii)           As among the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall have the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters:
 
(A)           the receipt and holding of legal title of the Notes;
 
(B)           the establishment of the Payment Account;
 
(C)           the collection of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the Notes and the holding of such amounts in the Payment Account;
 
(D)           the distribution through the Paying Agent of amounts distributable to the Holders in respect of the Trust Securities;
 
(E)           the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement;
 
(F)           the sending of notices of default and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Notes to the Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
 
(G)           the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement;
 
(H)           to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust, provided that the Administrative Trustees shall have the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation of the Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and
 
(I)           the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Property Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Trust Agreement and protect and conserve the Trust Property
 

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for the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Holder).
 
(b)           In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the Depositor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):
 
(i)           the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and delivery of, the Purchase Agreement providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities in one or more transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act, and in compliance with applicable state securities or blue sky laws; and
 
(ii)           the taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to carry out any of the foregoing activities.
 
(c)           Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and authorized to operate the Trust so that the Trust will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, so that the Notes will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes and so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an “investment company” required to be registered under the Investment Company Act.  In respect thereof, each Administrative Trustee is authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust or this Trust Agreement, that such Administrative Trustee determines in his or her discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the Holders of the Outstanding Preferred Securities.  In no event shall the Administrative Trustees be liable to the Trust or the Holders for any failure to comply with this Section 2.5 to the extent that such failure results solely from a change in law or regulation or in the interpretation thereof.
 
(d)           Any action taken by a Trustee in accordance with its powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust.  In dealing with any Trustee acting on behalf of the Trust, no Person shall be required to inquire into the authority of such Trustee to bind the Trust.  Persons dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely conclusively on the power and authority of any Trustee as set forth in this Trust Agreement.
 
SECTION 2.6.                                Assets of Trust.
 
The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.
 
SECTION 2.7.                                Title to Trust Property.
 
(a)           Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Property Trustee and shall be held and administered by the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Trust and the Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement.
 

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(b)           The Holders shall not have any right or title to the Trust Property other than the undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Trust Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement.
 
 
ARTICLE III.
 
 

 
 
Payment Account;  Paying Agents
 
SECTION 3.1.                                Payment Account.
 
(a)           On or prior to the Closing Date, the Property Trustee shall establish the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and the Paying Agent shall have exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with respect to the Payment Account for the purpose of making deposits in and withdrawals from the Payment Account in accordance with this Trust Agreement. All monies and other property deposited or held from time to time in the Payment Account shall be held by the Property Trustee in the Payment Account for the exclusive benefit of the Holders and for Distribution as herein provided.
 
(b)           The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account, promptly upon receipt, all payments of principal of or interest on, and any other payments with respect to, the Notes. Amounts held in the Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending distribution thereof.
 
SECTION 3.2.                                Appointment of Paying Agents.
 
The Paying Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee. The Paying Agent shall make Distributions to Holders from the Payment Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions to the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall have the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Payment Account solely for the purpose of making the Distributions referred to above. The Administrative Trustees may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent in their sole discretion. Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee. If the Property Trustee shall no longer be the Paying Agent or a successor Paying Agent shall resign or its authority to act be revoked, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor (which shall be a bank or trust company) to act as Paying Agent.  Such successor Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative Trustees shall execute and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such successor Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees that as Paying Agent, such successor Paying Agent will hold all sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Holders in trust for the benefit of the Holders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Holders. The Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of Article VIII shall apply to the Property Trustee also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Property Trustee shall act as Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other Paying Agent appointed hereunder.
 

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Any reference in this Trust Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires otherwise.
 
 
ARTICLE IV.
 
 

 
 
Distributions; Redemption
 
SECTION 4.1.                                Distributions.
 
(a)           The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial interests in the Trust Property, and Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts) will be made on the Trust Securities at the rate and on the dates that payments of interest (including any Additional Interest) are made on the Notes. Accordingly:
 
(i)           Distributions on the Trust Securities:
 
(A)           Distributions on the Series A Trust Securities shall be cumulative, and shall accumulate whether or not there are funds of the Trust available for the payment of Distributions.  Distributions shall accumulate from the Closing Date, and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on March 30, June 30, September 30 and December 30 of each year.  If any date on which a Distribution is otherwise payable on the Series A Trust Securities is not a Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts  whose payment is so delayed for the period from and after each such date until the next succeeding Business Day), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date (each date on which Distributions are payable in accordance with this Section 4.1(a)(i)(A), a “Series A Distribution Date”);
 
(B)           Distributions on the Series B Trust Securities shall be cumulative, and shall accumulate whether or not there are funds of the Trust available for the payment of Distributions.  Distributions shall accumulate from the Closing Date, and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 of each year; provided that in the case of the Distribution payable on October 30, 2005 only, such distribution shall accumulate from June 30, 2005.  If any date on which a Distribution is otherwise payable on the Series B Trust Securities is not a Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts  whose payment is so delayed for the period from and after each such date until the next succeeding Business Day), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date (each date on which Distributions are payable in accordance with this Section 4.1(a)(i)(B), a “Series B Distribution Date”);
 

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(ii)           Reserved.
 
(iii)           Distributions shall accumulate in respect of the Trust Securities at a fixed rate equal to 7.61% per annum through the Interest Payment Date on, in the case of Series A Securities, March  30, 2010 and, in the case of Series B Securities, April 30, 2010 and thereafter at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.30% per annum of the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Notes.  LIBOR shall be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with Schedule A.  During the Fixed Rate Period, the  amount of Distributions payable for any period less than a full Distribution Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the amount payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  Upon expiration of the Fixed Rate Period, the amount of interest payable for any interest Distribution Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant Distribution Period. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall include any Additional Interest Amounts in respect of such period; and
 
(iv)           Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made by the Paying Agent from the Payment Account and shall be payable on each Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Distributions.
 
(b)           Distributions on the Trust Securities with respect to a Distribution Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities at the close of business on the relevant record date, which shall be at the close of business on the fifteenth day (whether or not a Business Day) preceding the relevant Distribution Date, except that Distributions and any Additional Interest Amounts payable on the stated maturity (or any date of principal repayment upon early maturity) of the principal of a Trust Security or on a Redemption Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid.    Distributions payable on any Trust Securities that are not punctually paid on any Distribution Date as a result of the Depositor having failed to make an interest payment under the Notes will cease to be payable to the Person in whose name such Trust Securities are registered on the relevant record date, and such defaulted Distributions and any Additional Interest Amounts will instead be payable to the Person in whose name such Trust Securities are registered on the special record date, or other specified date for determining Holders entitled to such defaulted Distribution and Additional Interest Amount, established in the same manner, and on the same date, as such is established with respect to the Notes under the Indenture.
 
(c)           As a condition to the payment of any principal of or interest on the Trust Securities without the imposition of withholding tax, the Administrative Trustees shall require the previous delivery of properly completed and signed applicable U.S. federal income tax certifications (generally, an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or applicable successor form) in the case of a person that is a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code or an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 (or applicable successor form) in the case of a person that is not a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) and any other certification acceptable to it to enable the Property Trustee or any Paying
 

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Agent to determine their respective duties and liabilities with respect to any taxes or other charges that they may be required to pay, deduct or withhold in respect of such Trust Securities.
 

SECTION 4.2.                                Redemption.
 
(a)           On each Note Redemption Date and on the stated maturity (or any date of principal repayment upon early maturity) of the Notes and on each other date on (or in respect of) which any principal on the Notes is repaid, the Trust will be required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities of the corresponding Series at the Redemption Price.
 
(b)           Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of redemption shall state:
 
(i)           the Redemption Date;
 
(ii)           the Redemption Price or, if the Redemption Price cannot be calculated prior to the time the notice is required to be sent, the estimate of the Redemption Price provided pursuant to the Indenture, as calculated by the Depositor, together with a statement that it is an estimate and that the actual Redemption Price will be calculated by the Calculation Agent on the fifth Business Day prior to the Redemption Date (and if an estimate is provided, a further notice shall be sent of the actual Redemption Price on the date that such Redemption Price is calculated);
 
(iii)           if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the respective amounts) and Liquidation Amounts of the particular Trust Securities to be redeemed;
 
(iv)           that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Trust Security, or portion thereof, to be redeemed and that Distributions thereon will cease to accumulate on such Trust Security or such portion, as the case may be, on and after said date, except as provided in Section 4.2(d);
 
(v)           the place or places where the Trust Securities are to be surrendered for the payment of the Redemption Price; and
 
(vi)           such other provisions as the Property Trustee deems relevant.
 
(c)           The Trust Securities (or portion thereof) redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption or payment at maturity of Notes. Redemptions of the Trust Securities (or portion thereof) shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price.  Under the Indenture, the Notes may be redeemed by the Depositor on any Interest Payment Date, at the Depositor’s option, on or after, in the case of Series A Notes, March 30, 2010 and,  in the case of Series B Notes, April 30, 2010, in whole or in part, from
 

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time to time at the Optional Note Redemption Price.  The Notes may also be redeemed by the Depositor, at its option pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event, at the Special Note Redemption Price.
 
(d)           If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of any Preferred Securities, then by 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Redemption Date, the Depositor shall deposit sufficient funds with the Property Trustee to pay the Redemption Price.  If such deposit has been made by such time, then by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date, the Property Trustee will, with respect to Book-Entry Preferred Securities, irrevocably deposit with the Depositary for such Book-Entry Preferred Securities, to the extent available therefor, funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give such Depositary irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders of the Preferred Securities. With respect to Preferred Securities that are not Book-Entry Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee will irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent, to the extent available therefor, funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders of the Preferred Securities upon surrender of their Preferred Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Trust Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Trust Securities as they appear on the Securities Register on the relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the date of such deposit, all rights of Holders holding Trust Securities (or portion thereof) so called for redemption will cease, except the right of such Holders to receive the Redemption Price and any Distribution payable in respect of the Trust Securities on or prior to the Redemption Date, but without interest, and, in the case of a partial redemption, the right of such Holders to receive a new Trust Security or Securities of authorized denominations, in aggregate Liquidation Amount equal to the unredeemed portion of such Trust Security or Securities, and such Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption will cease to be Outstanding. In the event that any date on which any Redemption Price is payable is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts whose payment is so delayed for the period from and after each such date until the next succeeding Business Day), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of any Trust Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust, Distributions on such Trust Securities (or portion thereof) will continue to accumulate, as set forth in Section 4.1, from the Redemption Date originally established by the Trust for such Trust Securities (or portion thereof) to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.
 
(e)           Subject to Section 4.3(a), if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated pro rata to the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities based upon the relative aggregate Liquidation Amounts of the Common Securities and the
 

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Preferred Securities.  Upon such a partial redemption, the Preferred Securities to be redeemed from each holder of Preferred Securities shall be selected on a pro rata basis based upon the respective Liquidation Amounts of the Preferred Securities then held by each Holder of the Preferred Securities not more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee from the Outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for redemption; provided, that with respect to Holders that would be required to hold less than one hundred (100) but more than zero (0) Trust Securities as a result of such redemption, the Trust shall redeem Trust Securities of each such Holder so that after such redemption such Holder shall hold either one hundred (100) Trust Securities or such Holder no longer holds any Trust Securities, and shall use such method (including, without limitation, by lot) as the Trust shall deem fair and appropriate; and provided, further, that so long as the Preferred Securities are Book-Entry Preferred Securities, such selection shall be made in accordance with the Applicable Depositary Procedures for the Preferred Securities by such Depositary. The Property Trustee shall promptly notify the Securities Registrar in writing of the Preferred Securities (or portion thereof) selected for redemption and, in the case of any Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of any Preferred Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities that has been or is to be redeemed.
 
(f)           The Trust in issuing the Trust Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Property Trustee shall indicate the “CUSIP” numbers of the Trust Securities in notices of redemption and related materials 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 Trust Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and related materials.
 
SECTION 4.3.                                Subordination of Common Securities.
 
(a)           Payment of Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts) on, the Redemption Price of and the Liquidation Distribution in respect of, the Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be made, pro rata among the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities based on the Liquidation Amount of the respective Trust Securities; provided, that if on any Distribution Date, Redemption Date or Liquidation Date an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including any Additional Interest Amounts) on, Redemption Price of or Liquidation Distribution in respect of, any Common Security, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts) on all Outstanding Preferred Securities for all Distribution Periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption Price on all Outstanding Preferred Securities then called for redemption, or in the case of payment of the Liquidation Distribution the full amount of such Liquidation Distribution on all Outstanding Preferred Securities, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions (including any Additional
 

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Interest Amounts) on, or the Redemption Price of or the Liquidation Distribution in respect of, the Preferred Securities then due and payable.
 
(b)           In the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the Holders of the Common Securities shall have no right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under this Trust Agreement until all such Events of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until all such Events of Default under this Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and not on behalf of the Holders of the Common Securities, and only the Holders of all the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
 
SECTION 4.4.                                Payment Procedures.
 
Payments of Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts), the Redemption Price, Liquidation Amount or any other amounts in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto unless proper written transfer instructions have not been received by the relevant record date, in which case such payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of such Person as such address shall appear in the Securities Register.  If any Preferred Securities are held by a Depositary, such Distributions thereon shall be made to the Depositary in immediately available funds. Payments in respect of the Common Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Holder of all the Common Securities.
 
SECTION 4.5.                                Withholding Tax.
 
(a)           The Trust and the Administrative Trustees shall comply with all withholding and backup withholding tax requirements under United States federal, state and local law.  The Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall request, and the Holders shall provide to the Trust, such forms or certificates as are necessary to establish an exemption from withholding and backup withholding tax with respect to each Holder and any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its withholding and backup withholding tax obligations.  The Administrative Trustees shall file required forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding and backup withholding tax is properly established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder to applicable jurisdictions.  To the extent that the Trust is required to withhold and pay over any amounts to any jurisdiction with respect to Distributions or allocations to any Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a Distribution in the amount of the withholding to the Holder.  In the event of any claimed overwithholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction.  If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld from actual Distributions made, the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust may reduce subsequent Distributions by the amount of such required withholding.
 

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SECTION 4.6.                                Tax Returns and Other Reports.
 
The Administrative Trustees shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury regulations section 301.7701-7, at the Depositor’s expense, and file, all United States federal, state and local tax and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect of the Trust.  The Administrative Trustees shall prepare at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury regulations section 301.7701-7, and furnish (or cause to be prepared and furnished), by January 31 in each taxable year of the Trust to each Holder all Internal Revenue Service forms and returns required to be provided by the Trust. The Administrative Trustees shall provide the Depositor, Taberna Capital Management, LLC and the Property Trustee with a copy of all such returns and reports promptly after such filing or furnishing.
 
SECTION 4.7.                                Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Trust.
 
Upon receipt under the Notes of Additional Tax Sums and upon the written direction of the Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee shall promptly pay, solely out of monies on deposit pursuant to this Trust Agreement, any Additional Taxes imposed on the Trust by the United States or any other taxing authority.
 
SECTION 4.8.                                Payments under Indenture or Pursuant to Direct Actions.
 
Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Preferred Securities shall be reduced by the amount of any corresponding payment such Holder (or any Owner with respect thereto) has directly received pursuant to Section 5.8 of the Indenture or Section 6.10(b) of this Trust Agreement.
 
SECTION 4.9.                                Exchanges.
 
(a)           If at any time the Depositor or any of its Affiliates (in either case, a Depositor Affiliate”) is the Owner or Holder of any Preferred Securities, such Depositor Affiliate shall have the right to deliver to the Property Trustee all or such portion of its Preferred Securities as it elects and, subject to compliance with Sections 2.2 and 3.5 of the Indenture, receive, in exchange therefor, a Like Amount of Notes.  Such election shall be exercisable effective on any Distribution Date by such Depositor Affiliate delivering to the Property Trustee (i) at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Distribution Date on which such exchange is to occur, the registration instructions and the documentation, if any, required pursuant to Sections 2.2 and 3.5 of the Indenture to enable the Indenture Trustee to issue the requested Like Amount of Notes, (ii) a written notice of such election specifying the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities with respect to which such election is being made and the Distribution Date on which such exchange shall occur, which Distribution Date shall be not less than ten (10) Business Days after the date of receipt by the Property Trustee of such election notice and (iii) shall be conditioned upon such Depositor Affiliate having delivered or caused to be delivered to the Property Trustee or its designee the Preferred Securities that are the subject of such election by 10:00 A.M. New York time, on the Distribution Date on which such exchange is to occur.  After the exchange, such
 

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Preferred Securities will be canceled and will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and all rights of the Depositor Affiliate with respect to such Preferred Securities will cease.
 
(b)           In the case of an exchange described in Section 4.9(a), the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust will, on the date of such exchange, exchange Notes having a principal amount equal to a proportional amount of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Common Securities, based on the ratio of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities exchanged pursuant to Section 4.9(a) divided by the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities Outstanding immediately prior to such exchange, for such proportional amount of Common Securities held by the Depositor (which contemporaneously shall be canceled and no longer be deemed to be Outstanding); provided, that the Depositor delivers or causes to be delivered to the Property Trustee or its designee the required amount of Common Securities to be exchanged by 10:00 A.M. New York time, on the Distribution Date on which such exchange is to occur.
 
SECTION 4.10.                                           Calculation Agent.
 
(a)           The Calculation Agent may be removed by the Administrative Trustees at any time.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Property Trustee shall initially, and, for so long as it holds any of the Notes, be the Calculation Agent for purposes of determining LIBOR for each Distribution Date.  If the Calculation Agent is unable or unwilling to act as such or is removed by the Administrative Trustees, the Administrative Trustees will promptly appoint as a replacement Calculation Agent the London office of a leading bank which is engaged in transactions in three/-month Eurodollar deposits in the international Eurodollar market and which does not control or is not controlled by or under common control with the Administrative Trustee or its Affiliates.  The Calculation Agent may not resign its duties without a successor having been duly appointed.
 
(b)           The Calculation Agent shall be required to agree that, as soon as possible after 11:00 a.m. (London time) on each LIBOR Determination Date, but in no event later than 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the Business Day immediately following each LIBOR Determination Date, the Calculation Agent will calculate the interest rate (rounded to the nearest cent, with half a cent being rounded upwards) for the related Distribution Date, and will communicate such rate and amount to the Depositor, the Administrative Trustees, the Note Trustee, each Paying Agent and the Depositary. The Calculation Agent will also specify to the Administrative Trustee the quotations upon which the foregoing rates and amounts are based and, in any event, the Calculation Agent shall notify the Administrative Trustees before 5:00 p.m. (London time) on each LIBOR Determination Date that either:  (i) it has determined or is in the process of determining the foregoing rates and amounts or (ii) it has not determined and is not in the process of determining the foregoing rates and amounts, together with its reasons therefor.  The Calculation Agent’s determination of the foregoing rates and amounts for any Distribution Date will (in the absence of manifest error) be final and binding upon all parties.  For the sole purpose of calculating the interest rate for the Trust Securities, “Business Day” shall be defined as any day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.
 

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SECTION 4.11.                                           Certain Accounting Matters.
 
(a)           At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Administrative Trustees shall keep, or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, full books of account, records and supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail each transaction of the Trust.  The books of account shall be maintained on the accrual method of accounting, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
 
(b)           The Administrative Trustees shall either (i) if the Depositor is then subject to such reporting requirements, cause each Form 10-K and Form 10-Q prepared by the Depositor and filed with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act to be delivered to each Holder, with a copy to the Property Trustee, within thirty (30) days after the filing thereof or (ii) cause to be prepared at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, and delivered to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Property Trustee, within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, annual financial statements of the Trust, including a balance sheet of the Trust as of the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related statements of income or loss.
 
(c)           If the Depositor intends to file its annual and quarterly information with the Commission in electronic form pursuant to Regulation S-T of the Commission using the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) system, the Administrative Trustees shall notify the Property Trustee in the manner prescribed herein of each such annual and quarterly filing.  The Property Trustee is hereby authorized and directed to access the EDGAR system for purposes of retrieving the financial information so filed.  Compliance with the foregoing shall constitute delivery by the Administrative Trustees of its financial statements to the Property Trustee in compliance with the provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable.  The Property Trustee shall have no duty to search for or obtain any electronic or other filings that the Depositor makes with the Commission, regardless of whether such filings are periodic, supplemental or otherwise.  Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Property Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.11(c) shall be solely for purposes of compliance with this Section 4.11 and, if applicable, with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.  The Property Trustee’s receipt of such reports, information and documents shall not constitute notice to it of the content thereof or any matter determinable from the content thereof, including the Depositor’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder, as to which the Property Trustee is entitled to rely upon Officers’ Certificates.
 
(d)           The Trust shall maintain one or more bank accounts in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, in the name and for the sole benefit of the Trust; provided, however, that all payments of funds in respect of the Notes held by the Property Trustee shall be made directly to the Payment Account and no other funds of the Trust shall be deposited in the Payment Account.  The sole signatories for such accounts (including the Payment Account) shall be designated by the Property Trustee.
 

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ARTICLE V.
 

 
Securities
 
SECTION 5.1.                                Initial Ownership.
 
Upon the creation of the Trust and the contribution by the Depositor referred to in Section 2.3 and until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and at any time during which no Trust Securities are Outstanding, the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust.
 
SECTION 5.2.                                Authorized Trust Securities.
 
The Trust shall be authorized to issue two series of Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $50,000,000 (made up of Series A Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $970,000 and Series B Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $49,030,000) and two series of Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $1,550,000 (made up of Series A Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $31,000 and Series B Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $1,519,000).
 
SECTION 5.3.                                Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase of Notes.
 
(a)           On the Closing Date, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, executed and delivered to the Depositor Common Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, evidencing an aggregate of One Thousand Five Hundred Fifty (1,550) Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of One Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars, ($1,550,000) against receipt by the Trust of the aggregate purchase price of such Common Securities of One Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars, ($1,550,000).  Contemporaneously therewith and with the sale by the Trust to the Holders of an aggregate of Fifty Thousand (50,000) Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000), an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, purchased from the Depositor Notes, registered in the name of the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust and having an aggregate principal amount equal to Fifty One Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars, ($51,550,000), and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such Notes, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, delivered to the Depositor the sum of Fifty One Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars, ($51,550,000) (being the aggregate amount paid by the Holders for the Preferred Securities, and the amount paid by the Depositor for the Common Securities).
 
(b)           As of the date hereof, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and deliver to the Depositor (i) a Series A Common Securities Certificate, registered in the name of the Depositor, evidencing an aggregate of Thirty One (31) Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of Thirty One Thousand Dollars, ($31,000) and (ii) a Series B Common Securities Certificate, registered in the name of the Depositor, evidencing an aggregate of One Thousand Five Hundred Nineteen
 

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(1,519) Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of One Million Five Hundred Nineteen Thousand Dollars, ($1,519,000) against receipt by the Trust of the Common Securities Certificate, registered in the name of the Depositor, evidencing an aggregate of One Thousand Five Hundred Fifty (1,550) Common Securities, which was issued on the Closing Date.
 
(c)           As of the date hereof, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and deliver to the Depositor (i) a Series A Preferred Securities Certificate, registered in the name of Sigler & Co., evidencing an aggregate of Nine Hundred Seventy (970) Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of Nine Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars, ($970,000), (ii) a Series B Preferred Securities Certificate, registered in the name of Sigler & Co., evidencing an aggregate of Thirty Seven Thousand Five Hundred (37,500) Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of Thirty Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($37,500,000), and (iii) a Series B Preferred Securities Certificate, registered in the name of Sigler & Co., evidencing an aggregate of Eleven Thousand Five Hundred Thirty (11,530) Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of Eleven Million Five Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($11,530,000) against receipt by the Trust of the three (3) Preferred Securities Certificates, evidencing an aggregate of Fifty Thousand (50,000) Preferred Securities.
 
SECTION 5.4.                                The Securities Certificates.
 
(a)           The Preferred Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations of $100,000 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, and the Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations of  $10,000 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.  The Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature of at least one Administrative Trustee.  Securities Certificates bearing the signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign such Securities Certificates on behalf of the Trust shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior to the delivery of such Securities Certificates or did not have such authority at the date of delivery of such Securities Certificates.
 
(b)           On the Closing Date, upon the written order of an authorized officer of the Depositor, the Administrative Trustees shall cause Securities Certificates to be executed on behalf of the Trust and delivered, without further corporate action by the Depositor, in authorized denominations.
 
(c)           The Preferred Securities issued to QIBs/QPs shall be, except as provided in Section 5.6, Book-Entry Preferred Securities issued in the form of one or more Global Preferred Securities registered in the name of the Depositary, or its nominee and deposited with the Depositary or a custodian for the Depositary for credit by the Depositary to the respective accounts of the Depositary Participants thereof (or such other accounts as they may direct).  The Preferred Securities issued to a Person other than a QIB/QP shall be issued in the form of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates.
 

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(d)           A Preferred Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Property Trustee.  Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Preferred Security has been authenticated under this Trust Agreement.  Upon written order of the Trust signed by one Administrative Trustee, the Property Trustee shall authenticate the Preferred Securities for original issue.  The Property Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent that is a U.S. Person acceptable to the Trust to authenticate the Preferred Securities.  A Common Security need not be so authenticated and shall be valid upon execution by one or more Administrative Trustees.  The form of this certificate of authentication can be found in Section 5.13.
 
SECTION 5.5.                                Rights of Holders.
 
The Trust Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights and when issued and delivered to Holders against payment of the purchase price therefor will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust.  Except as provided in Section 5.11(b), the Holders of the Trust Securities, in their capacities as such, shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
 
SECTION 5.6.                                Book-Entry Preferred Securities.
 
(a)           A Global Preferred Security may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates registered in the names of the Owners only if such exchange complies with Section 5.7 and (i) the Depositary advises the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee in writing that the Depositary is no longer willing or able properly to discharge its responsibilities with respect to the Global Preferred Security, and no qualified successor is appointed by the Administrative Trustees within ninety (90) days of receipt of such notice, (ii) the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and the Administrative Trustees fail to appoint a qualified successor within ninety (90) days of obtaining knowledge of such event, (iii) the Administrative Trustees at their option advise the Property Trustee in writing that the Trust elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary or (iv) a Note Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, the Administrative Trustees shall notify the Depositary and instruct the Depositary to notify all Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities, the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee of the occurrence of such event and of the availability of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates to Owners of the Preferred Securities requesting the same. Upon the issuance of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as Holders.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Preferred Security wishes at any time to transfer an interest in such Global Preferred Security to a Person other than a QIB/QP, such transfer shall be effected, subject to the Applicable Depositary Procedures, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.6 and Section 5.7, and the transferee shall receive a Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate in connection with such transfer.    A holder of a Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate that is a QIB/QP may, upon request and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.6 and Section 5.7, exchange such Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate for a beneficial interest in a Global Preferred Security.
 

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(b)           If any Global Preferred Security is to be exchanged for Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates or canceled in part, or if any Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate is to be exchanged in whole or in part for any Global Preferred Security, then either (i) such Global Preferred Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article V or (ii) the aggregate Liquidation Amount represented by such Global Preferred Security shall be reduced, subject to Section 5.4, or increased by an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount represented by that portion of the Global Preferred Security to be so exchanged or canceled, or equal to the Liquidation Amount represented by such Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates to be so exchanged for any Global Preferred Security, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Securities Registrar, whereupon the Property Trustee, in accordance with the Applicable Depositary Procedures, shall instruct the Depositary or its authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records. Upon any such surrender to the Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar of any Global Preferred Security or Securities by the Depositary, accompanied by registration instructions, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, shall execute the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions of the Depositary.  None of the Securities Registrar or the Trustees shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, such instructions.
 
(c)           Every Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate executed and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Preferred Security or any portion thereof shall be executed and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Preferred Security, unless such Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Preferred Security or a nominee thereof.
 
(d)           The Depositary or its nominee, as registered owner of a Global Preferred Security, shall be the Holder of such Global Preferred Security for all purposes under this Trust Agreement and the Global Preferred Security, and Owners with respect to a Global Preferred Security shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Depositary Procedures. The Securities Registrar and the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary for all purposes of this Trust Agreement relating to the Global Preferred Securities (including the payment of the Liquidation Amount of and Distributions on the Book-Entry Preferred Securities represented thereby and the giving of instructions or directions by Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities represented thereby and the giving of notices) as the sole Holder of the Book-Entry Preferred Securities represented thereby and shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof.  None of the Trustees nor the Securities Registrar shall have any liability in respect of any transfers effected by the Depositary.
 
(e)           The rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Preferred Securities shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those established by law, the Applicable Depositary Procedures and agreements between such Owners and the Depositary and/or the Depositary Participants; provided, that solely for the purpose of determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount of Preferred Securities have voted on any matter provided for in this Trust Agreement, to the extent that Preferred Securities are represented by a Global Preferred Security, the Trustees may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, any written instrument (including a proxy) delivered to the Property Trustee by the Depositary setting forth the Owners’ votes or assigning the right to vote on any matter to any
 

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other Persons either in whole or in part.  To the extent that Preferred Securities are represented by a Global Preferred Security, the initial Depositary will make book-entry transfers among the Depositary Participants and receive and transmit payments on the Preferred Securities that are represented by a Global Preferred Security to such Depositary Participants, and none of the Depositor or the Trustees shall have any responsibility or obligation with respect thereto.
 
(f)           To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Holders is required under this Trust Agreement, for so long as Preferred Securities are represented by a Global Preferred Security,  the Trustees shall give all such notices and communications to the Depositary, and shall have no obligations to the Owners.
 
SECTION 5.7.                                Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates.
 
(a)           The Property Trustee shall keep or cause to be kept, at the Corporate Trust Office, a register or registers (the Securities Register”) in which the registrar and transfer agent with respect to the Trust Securities (the Securities Registrar”), subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, shall provide for the registration of Preferred Securities Certificates and Common Securities Certificates and registration of transfers and exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Person acting as the Property Trustee shall at all times also be the Securities Registrar.  The provisions of Article VIII shall apply to the Property Trustee in its role as Securities Registrar.
 
(b)           Subject to Section 5.7(d), upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred Securities Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.7(f), the Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute by manual or facsimile signature and deliver to the Property Trustee, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount as may be required by this Trust Agreement dated the date of execution by such Administrative Trustee or Trustees.  At the option of a Holder, Preferred Securities Certificates may be exchanged for other Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations and of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon surrender of the Preferred Securities Certificate to be exchanged at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.7(f).  Whenever any Preferred Securities Certificates are so surrendered for exchange, the Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute by manual or facsimile signature and deliver to the Property Trustee, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Preferred Securities Certificates that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
 
(c)           The Securities Registrar shall not be required, (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Preferred Security during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen (15) days before the day of selection for redemption of such Preferred Securities pursuant to Article IV and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing of the notice of redemption or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Preferred Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any such Preferred Security to be redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be redeemed.
 

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(d)           Every Preferred Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing and accompanied by a certificate of the transferee substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit E hereto.
 
(e)           No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, but the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates.
 
(f)           The Administrative Trustees shall designate an office or offices or agency or agencies where Preferred Securities Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and initially designate the Corporate Trust Office as its office and agency for such purposes. The Administrative Trustees shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor, the Property Trustee and to the Holders of any change in the location of any such office or agency.
 
(g)           The Preferred Securities may only be transferred to a “Qualified Purchaser” as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act.
 
(h)           Neither the Trustee nor the Securities Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer hereunder complies with the registration provisions of or any exemptions from the Securities Act, applicable state securities laws or the applicable laws of any other jurisdiction, ERISA, the Code or the Investment Company Act; provided, that if a certificate is specifically required by the express terms of this Section 5.7 to be delivered to the Trustee or the Securities Registrar by a Holder or transferee of a Security, the Trustee and the Securities Registrar shall be under a duty to receive and examine the same to determine whether or not the certificate substantially conforms on its face to the requirements of this Indenture and shall promptly notify the party delivering the same if such certificate does not comply with such terms.
 
SECTION 5.8.                                Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities Certificates.
 
(a)           If any mutilated Securities Certificate shall be surrendered to the Securities Registrar together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Securities Registrar to save each of the Trustees harmless, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and make available for delivery in exchange therefor a new Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and denomination.
 
(b)           If the Securities Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Securities Certificate and there shall be delivered to the Securities Registrar such security or indemnity as may be required by it to save each of the Trustees harmless, then in the absence of notice that such Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and make available for delivery, and, with respect to Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee shall authenticate, in exchange for or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Securities Certificate, a new Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and denomination.
 

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(c)           In connection with the issuance of any new Securities Certificate under this Section 5.8, the Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
 
(d)           Any duplicate Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 5.8 shall constitute conclusive evidence of an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust corresponding to that evidenced by the mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed Securities Certificate, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Securities Certificate shall be found at any time.
 
(e)           If any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities Certificate has become or is about to become due and payable, the Depositor in its discretion may provide the Administrative Trustee with the funds to pay such Trust Security and upon receipt of such funds, the Administrative Trustee shall pay such Trust Security instead of issuing a new Securities Certificate.
 
(f)           The provisions of this Section 5.8 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities Certificates.
 
SECTION 5.9.                                Persons Deemed Holders.
 
The Trustees and the Securities Registrar shall each treat the Person in whose name any Securities Certificate shall be registered in the Securities Register as the owner of such Securities Certificate for the purpose of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever, and none of the Trustees and the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice to the contrary.
 
SECTION 5.10.                              Cancellation.
 
All Preferred Securities Certificates surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Property Trustee, be delivered to the Property Trustee, and any such Preferred Securities Certificates and Preferred Securities Certificates surrendered directly to the Property Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly canceled by it.  The Administrative Trustees may at any time deliver to the Property Trustee for cancellation any Preferred Securities Certificates previously delivered hereunder that the Administrative Trustees may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Preferred Securities Certificates so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Property Trustee.  No Preferred Securities Certificates shall be executed and delivered in lieu of or in exchange for any Preferred Securities Certificates canceled as provided in this Section 5.10, except as expressly permitted by this Trust Agreement.  All canceled Preferred Securities Certificates shall be retained by the Property Trustee in accordance with its customary practices.
 
SECTION 5.11.                              Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor.
 
(a)           On the Closing Date, the Depositor shall acquire, and thereafter shall retain, beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities. Neither the Depositor nor any successor Holder of the Common Securities may transfer less than all the Common Securities,
 

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and the Depositor or any such successor Holder may transfer the Common Securities only (i) in connection with a consolidation or merger of the Depositor into another Person, or any conveyance, transfer or lease by the Depositor of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person (in which event such Common Securities will be transferred to such surviving entity, transferee or lessee, as the case may be), pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Indenture or (ii) to the Depositor or an Affiliate of the Depositor, in each such case in compliance with applicable law (including the Securities Act, and applicable state securities and blue sky laws). To the fullest extent permitted by law, any attempted transfer of the Common Securities other than as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be void. The Administrative Trustees shall cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a legend stating substantially “THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND SECTION 5.11 OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT.”
 
(b)           Any Holder of the Common Securities shall be liable for the debts and obligations of the Trust in the manner and to the extent set forth with respect to the Depositor and agrees that it shall be subject to all liabilities to which the Depositor may be subject and, prior to becoming such a Holder, shall deliver to the Administrative Trustees an instrument of assumption satisfactory to such Trustees.
 
SECTION 5.12.                                           Restricted Legends.
 
(a)           Each Preferred Security Certificate shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
 
[IF THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY INSERT: THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) OR A NOMINEE OF DTC.  THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE TRUST AGREEMENT, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
 
UNLESS THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO BIMINI CAPITAL TRUST I OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY PREFERRED SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL
 

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INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]
 
THE PREFERRED SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.  EACH PURCHASER OF ANY PREFERRED SECURITIES IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
 
THE HOLDER OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TRUST AND THE DEPOSITOR THAT (A) SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) TO THE TRUST OR (II) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED PURCHASER” (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2(a)(51) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED) AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF ANY PREFERRED SECURITIES FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.
 
THE PREFERRED SECURITIES WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF PREFERRED SECURITIES, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN,  IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF PRINCIPAL OF OR INTEREST ON SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES.
 
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN,  BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF OR THEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN
 

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ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS PREFERRED SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE.”
 
(b)           The above legend shall not be removed from any of the Preferred Securities Certificates unless there is delivered to the Property Trustee and the Depositor satisfactory evidence, which may include an opinion of counsel, as may be reasonably required to ensure that any future transfers thereof may be made without restriction under the provisions of the Securities Act and other applicable law.  Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence, one or more of the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall execute and deliver to the Property Trustee, and the Property Trustee shall deliver, at the written direction of the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, Preferred Securities Certificates that do not bear the legend.
 
SECTION 5.13.                                           Form of Certificate of Authentication.
 
The Property Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
 
This is one of the Preferred Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Trust Agreement.
 
Dated:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Property Trustee


By:           ________________________________
Authorized signatory
 
ARTICLE VI.
 
 

 
 
Meetings; Voting; Acts of Holders
 
SECTION 6.1.                                Notice of Meetings.
 
Notice of all meetings of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 10.8 to
 

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each Holder of Preferred Securities, at such Holder’s registered address, at least fifteen (15) days and not more than ninety (90) days before the meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the meeting may be so considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.
 
SECTION 6.2.                                Meetings of Holders of the Preferred Securities.
 
(a)           No annual meeting of Holders is required to be held. The Property Trustee, however, shall call a meeting of the Holders of the Preferred Securities to vote on any matter upon the written request of the Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities and the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at any time in their discretion, call a meeting of the Holders of the Preferred Securities to vote on any matters as to which such Holders are entitled to vote.
 
(b)           The Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
 
(c)           If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the Holders present, in person or by proxy, holding Preferred Securities representing at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities held by the Holders present, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the action of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, unless this Trust Agreement requires a lesser or greater number of affirmative votes.
 
SECTION 6.3.                                Voting Rights.
 
Holders shall be entitled to one vote for each $10,000 of Liquidation Amount represented by their Outstanding Trust Securities in respect of any matter as to which such Holders are entitled to vote.
 
SECTION 6.4.                                Proxies, Etc.
 
At any meeting of Holders, any Holder entitled to vote thereat may vote by proxy, provided, that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Administrative Trustees may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in the name of the Property Trustee or one or more officers of the Property Trustee. Only Holders of record shall be entitled to vote. When Trust Securities are held jointly by several Persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Trust Securities, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Trust Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Holder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. No proxy shall be valid more than three years after its date of execution.
 

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SECTION 6.5.                                Holder Action by Written Consent.
 
Any action that may be taken by Holders at a meeting may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice if Holders holding at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of all Preferred Securities entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such lesser or greater proportion thereof as shall be required by any other provision of this Trust Agreement) shall consent to the action in writing; provided, that notice of such action is promptly provided to the Holders of Preferred Securities that did not consent to such action.  Any action that may be taken by the Holders of all the Common Securities may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice if such Holders shall consent to the action in writing.
 
SECTION 6.6.                                Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes.
 
Except as provided in Section 6.10(a), for the purposes of determining the Holders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting or to act by written consent, or to participate in any distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not otherwise provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the purpose of any other action, the Administrative Trustees may from time to time fix a date, not more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of any meeting of Holders or the payment of a Distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a record date for the determination of the identity of the Holders of record for such purposes.
 
SECTION 6.7.                                Acts of Holders.
 
(a)           Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent thereof duly appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to an Administrative Trustee. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Trust Agreement and conclusive in favor of the Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section 6.7.
 
(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 the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than such signer’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of such signer’s 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 manner that any Trustee receiving the same deems sufficient.
 
(c)           The ownership of Trust Securities shall be proved by the Securities Register.
 

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(d)           Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Trust Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Trust Security and the Holder of every Trust 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 Trustees, the Administrative Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.
 
(e)           Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such Liquidation Amount.
 
(f)           If any dispute shall arise among the Holders or the Trustees with respect to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of such Holder or Trustee under this Article VI, then the determination of such matter by the Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter.
 
SECTION 6.8.                                Inspection of Records.
 
Upon reasonable written notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by any Holder during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Holder’s interest as a Holder.
 
SECTION 6.9.                                Limitations on Voting Rights.
 
(a)           Except as expressly provided in this Trust Agreement and in the Indenture and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise control the administration, operation and management of the Trust or the obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or contained in the terms of the Securities Certificates, be construed so as to constitute the Holders from time to time as partners or members of an association.
 
(b)           So long as any Notes are held by the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust, the Property Trustee shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Note Trustee, or exercise any trust or power conferred on the Property Trustee with respect to the Notes, (ii) waive any past default that may be waived under Section 5.13 of the Indenture or waive compliance with any covenant or condition under Section 10.7 of the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Notes shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Notes, where such consent shall be required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities; provided, that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Notes (or each Holder of Preferred Securities) affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without the prior written consent of each Holder of Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee shall not revoke any action previously
 

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authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, except by a subsequent vote of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.  In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Property Trustee shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that such action shall not cause the Trust to be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
(c)           If any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or the Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect in any material respect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Trust Agreement or otherwise or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement, then the Holders of Outstanding Preferred Securities as a class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, no amendment to this Trust Agreement may be made if, as a result of such amendment, it would cause the Trust to be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
SECTION 6.10.                                           Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission of Annulment; Waivers of Past Defaults.
 
(a)           For so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, if, upon a Note Event of Default, the Note Trustee fails or the holders of not less than twenty five percent (25%) in principal amount of the outstanding Notes fail to declare the principal of all of the Notes to be immediately due and payable, the Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then Outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration by a notice in writing to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the Note Trustee.  At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Note Trustee as provided in the Indenture, the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, by written notice to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the Note Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
 
(i)           the Depositor has paid or deposited with the Note Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:
 
(A)           all overdue installments of interest on all of the Notes;
 
(B)           any accrued Additional Interest on all of the Notes;
 
(C)           the principal of and any premium, if any, on any Notes that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest and Additional Interest thereon at the rate borne by the Notes; and
 

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(D)           all sums paid or advanced by the Note Trustee under the Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Note Trustee, the Property Trustee and their agents and counsel; and
 
(ii)           all Note Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal of the Notes that has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13 of the Indenture.
 
Upon receipt by the Property Trustee of written notice requesting such an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of any part of the Preferred Securities, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Preferred Securities entitled to join in such notice, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Property Trustee receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that, unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day that is ninety (90) days after such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such ninety (90)-day period, a new written notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, that is identical to a written notice that has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.10(a).
 
(b)           For so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the terms of this Trust Agreement and the Indenture, upon a Note Event of Default specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of Section 5.1 of the Indenture, any Holder of Preferred Securities shall have the right to institute a proceeding directly against the Depositor, pursuant to Section 5.8 of the Indenture, for enforcement of payment to such Holder of any amounts payable in respect of Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities of such Holder.  Except as set forth in Section 6.10(a) and this Section 6.10(b), the Holders of Preferred Securities shall have no right to exercise directly any right or remedy available to the holders of, or in respect of, the Notes.
 
(c)           Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.10, the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Preferred Securities, waive any Note Event of Default, except any Note Event of Default arising from the failure to pay any principal of or any premium, if any, or interest on (including any Additional Interest) the Notes (unless such Note Event of Default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and all principal and premium, if any, on all Notes due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the Note Trustee) or a Note Event of Default in respect of a covenant or provision that under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note.  Upon any such waiver, such Note Event of Default shall cease to exist and any Note Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of the Indenture; but no
 

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such waiver shall affect any subsequent Note Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
 
(d)           Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.10, the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Preferred Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences.  Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Trust Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
 
(e)           The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee in respect of this Trust Agreement or the Notes or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement; provided, that, subject to Sections 8.5 and 8.7, the Property Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Property Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken, or if the Property Trustee in good faith shall, by an officer or officers of the Property Trustee, determine that the proceedings so directed would be illegal or involve it in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders not party to such direction, and provided, further, that nothing in this Trust Agreement shall impair the right of the Property Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Property Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction.
 
 
ARTICLE VII.
 
 

 
 
Representations and Warranties
 
SECTION 7.1.                                Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee.
 
The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each severally on behalf of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Depositor and the Holders that:
 
(a)           the Property Trustee is a national banking association, duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States;
 
(b)           the Property Trustee has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement;
 
(c)           the Delaware Trustee is a national banking association, duly formed and validly existing under the laws of the United States;
 

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(d)           the Delaware Trustee has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement;
 
(e)           this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of each of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity;
 
(f)           the execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and do not require any approval of stockholders of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the Restated Organization Certificate or Articles of Association, as applicable, or By-laws of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, (ii) violate any provision of, or constitute, with or without notice or lapse of time, a default under, or result in the imposition of any lien on any properties included in the Trust Property pursuant to the provisions of any indenture, mortgage, credit agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee is a party or by which it is bound, or (iii) violate any applicable law, governmental rule or regulation of the United States or the State of Delaware, as the case may be, governing the banking, trust or general powers of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee;
 
(g)           neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee of this Trust Agreement nor the consummation of any of the transactions by the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee contemplated herein requires the consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency under any existing law of the United States or the State of Delaware governing the banking, trust or general powers of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be; and
 
(h)           to the best of each of the Property Trustee’s and the Delaware Trustee’s knowledge, there are no proceedings pending or threatened against or affecting the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee in any court or before any governmental authority, agency or arbitration board or tribunal that, individually or in the aggregate, would materially and adversely affect the Trust or would question the right, power and authority of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, to enter into or perform its obligations as one of the Trustees under this Trust Agreement.
 

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SECTION 7.2.                                Representations and Warranties of Depositor.
 
The Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Holders and the Trustees that:
 
(a)           the Depositor is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation;
 
(b)           the Depositor has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes dated of even date herewith issued pursuant to the terms of the Indenture (the “Replacement Notes”), and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement, the Indenture and the Replacement Notes;
 
(c)           each of this Trust Agreement, the Indenture and each Replacement Note has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Depositor and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Depositor enforceable against the Depositor in accordance with its respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity;
 
(d)           the Securities Certificates issued on the date hereof have been duly authorized by the Trust and will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement, enforceable against the Trust in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity; the issuance of the Securities is not subject to any preemptive or other similar rights; on the date hereof, all of the issued and outstanding Common Securities will be directly owned by the Company free and clear of any pledge, security interest, claim, lien or other encumbrance of any kind;
 
(e)           the execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement, the Indenture and the Replacement Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of the Depositor and do not require any approval of stockholders of the Depositor and such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the articles or certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or other organizational documents) of the Depositor or (ii) violate any applicable law, governmental rule or regulation governing the Depositor or any material portion of its property or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the Depositor or any material portion of its property;
 
(f)           neither (i) the authorization, execution or delivery by the Depositor of this Trust Agreement, the Indenture or the Replacement Notes nor (ii) the consummation of any of the transactions by the Depositor contemplated herein requires the consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency under any existing law governing the Depositor or any material portion of its property; and
 

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(g)           there are no proceedings pending or, to the best of the Depositor’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Depositor or any material portion of its property in any court or before any governmental authority, agency or arbitration board or tribunal that, individually or in the aggregate, would materially and adversely affect the Trust or would question the right, power and authority of the Depositor, as the case may be, to enter into or perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement, the Indenture or the Replacement Notes.
 
 
ARTICLE VIII.
 
 

 
 
The Trustees
 
SECTION 8.1.                                Number of Trustees.
 
The number of Trustees shall be five (5); provided, that the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be the same Person, in which case the number of Trustees shall be four (4).  The number of Trustees may be increased or decreased by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities subject to Sections 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4.  The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to annul, dissolve or terminate the Trust.
 
SECTION 8.2.                                Property Trustee Required.
 
There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof, authorized to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and having an office within the United States.  If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 8.2, the combined capital and surplus of such 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 Property Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.2, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article VIII.
 
SECTION 8.3.                                Delaware Trustee Required.
 
(a)           If required by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, there shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities. The Delaware Trustee shall either be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the State of Delaware or (ii) a legal entity that has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware, otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law and shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity.  If at any time the Delaware Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.3, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the
 

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effect hereinafter specified in this Article VIII.  The Delaware Trustee shall have the same rights, privileges and immunities as the Property Trustee.
 
(b)           The Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities, of the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees set forth herein. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the trustees of the Trust for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and for taking such actions as are required to be taken by a Delaware trustee under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.  The duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Delaware Trustee shall be limited to (a) accepting legal process served on the Trust in the State of Delaware and (b) the execution of any certificates required to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware that the Delaware Trustee is required to execute under Section 3811 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and there shall be no other duties (including fiduciary duties) or obligations, express or implied, at law or in equity, of the Delaware Trustee.
 
SECTION 8.4.                                Appointment of Administrative Trustees.
 
(a)           There shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. Each Administrative Trustee shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind that entity.  Each of the individuals identified as an Administrative Trustee” in the preamble of this Trust Agreement hereby accepts his or her appointment as such.
 
(b)           Except where a requirement for action by a specific number of Administrative Trustees is expressly set forth in this Trust Agreement, any act required or permitted to be taken by, and any power of the Administrative Trustees may be exercised by, or with the consent of, any one such Administrative Trustee.  Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrative Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative Trustee in accordance with Section 8.11, the Administrative Trustees in office, regardless of their number (and notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement), shall have all the powers granted to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Trust Agreement.
 
SECTION 8.5.                                Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustees.
 
(a)           The rights, immunities, duties and responsibilities of the Trustees shall be as provided by this Trust Agreement and there shall be no other duties (including fiduciary duties) or obligations, express or implied, at law or in equity, of the Trustees; provided, however, that if an Event of Default known to the Property Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall, prior to the receipt of directions, if any, from the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Trust Agreement shall require any of the Trustees 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 or their rights or
 

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powers, if it or they shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not herein expressly so provided, every provision of this Trust Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 8.5.  Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall be construed to release any Administrative Trustee from liability for his or her own negligent action, negligent failure to act; or his or her own willful misconduct.  To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Trustee has duties and liabilities relating to the Trust or to the Holders, such Trustee shall not be liable to the Trust or to any Holder for such Trustee’s good faith reliance on the provisions of this Trust Agreement. The provisions of this Trust Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Trustees otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Depositor and the Holders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Trustees.
 
(b)           All payments made by the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent in respect of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will look solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Trust Security or for any other liability in respect of any Trust Security. This Section 8.5(b) does not limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Trust Agreement.
 
(c)           No provisions of this Trust Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Property Trustee from liability with respect to matters that are within the authority of the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement for its own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, except that:
 
(i)           the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error or judgment made in good faith by an authorized officer of the Property Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Property Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
 
(ii)           the Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee hereunder or under the Indenture, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement;
 
(iii)           the Property Trustee’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the Notes and the Payment Account shall be to deal with such Property in a similar manner as the Property Trustee deals with similar property for its own account, subject to the protections and limitations on liability afforded to the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement;
 

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(iv)           the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree in writing with the Depositor; and money held by the Property Trustee need not be segregated from other funds held by it except in relation to the Payment Account maintained by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 3.1 and except to the extent otherwise required by law; and
 
(v)           the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the compliance by the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor with their respective duties under this Trust Agreement, nor shall the Property Trustee be liable for the default or misconduct of any other Trustee or the Depositor.
 
SECTION 8.6.                                Notices of Defaults and Extensions.
 
(a)           Within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of a default actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit notice of such default to the Holders, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, unless such default shall have been cured or waived.  For the purpose of this Section 8.6, the term “default” means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default.
 
(b)           Reserved.
 
(c)           The Property Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default unless either (i) a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee shall have actual knowledge or (ii) the Property Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Depositor, an Administrative Trustee or a Holder.
 
(d)           The Property Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of default received with respect to the Notes.
 
SECTION 8.7.                                Certain Rights of Property Trustee.
 
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5:
 
(a)           the Property Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith and in accordance with the terms hereof upon any resolution, Opinion of Counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any other resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
 
(b)           if (i) in performing its duties under this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action, (ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee finds a provision ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein or (iii) the Property Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this Trust Agreement, then, except as to any matter as to which the Holders of the Preferred Securities are entitled to vote under the terms of this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall deliver a notice
 

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to the Depositor requesting the Depositor’s written instruction as to the course of action to be taken and the Property Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing to take, or to refrain from taking, by the Depositor; provided, that if the Property Trustee does not receive such instructions of the Depositor within ten (10) Business Days after it has delivered such notice or such reasonably shorter period of time set forth in such notice, the Property Trustee may, but shall be under no duty to, take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Property Trustee shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the Holders, in which event the Property Trustee shall have no liability except for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct;
 
(c)           any direction or act of the Depositor contemplated by this Trust Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate unless otherwise expressly provided herein;
 
(d)           any direction or act of an Administrative Trustee contemplated by this Trust Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by a certificate executed by such Administrative Trustee and setting forth such direction or act;
 
(e)           the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any re-recording, re-filing or re-registration thereof;
 
(f)           the Property Trustee may consult with counsel (which counsel may be counsel to the Property Trustee, the Depositor or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of its employees) and the advice of such 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 and in accordance with such advice; the Property Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Trust Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction;
 
(g)           the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Property Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction, including reasonable advances as may be requested by the Property Trustee; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 8.7(g) shall be construed to relieve the Property Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers in it vested by this Trust Agreement; provided, further, that nothing contained in this Section 8.7(g) shall prevent the Property Trustee from exercising its rights under Section 8.11 hereof;
 
(h)           the Property 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, approval, bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so
 

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by one or more Holders, but the Property Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Property Trustee shall determine to make such inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Depositor, personally or by agent or attorney;
 
(i)           the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, attorneys, custodians or nominees and the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for any negligence or misconduct on the part of any such agent, attorney, custodian or nominee appointed with due care by it hereunder;
 
(j)           whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right hereunder, the Property Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders (which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities as would be entitled to direct the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement in respect of such remedy, right or action), (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received and (iii) shall be protected in acting in accordance with such instructions;
 
(k)           except as otherwise expressly provided by this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Trust Agreement;
 
(l)           without prejudice to any other rights available to the Property Trustee under applicable law, when the Property Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with a Bankruptcy Event, such expenses (including legal fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law or law relating to creditors rights generally; and
 
(m)           whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Property Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and rely on an Officers’ Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Depositor.
 
No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on any Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which such Person shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation.
 

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SECTION 8.8.                                Delegation of Power.
 
Any Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 its, his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section 2.5.  The Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to the Depositor the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of this Trust Agreement.
 
SECTION 8.9.                                May Hold Securities.
 
Any Trustee or any other agent of any Trustee or the Trust, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust Securities and except as provided in the definition of the term Outstanding” in Article I, may otherwise deal with the Trust with the same rights it would have if it were not an Trustee or such other agent.
 
SECTION 8.10.                             Compensation; Reimbursement; Indemnity.
 
The Depositor agrees:
 
(a)           to pay to the Trustees from time to time such reasonable compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder as may be agreed by the Depositor and the Trustees from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
 
(b)           to reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Trust Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to their gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct; and
 
(c)           to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Trustee, (ii) any Affiliate of any Trustee, (iii) any officer, director, shareholder, employee, representative or agent of any Trustee or any Affiliate of any Trustee and (iv) any employee or agent of the Trust (referred to herein as an “Indemnified Person”) from and against any loss, damage, liability, tax (other than income, franchise or other taxes imposed on amounts paid pursuant to Section 8.10(a) or (b) hereof), penalty, expense or claim of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the Trust hereunder, including the advancement of funds to cover 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.
 
The Trust shall have no payment, reimbursement or indemnity obligations to the Trustees under this Section 8.10.  The provisions of this Section 8.10 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement and the earlier removal or resignation of any Trustee.
 

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No Trustee may claim any Lien on any Trust Property whether before or after termination of the Trust as a result of any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.10.
 
To the fullest extent permitted by law, in no event shall the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee be liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, lost profits, even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
 
In no event shall the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder because of circumstances beyond its control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot, embargo, government action, including any laws, ordinances, regulations, governmental action or the like which delay, restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Trust Agreement.
 
SECTION 8.11.                                           Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
 
(a)           No resignation or removal of any Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article VIII shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 8.12.
 
(b)           A Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Depositor and, in the case of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, to the Holders.
 
(c)           Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may be removed (with or without cause) at any time by Act of the Holder of Common Securities.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may be removed (with or without cause) at such time by Act of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, delivered to the removed Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust).  An Administrative Trustee may be removed (with or without cause) only by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities at any time.
 
(d)           If any Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting as Trustee, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of any Trustee for any reason, at a time when no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holder of the Common Securities, by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees, and such successor Trustee and the retiring Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.12.  If the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of continuing to act as the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, at a time when an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holders of the Preferred Securities, by Act of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, shall promptly appoint a successor Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee, and such successor Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee and the retiring Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.12.  If an Administrative Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting as Administrative Trustee, at a time when an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
 

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continuing, the Holder of the Common Securities by Act of the Holder of Common Securities shall promptly appoint a successor Administrative Trustee and such successor Administrative Trustee and the retiring Administrative Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.12.  If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holder of the Common Securities or Holders of the Preferred Securities, as the case may be, and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 8.12 within thirty (30) days after the giving of a notice of resignation by a Trustee, the removal of a Trustee, or a Trustee becoming incapable of acting as such Trustee, any Holder who has been a Holder of Preferred Securities for at least six (6) months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, and any resigning Trustee may, in each case, at the expense of the Depositor, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
 
(e)           The Depositor shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee and each appointment of a successor Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee to all Holders in the manner provided in Section 10.8.  Each notice shall include the name of the successor Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Property Trustee.
 
(f)           Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust Agreement, in the event any Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or becomes, in the opinion of the Holder of Common Securities, incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by (i) the unanimous act of the remaining Administrative Trustees if there are at least two of them or (ii) otherwise by the Holder of the Common Securities (with the successor in each case being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement for Administrative Trustees or Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, set forth in Sections 8.3 and 8.4).
 
(g)           Upon the appointment of a successor Delaware Trustee, such successor Delaware Trustee shall file a Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Trust in accordance with Section 3810 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
 
SECTION 8.12.                                           Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
 
(a)           In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee, each successor Trustee shall execute and deliver to the Depositor and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective 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; but, on request of the Trust or any successor Trustee such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust.
 
(b)           Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Trust (or the retiring Trustee if requested by the Depositor) 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 the preceding paragraph.
 

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(c)           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 VIII.
 
SECTION 8.13.                                           Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
 
Any Person into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such Trustee, shall be the successor of such Trustee hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided, that such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article VIII.
 
SECTION 8.14.                                           Not Responsible for Recitals Issuance of Securities and Representations.
 
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities Certificates shall be taken as the statements of the Trust and the Depositor, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness.  The Trustees make no representations as to the title to, or value or condition of, the property of the Trust or any part thereof, nor as to the validity or sufficiency of this Trust Agreement, the Notes or the Trust Securities.  The Trustees shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Depositor of the proceeds of the Notes.  It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that insofar as any document, agreement or certificate is executed on behalf of the Trust by any Trustee (i) such document, agreement or certificate is executed and delivered by such Trustee, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee under this Trust Agreement in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it, (ii) each of the representations, undertakings and agreements made on the part of the Trust is made and intended not as representations, warranties, covenants, undertakings and agreements by any Trustee in its individual capacity but is made and intended for the purpose of binding only the Trust and (iii) under no circumstances shall any Trustee in its individual capacity be personally liable for the payment of any indebtedness or expenses of the Trust or be liable for the breach or failure of any obligation, representation, warranty or covenant made or undertaken by the Trust under this Trust Agreement or any other document, agreement or certificate.

 
SECTION 8.15.                                           Property Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
 
(a)           In case of any Bankruptcy Event (or event that with the passage of time would become a Bankruptcy Event) relative to the Trust or any other obligor upon the Trust Securities or the property of the Trust or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Property Trustee (irrespective of whether any Distributions on the Trust Securities shall then be due and payable and irrespective of whether the Property Trustee shall have made any demand on the Trust for the payment of any past due Distributions) shall be entitled and empowered, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
 
(i)           to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of any Distributions owing and unpaid in respect of the Trust Securities and to file such other papers or documents as
 

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may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Property Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
 
(ii)           to collect and receive any monies 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 proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Property Trustee and, in the event the Property Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Property Trustee first any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Property Trustee.
 
(b)           Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Property Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or compensation affecting the Trust Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Property Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
 
SECTION 8.16.                                           Reports to the Property Trustee.
 
(a)           The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees shall deliver to the Property Trustee, not later than forty five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of the Depositor and not later than ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Trust ending after the date of this Trust Agreement, an Officers’ Certificate covering the preceding fiscal year, stating whether or not to the knowledge of the signers thereof the Depositor and the Trust are in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Trust Agreement (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Depositor or the Trust shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they have knowledge.
 
(b)           The Depositor shall furnish (i) to the Property Trustee; (ii) Taberna Capital Management, LLC, 450 Park, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10022 or such other address as designated by Taberna Capital Management, LLC); and (iii) any Owner of the Preferred Securities reasonably identified to the Depositor and the Trust (which identification may be made either by such Owner or by Taberna Capital Management, LLC) a duly completed and executed certificate substantively and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G, including the financial statements referenced in such Exhibit, which certificate and financial statements shall be so furnished by the Depositor not later than forty five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Depositor and not later than ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Depositor.
 
The Property Trustee shall obtain all reports, certificate and information, which it is entitled to obtain under each of the Operative Documents.
 

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ARTICLE IX.
 

 
Termination, Liquidation and Merger
 
SECTION 9.1.                                Dissolution Upon Expiration Date.
 
Unless earlier dissolved, the Trust shall automatically dissolve on July 30, 2040 (the Expiration Date”), and the Trust Property shall be liquidated in accordance with Section 9.4.
 
SECTION 9.2.                                Early Termination.
 
The first to occur of any of the following events is an Early Termination Event”, upon the occurrence of which the Trust shall be dissolved:
 
(a)           the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of, or the dissolution or liquidation of, the Depositor, in its capacity as the Holder of the Common Securities, unless the Depositor shall have transferred the Common Securities as provided by Section 5.11, in which case this provision shall refer instead to any such successor Holder of the Common Securities;
 
(b)           the written direction to the Property Trustee from the Holder of the Common Securities at any time to dissolve the Trust and, after satisfaction of any liabilities of the Trust as required by applicable law, to distribute the Notes to Holders in exchange for the Preferred Securities (which direction is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Holder of the Common Securities);
 
(c)           the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities in connection with the payment at maturity or redemption of all the Notes; and
 
(d)           the entry of an order for dissolution of the Trust by a court of competent jurisdiction.
 
SECTION 9.3.                                Termination.
 
(a)           The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trustees and the Trust shall terminate upon the latest to occur of the following: (a) the distribution by the Property Trustee to Holders of all amounts required to be distributed hereunder upon the liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.4, or upon the redemption of all of the Trust Securities pursuant to Section 4.2; (b) the satisfaction of any expenses owed by the Trust; and (c) the discharge of all administrative duties of the Administrative Trustees, including the performance of any tax reporting obligations with respect to the Trust or the Holders.
 
(b)           As soon as practicable thereafter, and after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as required by applicable law, including Section 3808 of the Statutory Trust Act, the Delaware Trustee, when notified in writing of the completion of the winding up of the Trust in accordance with the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, shall terminate the Trust by filing, at the expense of the Depositor, a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
 

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SECTION 9.4.                                Liquidation.
 
(a)           If an Early Termination Event specified in Section 9.2(a), (b) or (d) occurs or upon the Expiration Date, the Trust shall be liquidated by the Property Trustee as expeditiously as the Property Trustee shall determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, to each Holder a Like Amount of Notes, subject to Section 9.4(d). Notice of liquidation shall be given by the Property Trustee not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Liquidation Date to each Holder of Trust Securities at such Holder’s address appearing in the Securities Register. All such notices of liquidation shall:
 
(i)           state the Liquidation Date;
 
(ii)           state that from and after the Liquidation Date, the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and (subject to Section 9.4(d)) any Securities Certificates not surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Notes; and
 
(iii)           provide such information with respect to the mechanics by which Holders may exchange Securities Certificates for Notes, or if Section 9.4(d) applies, receive a Liquidation Distribution, as the Property Trustee shall deem appropriate.
 
(b)           Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, in order to effect the liquidation of the Trust and distribution of the Notes to Holders, the Property Trustee, either itself acting as exchange agent or through the appointment of a separate exchange agent, shall establish a record date for such distribution (which shall not be more than forty five (45) days prior to the Liquidation Date nor prior to the date on which notice of such liquidation is given to the Holders) and establish such procedures as it shall deem appropriate to effect the distribution of Notes in exchange for the Outstanding Securities Certificates.
 
(c)           Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, after the Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding, (ii) certificates representing a Like Amount of Notes will be issued to Holders of Securities Certificates, upon surrender of such Certificates to the exchange agent for exchange, (iii) the Depositor shall use its best efforts to have the Notes listed on the New York Stock Exchange or on such other exchange, interdealer quotation system or self-regulatory organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, if any, (iv) Securities Certificates not so surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Notes bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid Distributions on such Securities Certificates until such certificates are so surrendered (and until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal will be made to Holders of Securities Certificates with respect to such Notes) and (v) all rights of Holders holding Trust Securities will cease, except the right of such Holders to receive Notes upon surrender of Securities Certificates.
 
(d)           Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 9.4, if distribution of the Notes in the manner provided herein is determined by the Property Trustee not to be permitted or practical, the Trust Property shall be liquidated, and the Trust shall be wound up by the Property
 

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Trustee in such manner as the Property Trustee determines.  In such event, Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the Liquidation Distribution”). If, upon any such winding up the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding sentence, the amounts payable by the Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts). The Holder of the Common Securities will be entitled to receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such winding up pro rata (based upon Liquidation Amounts) with Holders of all Trust Securities, except that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the Common Securities as provided in Section 4.3.
 
SECTION 9.5.                                Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of Trust.
 
The Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any Person except pursuant to this Article IX. At the request of the Holders of the Common Securities, without the consent of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, the Trust may merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any State; provided, that:
 
(a)            such successor entity either (i) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under this Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities or (ii) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Preferred Securities (such other Securities, the “Successor Securities”) so long as the Successor Securities have the same priority as the Preferred Securities with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise;
 
(b)            a trustee of such successor entity possessing substantially the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee is appointed to hold the Notes;
 
(c)           if the Preferred Securities or the Notes are rated, such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the Preferred Securities or the Notes (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization that then assigns a rating to the Preferred Securities or the Notes;
 
(d)           the Preferred Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notice of issuance, on any national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, if any;
 
(e)           such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the
 

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Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect;
 
(f)           such successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust;
 
(g)           prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Depositor has received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect; (ii) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act and (iii) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Trust (or the successor entity) will continue to be classified as a grantor trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and
 
(h)           the Depositor or its permitted transferee owns all of the common securities of such successor entity.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of all of the Preferred Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any other Person or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace, the Trust if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or cause the Notes to be treated as other than indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
 
ARTICLE X.
 
 

 
 
Miscellaneous Provisions
 
SECTION 10.1.                                           Limitation of Rights of Holders.
 
Except as set forth in Section 9.2, the death, bankruptcy, termination, dissolution or incapacity of any Person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in Trust Securities shall not operate to terminate this Trust Agreement, nor annul, dissolve or terminate the Trust nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such Person or any Holder for such Person, to claim an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding in any court for a partition or winding up of the arrangements contemplated hereby, nor otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of them.
 

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SECTION 10.2.                                           Agreed Tax Treatment of Trust and Trust Securities.
 
The parties hereto and, by its acceptance or acquisition of a Trust Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, such Trust Security intend and agree to treat the Trust as a grantor trust for United States federal, state and local tax purposes, and to treat the Trust Securities (including all payments and proceeds with respect to such Trust Securities) as undivided beneficial ownership interests in the Trust Property (and payments and proceeds therefrom, respectively) for United States federal, state and local tax purposes and to treat the Notes as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal, state and local tax purposes.  The provisions of this Trust Agreement shall be interpreted to further this intention and agreement of the parties set forth in this Section 10.2.
 
SECTION 10.3.                                           Amendment.
 
(a)           This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Holder of all the Common Securities, without the consent of any Holder of the Preferred Securities, (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make or amend any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Trust Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Trust Agreement, (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will neither be taxable as a corporation nor be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes at all times that any Trust Securities are Outstanding or to ensure that the Notes are treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes, or to ensure that the Trust will not be required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act or (iii) to add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the Depositor; provided, that in the case of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holder.
 
(b)           Except as provided in Section 10.3(c), any provision of this Trust Agreement may be amended by the Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Holder of all of the Common Securities and with (i) the consent of Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not cause the Trust to be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or affect the treatment of the Notes as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes or affect the Trust’s exemption from status (or from any requirement to register) as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
 
(c)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, without the consent of each Holder, this Trust Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the accrual rate, amount, currency or timing of any Distribution on or the redemption price of the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution or other payment required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date, (ii) restrict or impair the right of a Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, (iii) reduce the
 

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percentage of aggregate Liquidation Amount of Outstanding Preferred Securities, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with any provision of this Trust Agreement or of defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Trust Agreement; (iv) impair or adversely affect the rights and interests of the Holders in the Trust Property, or permit the creation of any Lien on any portion of the Trust Property; or (v) modify the definition of “Outstanding,” this Section 10.3(c), Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 6.10(e) or Article IX.
 
(d)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, no Trustee shall enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust Agreement that would cause the Trust to be taxable as a corporation or to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or that would cause the Notes to fail or cease to be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes or that would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the exemption from status (or from any requirement to register) as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
 
(e)           If any amendment to this Trust Agreement is made, the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee shall promptly provide to the Depositor and the Note Trustee a copy of such amendment.
 
(f)           No Trustee shall be required to enter into any amendment to this Trust Agreement that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Trust Agreement.  The Trustees shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate stating that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is in compliance with this Trust Agreement and all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such action have been met.
 
(g)           No amendment or modification to this Trust Agreement that adversely affects in any material respect the rights, duties, liabilities, indemnities or immunities of the Delaware Trustee hereunder shall be permitted without the prior written consent of the Delaware Trustee.
 
SECTION 10.4.                                           Separability.
 
If any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Securities Certificates 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, and there shall be deemed substituted for the provision at issue a valid, legal and enforceable provision as similar as possible to the provision at issue.
 
SECTION 10.5.                                           Governing Law.
 
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH OF THE HOLDERS, THE TRUST, THE DEPOSITOR AND THE TRUSTEES WITH RESPECT TO THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE TRUST SECURITIES SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS.
 

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SECTION 10.6.                                           Successors.
 
This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any successor to the Depositor, the Trust and any Trustee, including any successor by operation of law. Except in connection with a transaction involving the Depositor that is permitted under Article VIII of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Depositor’s obligations hereunder, the Depositor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.
 
SECTION 10.7.                                           Headings.
 
The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Trust Agreement
 
SECTION 10.8.                                           Reports, Notices and Demands.
 
(a)           Any report, notice, demand or other communication that by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon any Holder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing delivered in person, or by reputable, overnight courier, by telecopy or by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, addressed, (a) in the case of a Holder of Preferred Securities, to such Holder as such Holder’s name and address may appear on the Securities Register; and (b) in the case of the Holder of all the Common Securities or the Depositor, to Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., 3305 Flamingo Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963, Attention:  Jeffrey J. Zimmer, or to such other address as may be specified in a written notice by the Holder of all the Common Securities or the Depositor, as the case may be, to the Property Trustee. Such report, notice, demand or other communication to or upon a Holder or the Depositor shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, within one (1) Business Day following delivery by overnight courier, when telecopied with receipt confirmed, or within three (3) Business Days following delivery by mail, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
 
(b)           Any notice, demand or other communication that by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees or the Trust shall be given in writing by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the U.S. mail, personal delivery or facsimile transmission, addressed to such Person as follows: (i) with respect to the Property Trustee to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, 600 Travis, 50th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention: Worldwide Securities Services—Bimini Capital Trust I,  facsimile no. (713) 216-2101, (ii) with respect to the Delaware Trustee, to Chase Bank USA, National Association, c/o JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, 500 Stanton Christiana Road, Building 4 (3rd Floor), Newark, Delaware 19713, Attention: Worldwide Securities Services— Bimini Capital Trust I, facsimile no. (302) 552-6280; (iii) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the address above for notices to the Depositor, marked “Attention: Administrative Trustees of Bimini Capital Trust I”, and (iv) with respect to the Trust, to its principal executive office specified in Section 2.2, with a copy to the Property Trustee. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees shall be deemed to have been
 

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sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees.
 
SECTION 10.9.                                           Agreement Not to Petition.
 
Each of the Trustees and the Depositor agree for the benefit of the Holders that, until at least one year and one day after the Trust has been terminated in accordance with Article IX, they shall not file, or join in the filing of, a petition against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law or otherwise join in the commencement of any proceeding against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law. If the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section 10.9, the Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Holders, that at the expense of the Depositor, it shall file an answer with the applicable bankruptcy court or otherwise properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against the Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the Depositor has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be estopped and precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Property Trustee or the Trust may assert.
 
SECTION 10.10.                                           Counterparts.  This instrument 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 instrument.
 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
 
 
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc.,
 
as Depositor
   
   
 
By:       ________________________________
 
Name:  Jeffrey J. Zimmer
 
Title:  Chief Executive Officer
   
   
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, in its individual as Property Trustee
Chase Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware Trustee
   
   
By:      _________________________________                                                         
By:      _________________________________
Name:
Name:
Title:
Title:
   
   
   
________________________________
_______________________________________
    Administrative Trustee
    Administrative Trustee
    Name:  Jeffrey J. Zimmer
    Name:  Robert E. Cauley
   
   
   
________________________________
 
    Administrative Trustee
 
    Name:  Amber K. Luedke
 
   
   

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Exhibit A


CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
 

 
OF
 

 
BIMINI CAPITAL TRUST I
 
This Certificate of Trust of Bimini Capital Trust I  (the “Trust”) is being duly executed and filed on behalf of the Trust by the undersigned, as trustees, to form a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. C. §3801 et seq.) (the “Act”).
 
1.           Name.  The name of the statutory trust formed by this Certificate of Trust is  Bimini Capital Trust I.
 
2.           Delaware Trustee.  The name and business address of the trustee of the Trust with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware are Chase Bank USA, National Association c/o JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, 500 Stanton Christiana Road, Building 4 (3rd Floor), Newark, Delaware 19713, Attention: Worldwide Securities Services.
 
3.           Effective Date.  This Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Certificate of Trust in accordance with Section 3811(a)(1) of the Act.
 
 
Chase Bank USA, National Association, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Delaware Trustee
   
 
By:
   
   
Name:
 
   
Title:
 


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Exhibit B


[FORM OF COMMON SECURITIES CERTIFICATE]
 
THIS COMMON SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION.  THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND SECTION 5.11 OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT
 
Certificate Number
Number of Common Securities
 
 
C-
 
 
 
Certificate Evidencing [Series A/Series B] Common Securities
 

 
of
 

 
Bimini Capital Trust I
 

 
Floating Rate [Series A/Series B] Common Securities
 

 
(liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security)
 
Bimini Capital Trust I, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Trust”), hereby certifies that Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Holder”), is the registered owner of [Amount (#)] [Series A/Series B] common securities of the Trust representing undivided common beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and designated the Bimini Capital Trust I Floating Rate [Series A/Series B] Common Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security) (the “Common Securities”). Except in accordance with Section 5.11 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below), the Common Securities are not transferable and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any attempted transfer hereof other than in accordance therewith shall be void. The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of September 26, 2005 as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Trust Agreement”), among Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., as Depositor, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Property Trustee, Chase Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees named therein and the Holders, from time to time, of the Trust Securities. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office.
 

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Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
 
This Common Securities Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
 
Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
 
In Witness Whereof, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has executed on behalf of the Trust this certificate this __  day of _______________, 200__.
 
   
 
Bimini Capital Trust I
   
 
By:
   
   
Name:  Jeffrey J. Zimmer
 
   
Administrative Trustee
 


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Exhibit C


[FORM OF PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE]
 
[IF THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY INSERT: THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) OR A NOMINEE OF DTC.  THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR PREFERRED SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE TRUST AGREEMENT, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
 
UNLESS THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO BIMINI CAPITAL TRUST I OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY PREFERRED SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]
 
THE PREFERRED SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.  EACH PURCHASER OF ANY PREFERRED SECURITIES IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
 
THE HOLDER OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TRUST AND THE DEPOSITOR THAT (A) SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) TO THE TRUST OR (II) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED PURCHASER” (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2(a)(51) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF ANY PREFERRED SECURITIES FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.
 
THE PREFERRED SECURITIES WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN
 

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$100,000. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF PREFERRED SECURITIES, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN,  IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF PRINCIPAL OF OR INTEREST ON SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES.
 
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN,  BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF OR THEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS PREFERRED SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE.
 
Certificate Number
 
P-
Aggregate Liquidation Amount
 Preferred Securities
$_________________
 

 

 
_______________
 

 
Certificate Evidencing [Series A/Series B] Preferred Securities
 

 
of
 

 
Bimini Capital Trust I
 

 
Floating Rate [Series A/Series B] Preferred Securities
 
(liquidation amount $1,000 per Preferred Security)
 
Bimini Capital Trust I, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Trust”), hereby certifies that _____________, a _________ (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of [Amount (#)] [Series A/Series B] Preferred Securities [if the Preferred Security is a Global Security, then insert – or such other number of Preferred Securities represented hereby as may be set forth in the records of the Securities Registrar hereinafter referred to in accordance with the Trust Agreement (as defined below)] of the Trust representing an undivided preferred beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust and designated the Bimini Capital Trust I Floating Rate [Series A/Series B] Preferred Securities, (liquidation amount $1,000 per Preferred Security) (the “Preferred Securities”). Subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement (as defined below), the Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer as provided in Section 5.7 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below). The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of September 26, 2005, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Trust Agreement”), among Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., as Depositor, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Property Trustee, Chase Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees named therein and the Holders, from time to time, of the Trust Securities.  The Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Property Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office.
 
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
 

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This Preferred Securities Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
 
All capitalized terms used but not defined in this Preferred Securities Certificate are used with the meanings specified in the Trust Agreement, including the Schedules and Exhibits thereto.
 
In Witness Whereof, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has executed on behalf of the Trust this certificate this __ day of __________, 2005.
 
Bimini Capital Trust I

By:                                                                         
        Name:  Jeffrey J. Zimmer
        Administrative Trustee

This is one of the Preferred Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Trust Agreement.
 
Dated:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Property Trustee
 
By:           ____________________________
Authorized signatory

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
 
The Trust promises to pay Distributions from May 17, 2005, or from the most recent date on and to which Distributions have been paid or duly provided for, quarterly in arrears on [for Series A Preferred Securities, March 30, June 30, September 30 and December 30/ for Series B Preferred Securities, January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30] of each year, at a fixed rate equal to 7.61% per annum through the Interest Payment Date on [in the case of Series A Securities, March 30, 2010/in the case of Series B Securities, April 30, 2010] and thereafter at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.30% per annum of the Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities represented by this Preferred Securities Certificate, together with any Additional Interest Amounts, in respect to such period.
 
Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made by the Paying Agent from the Payment Account and shall be payable on each Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Distributions.
 
Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such Distributions in the Payment Account of the Trust.  The Trust’s funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Preferred Securities will be limited to payments received from the Depositor.
 
During any Event of Default, the Depositor shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Depositor’s capital stock or (ii) make any payment of principal of or any interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Depositor that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Notes (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Depositor in connection with (1) any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, (2) a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (3) the issuance of capital stock of the Depositor (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Event of Default, (b) as a result of an exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Depositor’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary (as defined in the Indenture) of the Depositor) for any class or series of the Depositor’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Depositor’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Depositor’s capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Depositor’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any Rights Plan (as defined in the Indenture), the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any Rights Plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto or (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock).
 
On each Note Redemption Date, on the stated maturity (or any date of principal repayment upon early maturity) of the Notes and on each other date on (or in respect of) which
 

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any principal on the Notes is repaid, the Trust will be required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities of a corresponding Series at the Redemption Price.  Under the Indenture, the Notes may be redeemed by the Depositor on any Interest Payment Date, at the Depositor’s option, on or after [in the case of Series A Notes, March 30, 2010/in the case of Series B Notes, April 30, 2010] in whole or in part from time to time at the Optional Note Redemption Price of the principal amount thereof or the redeemed portion thereof, as applicable, together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest, to but excluding the date fixed for redemption.  The Notes may also be redeemed by the Depositor, at its option, at any time, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event at the Special Note Redemption Price; provided, that such Investment Company Event or a Tax Event is continuing on the Redemption Date.
 
The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption or payment at maturity of Notes. Redemptions of the Trust Securities (or portion thereof) shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price.
 
Payments of Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts), the Redemption Price, Liquidation Amount or any other amounts in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto unless proper written transfer instructions have not been received by the relevant record date, in which case such payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of such Person as such address shall appear in the Security Register.  If any Preferred Securities are held by a Depositary, such Distributions shall be made to the Depositary in immediately available funds.
 
The indebtedness evidenced by the Notes is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt (as defined in the Indenture), and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.
 

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ASSIGNMENT
 
For Value Received, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Preferred Securities Certificate to:
 
 
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number)
 
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
 
and irrevocably appoints
 
agent to transfer this Preferred Securities Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
 
Date:  _______________________
 
Signature:
   
 
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Securities Certificate)
 
     
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
 


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Exhibit D


Junior Subordinated Indenture





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Exhibit E


Form of Transferee Certificate
to be Executed by Transferees


 
__________, [     ]
 
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
 
600 Travis, 50th Floor
 
Houston, Texas 77002
 
Attention:  Worldwide Securities Services
 

Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc.
Bimini Capital Trust I
3305 Flamingo Drive
Vero Beach, FL 32963

 
Re:
Purchase of $____________ stated liquidation amount of Floating Rate Preferred Securities (the “Preferred Securities”) of Bimini Capital Trust I
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
In connection with our purchase of the Preferred Securities we confirm that:
 
1.           We understand that the Floating Rate Preferred Securities (the “Preferred Securities”) of Bimini Capital Trust I (the “Trust”) of Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc. (the “Company”) executed in connection therewith) and the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2035 of the Company (the “Subordinated Notes”) (the entire amount of the Trust’s outstanding Preferred Securities and the Subordinated Notes together being referred to herein as the “Offered Securities”), have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing the Offered Securities that, if we decide to offer, sell or otherwise transfer any such Offered Securities, (i) such offer, sale or transfer will be made only (a) to the Trust, (b) to a person we reasonably believe is a “qualified purchaser” (a “QP”) (as defined in section 2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended). We understand that the certificates for any Offered Security that we receive will bear a legend substantially to the effect of the foregoing.
 
2.           We are a “qualified purchaser” within the meaning of section 2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and are purchasing for our own account or for the account of such a “qualified purchaser,” and we have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Offered Securities, and we and any account for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risks of our or its investment.
 

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3.           We are acquiring the Offered Securities purchased by us for our own account (or for one or more accounts as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion and have authority to make, and do make, the statements contained in this letter) and not with a view to any distribution of the Offered Securities, subject, nevertheless, to the understanding that the disposition of our property will at all times be and remain within our control.
 
4.           In the event that we purchase any Preferred Securities or any Subordinated Notes, we will acquire such Preferred Securities having an aggregate stated liquidation amount of not less than $100,000 or such Subordinated Notes having an aggregate principal amount not less than $100,000, for our own account and for each separate account for which we are acting.
 
5.           We acknowledge that we are not a fiduciary of (i) an employee benefit, individual retirement account or other plan or arrangement subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (each a “Plan”); or (ii) an entity whose underlying assets include “plan assets” by reason of any Plan’s investment in the entity, and are not purchasing any of the Offered Securities on behalf of or with “plan assets” by reason of any Plan’s investment in the entity.
 
6.           We acknowledge that the Trust and the Company and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements and agree that if any of the acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements deemed to have been made by our purchase of any of the Offered Securities are no longer accurate, we shall promptly notify the Company.  If we are acquiring any Offered Securities as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, we represent that we have sole discretion with respect to each such investor account and that we have full power to make the foregoing acknowledgments, representations and agreement on behalf of each such investor account.
 


(Name of Purchaser)

By:                                                                
Date:

 
Upon transfer, the Preferred Securities (having a stated liquidation amount of $_____________) would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows.
 
Name:
 
Address:                                                                           
 
Taxpayer ID Number:                                                      
 

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Exhibit F


Officer’s Financial Certificate
 
The undersigned, the [Chairman/Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer/President/Vice President/Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer/Assistant Treasurer], hereby certifies pursuant to Section 8.16(b) of the Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of September [__], 2005 (the “Trust Agreement”), among Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc. (the “Company”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as property trustee, Chase Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware trustee, and the administrative trustees named therein, that, as of [date], [20__], the Company had the following ratios and balances:
 
As of [Quarterly/Annual Financial Date], 20__

   
Senior secured indebtedness for borrowed money (“Debt”)
$_____
Senior unsecured Debt
$_____
Subordinated Debt
$_____
Total Debt
$ _____
Ratio of (x) senior secured and unsecured Debt to (y) total Debt
  _____%

* A table describing the officer’s financial certificate calculation procedures is provided on page 3
 
[FOR FISCAL YEAR END: Attached hereto are the audited consolidated financial statements (including the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows, and notes thereto, together with the report of the independent accountants thereon) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the three years ended _______, 20___].]
 
[FOR FISCAL QUARTER END: Attached hereto are the unaudited consolidated and consolidating financial statements (including the balance sheet and income statement) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter ended [date], 20__.]
 
The financial statements fairly present in all material respects, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, and the results of operations and changes in financial condition as of the date, and for the [quarter] [annual] period ended [date], 20__, and such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period involved (expect as otherwise noted therein).
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Officer’s Financial Certificate as of this _____ day of _____________, 20__.
 

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BIMINI MORTGAGE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 


By:                                                                         
Name:                                                                         

Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc.
3305 Flamingo Drive
Vero Beach, FL 32963
772-231-1400

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Schedule A

DETERMINATION OF LIBOR
With respect to the Trust Securities, the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) shall be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following provisions (in each case rounded to the nearest .000001%):
 
(1)           On the second LIBOR Business Day (as defined below) prior to a Distribution Date (except with respect to the first Distribution Period, such date shall be May 13, 2005) (each such day, a “LIBOR Determination Date”), LIBOR for any given security shall for the following Distribution Period equal the rate, as obtained by the Calculation Agent from Bloomberg Financial Markets Commodities News, for three-month Eurodollar deposits that appears on Dow Jones Telerate Page 3750 (as defined in the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. 2000 Interest Rate and Currency Exchange Definitions), or such other page as may replace such Page 3750, as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such LIBOR Determination Date.
 
(2)           If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, such rate does not appear on Dow Jones Telerate Page 3750 or such other page as may replace such Page 3750, the Calculation Agent shall determine the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations of the Reference Banks (as defined below) to leading banks in the London interbank market for three-month Eurodollar deposits in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent by reference to requests for quotations as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the LIBOR Determination Date made by the Calculation Agent to the Reference Banks.  If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, at least two of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, LIBOR shall equal such arithmetic mean of such quotations.  If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, only one or none of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, LIBOR shall be deemed to be the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations that leading banks in the City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting on the relevant LIBOR Determination Date for three-month Eurodollar deposits in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent by reference to the principal London offices of leading banks in the London interbank market; provided, that if the Calculation Agent is required but is unable to determine a rate in accordance with at least one of the procedures provided above, LIBOR shall be LIBOR as determined on the previous LIBOR Determination Date.
 
(3)           As used herein: “Reference Banks” means four major banks in the London interbank market selected by the Calculation Agent; and “LIBOR Business Day” means a day on which commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in London.
 




bmnm10q09302008ex10_19.htm
 
Exhibit 10.19






BIMINI MORTGAGE MANAGEMENT, INC.,
as Issuer






INDENTURE
Dated as of October 5, 2005

 
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee




FIXED/FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

 

DUE 2035



1235483.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Indenture
 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS1
1
Section 1.1.
Definitions.
1
ARTICLE II. DEBENTURES
7
Section 2.1.
Authentication and Dating.
7
Section 2.2.
Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.
8
Section 2.3.
Form and Denomination of Debentures.
8
Section 2.4.
Execution of Debentures.
8
Section 2.5.
Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures.
9
Section 2.6.
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures.
11
Section 2.7.
Temporary Debentures.
11
Section 2.8.
Payment of Interest and Additional Interest.
12
Section 2.9.
Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc.
13
Section 2.10.
Computation of Interest.
13
Section 2.11.
Reserved.
14
Section 2.12.
CUSIP Numbers.
14
ARTICLE III. PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
15
Section 3.1.
Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debentures.
15
Section 3.2.
Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.
15
Section 3.3.
Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office.
15
Section 3.4.
Provision as to Paying Agent.
16
Section 3.5.
Certificate to Trustee.
16
Section 3.6.
Additional Sums.
17
Section 3.7.
Compliance with Consolidation Provisions.
17
Section 3.8.
Limitation on Dividends.
17
Section 3.9.
Covenants as to the Trust.
17
ARTICLE IV. SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
18
Section 4.1.
Securityholders’ Lists.
18
Section 4.2.
Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.
18
ARTICLE V. REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT
19
Section 5.1.
Events of Default.
19
Section 5.2.
Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor.
20
Section 5.3.
Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee.
22
Section 5.4.
Proceedings by Securityholders.
22
Section 5.5.
Proceedings by Trustee.
23
Section 5.6.
Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver.
23
Section 5.7.
Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders.
23
Section 5.8.
Notice of Defaults.
24
Section 5.9.
Undertaking to Pay Costs.
24
ARTICLE VI. CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
24
Section 6.1.
Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.
24
Section 6.2.
Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.
25
Section 6.3.
No Responsibility for Recitals, etc.
26
Section 6.4.
Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debentures.
26
Section 6.5.
Moneys to be Held in Trust.
26
Section 6.6.
Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.
26
Section 6.7.
Officers’ Certificate as Evidence.
27
Section 6.8.
Eligibility of Trustee.
27
Section 6.9.
Resignation or Removal of Trustee
28
Section 6.10.
Acceptance by Successor Trustee.
29
Section 6.11.
Succession by Merger, etc.
29
Section 6.12.
Authenticating Agents.
30
ARTICLE VII. CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
31
Section 7.1.
Action by Securityholders.
31
Section 7.2.
Proof of Execution by Securityholders.
31
Section 7.3.
Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners.
31
Section 7.4.
Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding.
32
Section 7.5.
Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound.
32
ARTICLE VIII. SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS
32
Section 8.1.
Purposes of Meetings.
32
Section 8.2.
Call of Meetings by Trustee.
33
Section 8.3.
Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders.
33
Section 8.4.
Qualifications for Voting.
33
Section 8.5.
Regulations.
33
Section 8.6.
Voting.
33
Section 8.7.
Quorum; Actions.
34
ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
34
Section 9.1.
Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders.
34
Section 9.2.
Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.
36
Section 9.3.
Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
36
Section 9.4.
Notation on Debentures.
37
Section 9.5.
Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to Trustee.
37
ARTICLE X. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
37
Section 10.1.
Optional Redemption.
37
Section 10.2.
Special Event Redemption.
37
Section 10.3.
Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures.
37
Section 10.4.
Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption.
38
ARTICLE XI. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE
38
Section 11.1.
Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
38
Section 11.2.
Successor Entity to be Substituted.
39
Section 11.3.
Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee.
39
ARTICLE XII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
39
Section 12.1.
Discharge of Indenture.
39
Section 12.2.
Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee.
40
Section 12.3.
Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.
40
Section 12.4.
Return of Unclaimed Moneys.
40
ARTICLE XIII. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
40
Section 13.1.
Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations.
40
ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
41
Section 14.1.
Successors.
41
Section 14.2.
Official Acts by Successor Entity.
41
Section 14.3.
Surrender of Company Powers.
41
Section 14.4.
Addresses for Notices, etc.
41
Section 14.5.
Governing Law.
41
Section 14.6.
Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
41
Section 14.7.
Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
42
Section 14.8.
Execution in Counterparts.
42
Section 14.9.
Separability.
42
Section 14.10.
Assignment.
42
Section 14.11.
Acknowledgment of Rights.
42
ARTICLE XV. SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES
42
Section 15.1.
Agreement to Subordinate.
42
Section 15.2.
Default on Senior Indebtedness.
43
Section 15.3.
Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy.
43
Section 15.4.
Subrogation.
44
Section 15.5.
Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.
45
Section 15.6.
Notice by the Company.
45
Section 15.7.
Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
45
Section 15.8.
Subordination May Not Be Impaired.
46
     
Exhibit A
Form of Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debenture
 
Exhibit B
Form of Certificate to Trustee
 


 
1235483.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Indenture
 
 

 

THIS INDENTURE, dated as of October 5, 2005, between Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as debenture trustee (the “Trustee”).
 
WITNESSETH:
 
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2035 (the “Debentures”) under this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the execution and authentication, delivery and administration thereof, and the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and
 
WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, This Indenture Witnesseth:
 
In consideration of the premises, and the purchase of the Debentures by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Debentures as follows:
 
ARTICLE I.
 
DEFINITIONS
 
Section 1.1.                                Definitions.  
 
The terms defined in this Section 1.1 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.1.  All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the term “generally accepted accounting principles” means such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the time of any computation.  The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
 
Additional Interest” means the interest, if any, that shall accrue on any amounts payable on the Debenture, the payment of which has not been made on the applicable Interest Payment Date or otherwise and which shall accrue at the rate per annum specified or determined as set forth in Section 2.8, in each case to the extent legally enforceable.
 
Additional Sums” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
 
Affiliate” has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.
 
Authenticating Agent” means any agent or agents of the Trustee which at the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 6.12.
 
Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
 
Board of Directors” means the board of directors or the executive committee or any other duly authorized designated officers of the Company.
 
Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered to the Trustee.
 
Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in New York City or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required by any applicable law or executive order to close.
 

 
1235483.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Indenture
 
 

 

Capital Securities” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by the Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities.
 
Certificate” means a certificate signed by any one of the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company.
 
Common Securities” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which rank pari passu with Capital Securities issued by the Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities.
 
Company” means Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and, subject to the provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and assigns.
 
Comparable Treasury Issue” means with respect to any Special Redemption Date the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life.  If no United States Treasury security has a maturity which is within a period from three months before to three months after the Interest Payment Date in December 2010, the two most closely corresponding fixed, non-callable United States Treasury securities, as selected by the Quotation Agent, shall be used as the Comparable Treasury Issue, and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month using such securities.
 
Comparable Treasury Price” means (a) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Special Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations.
 
Coupon Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.
 
Debenture” or “Debentures” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture.
 
Debenture Register” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5.
 
Declaration” means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
 
Default” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
 
Defaulted Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.
 
Distribution Period” means (i) with respect to interest paid on the first Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2005 and (ii) thereafter, with respect to interest paid on each successive Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the preceding Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) such current Interest Payment Date.
 
Determination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
 
Event of Default” means any event specified in Section 5.1, continued for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated.
 

 
1235483.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Indenture
 
 

 

Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life” means, with respect to any Debenture, the period from the Special Redemption Date for such Debenture to the Interest Payment Date in December 2010.
 
Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, or both.
 
Institutional Trustee” has the meaning set forth in the Declaration.
 
Interest Payment Date” means March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year during the term of this Indenture, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day, commencing in December 2005.
 
Interest Rate” means for the Distribution Period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2010 the rate per annum of 7.8575%, and for each Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2010, the Coupon Rate for such Distribution Period.
 
Investment Company Event” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be considered an “investment company” that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Debentures.
 
Liquidation Amount” means the stated amount of $1,000.00 per Trust Security.
 
Maturity Date” means December 15, 2035.
 
Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice Chairman, the President, any Managing Director or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Comptroller, an Assistant Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.  Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.
 
Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or may be other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.  Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.
 
The term “outstanding,” when used with reference to Debentures, means, subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, as of any particular time, all Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except:
 
(a)           Debentures theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
 
(b)           Debentures, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that, if such Debentures, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Section 10.3 or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and
 
(c)           Debentures paid pursuant to Section 2.6 or in lieu of or in substitution for which other Debentures shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.6 unless proof satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee is presented that any such Debentures are held by bona fide holders in due course.
 

 
1235483.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Indenture
 
 

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
 
Predecessor Security” of any particular Debenture means every previous Debenture evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debenture; and, for purposes of this definition, any Debenture authenticated and delivered under Section 2.6 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture.
 
Primary Treasury Dealer” means either a nationally recognized primary United States Government securities dealer or an entity of recognized standing in matters pertaining to the quotation of treasury securities that is reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Trustee.
 
Principal Office of the Trustee,” or other similar term, means the office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which at the time of the execution of this Indenture shall be Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware  19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
 
Quotation Agent” means a designee of the Institutional Trustee who shall be a Primary Treasury Dealer.
 
Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
 
Redemption Price” means 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Redemption Date.
 
Reference Treasury Dealer” means (i) the Quotation Agent and (ii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.
 
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.
 
Responsible Officer” means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the Principal Office of the Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Principal Trust Office of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
 
Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time or any successor legislation.
 
Securityholder,” “holder of Debentures,” or other similar terms, means any Person in whose name at the time a particular Debenture is registered on the register kept by the Company or the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof.
 
Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Company, (i) the principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company for all borrowed and purchased money and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement; (iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker’s acceptance, any security purchase
 

 
1235483.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Indenture
 
 

 

facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement, any interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any obligation under options or any similar credit or other transaction; (v) all obligations of the Company associated with derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts, and similar arrangements; (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise including, without limitation, similar obligations arising from off-balance sheet guarantees and direct credit substitutes; and (vii) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above of other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Senior Indebtedness” shall not include (1) Debentures issued pursuant to this Indenture and guarantees in respect of such Debentures, (2) obligations with respect to which in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are pari passu, junior or otherwise not superior in right of payment to the Debentures, (3) trade amounts payable or other accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, or (4) obligations issued to any trust other than the Trust (or a trustee of any such trust) in connection with the issuance by such trust of trust preferred securities and the issuance of debentures by the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to an instrument that, by its terms, rank pari passu with or junior in right of payment to this Indenture.  Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.
 
Special Event” means either an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event.
 
Special Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2.
 
Special Redemption Price” means (a) if the Special Redemption Date occurs before the Interest Payment Date in December 2010, the greater of (i) 107.5% of the principal amount of the Debentures, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest) on the Debentures to the Special Redemption Date, or (ii) as determined by the Quotation Agent, (A) the sum of the present values of the scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Debentures during the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life of the Debentures (assuming the Debentures matured on the Interest Payment Date in December 2010) discounted to the Special Redemption Date on a quarterly basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate, plus (B) accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest) on the Debentures to such Special Redemption Date, or (b) if the Special Redemption Date occurs on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2010, 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Special Redemption Date.
 
Subsidiary” means with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or similar interests of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.  For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
 
Tax Event” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative
 

 
1235483.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Indenture
 
 

 

pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, field service advice, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt such procedures or regulations) (an “Administrative Action”) or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Company or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that:  (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Company on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
 
3-Month LIBOR” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
 
Telerate Page 3750” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
 
Treasury Rate” means (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the week immediately prior to the date of calculation, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated H.15 (519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Federal Reserve and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life (if no maturity is within three months before or after the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life shall be determined and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Special Redemption Date.  The Treasury Rate shall be calculated by the Quotation Agent on the third Business Day preceding the Special Redemption Date.
 
Trust” shall mean Bimini Capital Trust II, a Delaware statutory trust, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of issuing Capital Securities in connection with the issuance of Debentures under this Indenture, of which the Company is the sponsor.
 
Trust Securities” means Common Securities and Capital Securities of the Trust.
 
Trustee” means Wilmington Trust Company, and, subject to the provisions of Article VI hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder.
 
ARTICLE II.
 
DEBENTURES
 
Section 2.1.                                Authentication and Dating.  
 
Upon the execution and delivery of this Indenture, or from time to time thereafter, Debentures in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $51,547,000.00 may be executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a written authentication order from the Company, shall thereupon authenticate and make available for delivery said Debentures to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, the President, Chief Financial Officer, one of its Managing Directors or one of its Vice Presidents without any further action by the Company hereunder.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon the aforementioned authentication order and written order in authenticating and delivering
 

 
1235483.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Indenture
 
 

 

said Debentures.  In authenticating such Debentures, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debentures, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon:
 
(a)           a copy of any Board Resolution or Board Resolutions relating thereto and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution, in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, as the case may be; and
 
(b)           an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 14.6 which shall also state:
 
(1)           that such Debentures, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in each case in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to or limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, conservatorship, receivership, moratorium and other statutory or decisional laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or the reorganization of financial institutions (including, without limitation, preference and fraudulent conveyance or transfer laws), heretofore or hereafter enacted or in effect, affecting the rights of creditors generally; and
 
(2)           that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Company of the Debentures have been materially complied with and that authentication and delivery of the Debentures by the Trustee will not violate the terms of this Indenture.
 
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debentures under this Section if the Trustee, being advised in writing by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing holders.
 
The definitive Debentures shall be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debentures, as evidenced by their execution of such Debentures.
 
Section 2.2.                                Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.  
 
The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Debentures shall be in substantially the following form:
 
This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
 
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
 
By                                                                
 
Authorized Signer
 
Section 2.3.                                Form and Denomination of Debentures.  
 
The Debentures shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.  The Debentures shall be in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof.  Any attempted transfer of the Debentures in a block having an aggregate principal amount of less than $100,000.00 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever.  Any such purported transferee shall be deemed not to be a holder of such Debentures for any purpose, including, but not limited to the receipt of payments on such Debentures, and such purported transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Debentures.  The Debentures shall be numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plans as the officers executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof.
 
Section 2.4.                                Execution of Debentures.  
 
The Debentures shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, President, Chief Financial Officer, one of its Managing Directors or one of its
 

 
1235483.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Indenture
 
 

 

Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents.  Only such Debentures as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein before recited, executed by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of an authorized signer, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.  Such certificate by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent upon any Debenture executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debenture so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
 
In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debentures shall cease to be such officer before the Debentures so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, or disposed of by the Company, such Debentures nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debentures had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debenture may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debenture, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.
 
Every Debenture shall be dated the date of its authentication.
 
Section 2.5.                                Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures.  
 
The Company shall cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained for the purpose of registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in Section 3.2, a register (the “Debenture Register”) for the Debentures issued hereunder in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration and transfer of all Debentures as in this Article II provided.  The Debenture Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time.
 
Debentures to be exchanged may be surrendered at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor the Debenture or Debentures which the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.  Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount.  Registration or registration of transfer of any Debenture by the Trustee or by any agent of the Company appointed pursuant to Section 3.2, and delivery of such Debenture, shall be deemed to complete the registration or registration of transfer of such Debenture.
 
All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
 
No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
 
The Company or the Trustee shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of any Debenture for a period of 15 days next preceding the date of selection of Debentures for redemption.
 
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Debentures may not be transferred except in compliance with the restricted securities legend set forth below, unless otherwise determined by the Company, upon the advice of counsel expert in securities law, in accordance with applicable law:
 

 
1235483.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Indenture
 
 

 

THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION.
 
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW.  NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.  THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY.
 
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING.  ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH
 

 
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PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.
 
THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF.  ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.
 
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
 
Section 2.6.                                Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures.  
 
In case any Debenture shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debenture bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Debenture, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Debenture so destroyed, lost or stolen.  In every case the applicant for a substituted Debenture shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership thereof.
 
The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Debenture and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company.  Upon the issuance of any substituted Debenture, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith.  In case any Debenture which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debenture, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debenture) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and to the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership thereof.
 
Every substituted Debenture issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.6 by virtue of the fact that any such Debenture is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debentures duly issued hereunder.  All Debentures shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debentures and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
 
Section 2.7.                                Temporary Debentures.  
 
Pending the preparation of definitive Debentures, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery temporary Debentures that are typed, printed or lithographed.  Temporary Debentures shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debentures in lieu of which they are issued but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debentures, all as may be determined by the Company.  Every such temporary Debenture shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Debentures.  Without unreasonable delay the Company will execute and
 

 
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deliver to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent definitive Debentures and thereupon any or all temporary Debentures may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee or at any office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange for such temporary Debentures a like aggregate principal amount of such definitive Debentures.  Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor except that in case of any such exchange involving a registration of transfer the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto.  Until so exchanged, the temporary Debentures shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debentures authenticated and delivered hereunder.
 
Section 2.8.                                Payment of Interest and Additional Interest.  
 
Interest at the Interest Rate and any Additional Interest on any Debenture that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Debentures shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment except that interest and any Additional Interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid.
 
Each Debenture shall bear interest for the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2010 at a rate per annum of 7.8575%, and shall bear interest for each successive Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2010 at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described in Section 2.10, plus 3.50% (the “Coupon Rate”), applied to the principal amount thereof, until the principal thereof becomes due and payable; provided, however, that any overdue principal, premium, if any, or Additional Sums and any overdue installment of interest shall bear Additional Interest at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand.  Interest shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date with the first installment of interest to be paid on the Interest Payment Date in December 2005.
 
Any interest on any Debenture, including Additional Interest, that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing at least 25 days prior to the date of the proposed payment of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debenture and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided.  Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at its address as it appears in the Debenture Register, not less than 10 days prior to such special record date.  Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date and shall be no longer payable.
 

 
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The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Debentures in any other lawful manner after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment method; provided, however, the Trustee in its reasonable discretion deems such payment method to be practical.
 
The term “regular record date” as used in this Section shall mean the close of business on the 15th Business Day preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date.
 
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Debenture delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debenture shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Debenture.
 
Section 2.9.                                Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc.  
 
All Debentures surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be surrendered to the Trustee and promptly canceled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent, shall be promptly canceled by it, and no Debentures shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture.  All Debentures canceled by any Authenticating Agent shall be delivered to the Trustee.  The Trustee shall destroy all canceled Debentures unless the Company otherwise directs the Trustee in writing.  If the Company shall acquire any of the Debentures, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Debentures unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.
 
Section 2.10.                                Computation of Interest.  
 
The amount of interest payable (i) for any Distribution Period commencing on or after the date of original issuance but before the Interest Payment Date in December 2010 will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and (ii) for the Distribution Period commencing on the Interest Payment Date in December 2010 and each succeeding Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Interest Rate to the principal amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360.  All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or ..09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).
 
(a)           “3-Month LIBOR” means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month, U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority:
 
(1)           the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (as defined below).  “Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Moneyline Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits;
 
(2)           if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.  If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations;
 
(3)           if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (2) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S.
 

 
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dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.  If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and
 
(4)           if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (3) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period.
 
If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.
 
(b)           The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law.
 
(c)           “Determination Date” means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the particular Distribution Period for which a Coupon Rate is being determined.
 
(d)           The Trustee shall notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee and any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Capital Securities are listed, of the Coupon Rate and the Determination Date for each Distribution Period, in each case as soon as practicable after the determination thereof but in no event later than the thirtieth (30th) day of the relevant Distribution Period.  Failure to notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee or any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, or any defect in said notice, shall not affect the obligation of the Company to make payment on the Debentures at the applicable Coupon Rate.  Any error in the calculation of the Coupon Rate by the Trustee may be corrected at any time by notice delivered as above provided.  Upon the request of a holder of a Debenture, the Trustee shall provide the Coupon Rate then in effect and, if determined, the Coupon Rate for the next Distribution Period.
 
(e)           Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating to the payment and calculation of interest on the Debentures and distributions on the Capital Securities by the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee will (in the absence of willful default, bad faith and manifest error) be final, conclusive and binding on the Trust, the Company and all of the holders of the Debentures and the Capital Securities, and no liability shall (in the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) attach to the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by either of them or their respective powers, duties and discretion.
 
Section 2.11.                                Reserved.  
 

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

 
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ARTICLE III.
 
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
 
Section 3.1.                                Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debentures.
 
(a)           The Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest and any Additional Interest and other payments on the Debentures at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Debentures. Each installment of interest on the Debentures may be paid (i) by mailing checks for such interest payable to the order of the holders of Debentures entitled thereto as they appear on the registry books of the Company if a request for a wire transfer has not been received by the Company or (ii) by wire transfer to any account with a banking institution located in the United States designated in writing by such Person to the paying agent no later than the related record date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Institutional Trustee.
 
(b)           The Company will treat the Debentures as indebtedness, and the amounts payable in respect of the principal amount of such Debentures as interest, for all United States federal income tax purposes.  All payments in respect of such Debentures will be made free and clear of United States withholding tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or W8 BEN (or any substitute or successor form) establishing its entitlement to a complete exemption from United States federal withholding tax.
 
Section 3.2.                                Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.  
 
So long as any of the Debentures remain outstanding, the Company will maintain in Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for payment, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debentures or of this Indenture may be served.  The Company will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of any such office or agency and of any change of location thereof.  Until otherwise designated from time to time by the Company in a notice to the Trustee, or specified as contemplated by Section 2.5, such office or agency for all of the above purposes shall be the office or agency of the Trustee.  In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Principal Office of the Trustee.
 
In addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from time to time designate one or more offices or agencies outside Wilmington, Delaware, where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company may from time to time rescind such designation, as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, for the purposes above mentioned.  The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.
 
Section 3.3.                                Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office.  
 
The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.9, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
 
Section 3.4.                                Provision as to Paying Agent.
 
(a)           If the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provision of this Section 3.4,
 

 
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(1)           that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debentures) in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures;
 
(2)           that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall be due and payable; and
 
(3)           that it will, at any time during the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent.
 
(b)           If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the Debentures, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due and will notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor under the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall become due and payable.
 
Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for the Debentures, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures, deposit with a paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure to act.
 
(c)           Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Debentures, or for any other reason, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or any such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.
 
(d)           Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.4 is subject to Sections 12.3 and 12.4.
 
Section 3.5.                                Certificate to Trustee.  
 
The Company will deliver to the Trustee on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, so long as Debentures are outstanding hereunder, a Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any default during such fiscal year by the Company in the performance of any covenants contained herein, stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature and status thereof.  A form of this Certificate is attached hereto as Exhibit B.
 
Section 3.6.                                Additional Sums.  
 
If and for so long as the Trust is the holder of all Debentures and the Trust is required to pay any additional taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Company will pay such additional amounts (“Additional Sums”) on the Debentures as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust after paying such taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust would have received if no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges had been imposed.  Whenever in this Indenture or the Debentures there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the Debentures, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of payments of the Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to the extent that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect
 

 
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thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and express mention of the payment of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.
 
Section 3.7.                                Compliance with Consolidation Provisions.  
 
The Company will not, while any of the Debentures remain outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property to any other Person unless the provisions of Article XI hereof are complied with.
 
Section 3.8.                                Limitation on Dividends.  
 
If Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or its Affiliates’ capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable default, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith).
 
Section 3.9.                                Covenants as to the Trust.  
 
For so long as the Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Company under this Indenture may succeed to the Company’s ownership of such Common Securities.  The Company, as owner of the Common Securities, shall, except in connection with a distribution of Debentures to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration, cause the Trust  (a) to remain a statutory trust, (b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, and (c) to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Debentures.
 
ARTICLE IV.
 
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS
 
BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
 
Section 4.1.                                Securityholders’ Lists.  
 
The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
 

 
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(a)           on each regular record date for the Debentures, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders of the Debentures as of such record date; and
 
(b)           at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;
 
except that no such lists need be furnished under this Section 4.1 so long as the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as Debenture registrar.
 
Section 4.2.                                Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.
 
(a)           The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Debentures registrar (if so acting) hereunder.  The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
 
(b)           In case three or more holders of Debentures (hereinafter referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Debenture for a period of at least 6 months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other holders of Debentures with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such Debentures and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either:
 
(1)           afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, or
 
(2)           inform such applicants as to the approximate number of holders of Debentures whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.
 
If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Securityholder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2 a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, if permitted or required by applicable law, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the holders of all Debentures, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law.  Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion.  If said Commission, as permitted or required by applicable law, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, said Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.
 

 
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(c)           Each and every holder of Debentures, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 4.2, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under said subsection (b).
 
ARTICLE V.
 
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
 
UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT
 
Section 5.1.                                Events of Default.  
 
“Event of Default,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
 
(a)           the Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any Debenture, including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, following the nonpayment of any such interest for twenty or more consecutive Distribution Periods; or
 
(b)           the Company defaults in the payment of all or any part of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise; or
 
(c)           the Company defaults in any material respect in the performance of, or breaches in any material respect, any of its covenants or agreements in this Indenture or in the terms of the Debentures established as contemplated in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or
 
(d)           a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or
 
(e)           the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due; or
 
(f)           the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in connection with (i) the distribution of the Debentures to holders of such Trust Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (ii) the redemption of all of the outstanding Trust Securities or (iii) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration.
 
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures
 

 
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then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of the Debentures and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable.
 
The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Debentures shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Debentures and the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debentures which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and Additional Interest) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6, if any, and (ii) all Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on Debentures which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein -- then and in every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon.
 
In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.
 
Section 5.2.                                Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor.  
 
The Company covenants that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all Debentures for principal and premium, if any, or interest, or both, as the case may be, with Additional Interest accrued on the Debentures (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and, if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such Trust, without duplication of any other amounts paid by the Trust or a trustee in respect thereof); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6.  In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.
 
In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures under Bankruptcy Law, or in case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Debentures shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to
 

 
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the provisions of this Section 5.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,
 
 
(i)
to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Debentures,
 
 
(ii)
in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6), and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the holders of the Debentures in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or Person performing similar functions in comparable proceedings,
 
 
(iii)
to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and
 
 
(iv)
to distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and expenses.
 
Any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6.
 
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Debentures or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
 
All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debentures, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Debentures, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Debentures.
 
In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the holders of the Debentures, and it shall not be necessary to make any holders of the Debentures parties to any such proceedings.
 
Section 5.3.                                Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee.  
 
Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article V shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Debentures in respect of which moneys have been collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
 
First:  To the payment of costs and expenses incurred by, and reasonable fees of, the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6;
 
Second:  To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XV;
 

 
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Third:  To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Debentures for principal (and premium, if any), and interest on the Debentures, in respect of which or for the benefit of which money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due on such Debentures (including Additional Interest); and
 
Fourth:  The balance, if any, to the Company.
 
Section 5.4.                                Proceedings by Securityholders.  
 
No holder of any Debenture shall have any right to institute any suit, action or proceeding for any remedy hereunder, unless such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and unless the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall have given the Trustee a written request to institute such action, suit or proceeding and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding.
 
Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right of any holder of any Debenture to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, on such Debenture when due, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Debenture hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Debenture with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Debentures shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing itself of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other Debentures, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Debentures.  For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
 
Section 5.5.                                Proceedings by Trustee.  
 
In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
 
Section 5.6.                                Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver.  
 
Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.6, all powers and remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Debentures, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to the Debentures, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Debentures to exercise any right, remedy or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right, remedy or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 5.4, every power and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (in accordance with its duties under Section 6.1) or by the Securityholders.
 
Section 5.7.                                Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders.  
 
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures affected (voting as one class) at the time outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with
 

 
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respect to such Debentures; provided, however, that (subject to the provisions of Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee shall determine that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part in such direction or if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
 
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9; provided, however, that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided, further, that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver.  Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.  Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.
 
Section 5.8.                                Notice of Defaults.  
 
The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the actual knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of the occurrence of a default with respect to the Debentures, mail to all Securityholders, as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the Debenture Register, notice of all defaults with respect to the Debentures known to the Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term “defaults” for the purpose of this Section 5.8 being hereby defined to be the events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of Section 5.1, not including periods of grace, if any, provided for therein); provided, however, that, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders.
 
Section 5.9.                                Undertaking to Pay Costs.  
 
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Debenture by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 5.9 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Debentures outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture against the Company on or after the same shall have become due and payable.
 

 
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ARTICLE VI.
 
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
 
Section 6.1.                                Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.  
 
With respect to the holders of Debentures issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, with respect to the Debentures, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.  In case an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
 
No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
 
(a)           prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred
 
(1)           the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debentures shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to the Debentures as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, and
 
(2)           in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
 
(b)           the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
 
(c)           the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.7, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture.
 
None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.
 
Section 6.2.                                Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.  
 
Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.1:
 
(a)           the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, note, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
 
(b)           any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
 

 
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specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;
 
(c)           the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any advice or Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
 
(d)           the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;
 
(e)           the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to Debentures such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs;
 
(f)           the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures affected thereby; provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so proceeding;
 
(g)           the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents (including any Authenticating Agent) or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent or attorney appointed by it with due care; and
 
(h)           with the exceptions of defaults under Sections 5.1(a) or (b), the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Debentures unless a written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures or by any holder of the Debentures.
 
Section 6.3.                                No Responsibility for Recitals, etc.  
 
The recitals contained herein and in the Debentures (except in the certificate of authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent assume no responsibility for the correctness of the same.  The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debentures.  The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Debentures or the proceeds of any Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.
 
Section 6.4.                                Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debentures.  
 
The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent or any paying agent or any transfer agent or any Debenture registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debentures with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, paying agent, transfer agent or Debenture registrar.
 

 
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Section 6.5.                                Moneys to be Held in Trust.  
 
Subject to the provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purpose for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.  The Trustee and any paying agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.  So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time upon the written order of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, a Managing Director, a Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company.
 
Section 6.6.                                Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.  
 
The Company covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or willful misconduct.  For purposes of clarification, this Section 6.6 does not contemplate the payment by the Company of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustee pursuant to the services to be provided by the Trustee under this Indenture or the fees and expenses of the Trustee’s counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture.  The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability.  The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder.  Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Debentures upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Debentures.
 
Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(d), (e) or (f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
 
The provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the defeasance or other termination of this Indenture.
 
Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or any Debenture to the contrary, the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to advance funds to pay any principal of or interest on or other amounts with respect to the Debentures or otherwise advance funds to or on behalf of the Company.
 
Section 6.7.                                Officers’ Certificate as Evidence.  
 
Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
 
Section 6.8.                                Eligibility of Trustee.  
 
The Trustee hereunder shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the
 

 
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District of Columbia or a corporation or other Person authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having (or whose obligations under this Indenture are guaranteed by an affiliate having) a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000.00) and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority.  If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.8 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent records of condition so published.
 
The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee.
 
In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.8, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.9.
 
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of § 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner described by this Indenture.
 
Section 6.9.                                Resignation or Removal of Trustee
 
(a)           The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof, at the Company’s expense, to the holders of the Debentures at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register.  Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of its Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor Trustee.  If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the affected Securityholders, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor Trustee.  Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.
 
(b)           In case at any time any of the following shall occur --
 
(1)           the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 6.8 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months, or
 
(2)           the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.8 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or
 
(3)           the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged as bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
 
then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent
 

 
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jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.  Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint successor Trustee.
 
(c)           Upon prior written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor Trustee, which shall be deemed appointed as successor Trustee unless within 10 Business Days after such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case, or in the case of a failure by such holders to nominate a successor Trustee, the Trustee so removed or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section 6.9 provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor.
 
(d)           Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in Section 6.10.
 
Section 6.10.                                Acceptance by Successor Trustee.  
 
Any successor Trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.9 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee, the Trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights and powers of the Trustee so ceasing to act and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee thereunder.  Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights and powers.  Any Trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such Trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6.
 
If a successor Trustee is appointed, the Company, the retiring Trustee and the successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Debentures as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.
 
No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 6.8.
 
In no event shall a retiring Trustee be liable for the acts or omissions of any successor Trustee hereunder.
 
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee as provided in this Section 6.10, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such Trustee hereunder to the holders of Debentures at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register.  If the Company fails to mail such notice within 10 Business Days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee, the successor Trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.
 

 
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Section 6.11.                                Succession by Merger, etc.  
 
Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article.
 
In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Debentures shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Debentures so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debentures shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Debentures either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Debentures or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Debentures in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.
 
Section 6.12.                                Authenticating Agents.  
 
There may be one or more Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee upon the request of the Company with power to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Debentures issued upon exchange or registration of transfer thereof as fully to all intents and purposes as though any such Authenticating Agent had been expressly authorized to authenticate and deliver Debentures; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no liability to the Company for any acts or omissions of the Authenticating Agent with respect to the authentication and delivery of Debentures.  Any such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.00 and being subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority.  If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or the requirements of such authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.12 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.  If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect herein specified in this Section.
 
Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor corporation is otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12 without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent.
 
Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company.  The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent with respect to the Debentures by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company.  Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 6.12, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under this Section 6.12, shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all holders of Debentures as the names and addresses of such holders appear on the Debenture Register.  Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities with
 

 
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respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent herein.
 
The Company agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services.  Any Authenticating Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such in accordance with the directions of the Trustee.
 
ARTICLE VII.
 
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
 
Section 7.1.                                Action by Securityholders.  
 
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Securityholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of such holders of Debentures voting in favor thereof at any meeting of such Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of such Securityholders or (d) by any other method the Trustee deems satisfactory.
 
If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such Debentures for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so.  If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Debentures have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, and for that purpose the outstanding Debentures shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than 6 months after the record date.
 
Section 7.2.                                Proof of Execution by Securityholders.  
 
Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, 6.2 and 8.5, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee.  The ownership of Debentures shall be proved by the Debenture Register or by a certificate of the Debenture registrar.  The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.
 
The record of any Securityholders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 8.6.
 
Section 7.3.                                Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners.  
 
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.  All such payments so made to any
 

 
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holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture.
 
Section 7.4.                                Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding.  
 
In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Debentures have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Debentures which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided, however, that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Debentures which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.  Debentures so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 7.4 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to vote such Debentures and that the pledgee is not the Company or any such other obligor or Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor.  In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
 
Section 7.5.                                Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound.  
 
At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.1, of the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder (in cases where no record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) or any holder as of an applicable record date (in cases where a record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) of a Debenture (or any Debenture issued in whole or in part in exchange or substitution therefor) the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debentures the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 7.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debenture (or so far as concerns the principal amount represented by any exchanged or substituted Debenture).  Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Debenture shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Debenture, and of any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debenture or any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor.
 
ARTICLE VIII.
 
SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS
 
Section 8.1.                                Purposes of Meetings.  
 
A meeting of Securityholders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII for any of the following purposes:
 
(a)           to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article V;
 
(b)           to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article VI;
 
(c)           to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.2; or
 
(d)           to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of such Debentures under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
 

 
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Section 8.2.                                Call of Meetings by Trustee.  
 
The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Securityholders to take any action specified in Section 8.1, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine.  Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to holders of Debentures affected at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debentures Register and, if the Company is not a holder of Debentures, to the Company.  Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
 
Section 8.3.                                Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders.  
 
In case at any time the Company, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures, as the case may be, then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 8.1, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 8.2.
 
Section 8.4.                                Qualifications for Voting.  
 
To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders a Person shall (a) be a holder of one or more Debentures with respect to which the meeting is being held or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more such Debentures.  The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.
 
Section 8.5.                                Regulations.  
 
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Debentures and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.
 
The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.3, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman.  A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting.
 
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, at any meeting each holder of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000.00 principal amount of Debentures held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Debenture challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding.  The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Debentures held by him or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders.  Any meeting of Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.2 or 8.3 may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
 
Section 8.6.                                Voting.  
 
The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of holders of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of such holders or of their representatives by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Debentures held or represented by them.  The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting.  A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of
 

 
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the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 8.2.  The record shall show the serial numbers of the Debentures voting in favor of or against any resolution.  The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.
 
Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
 
Section 8.7.                                Quorum; Actions.  
 
The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Securityholders; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, the Persons holding or representing such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding will constitute a quorum.  In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Securityholders, be dissolved.  In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting.  In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting.  Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 8.2, except that such notice need be given only once not less than 5 days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened.  Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding which shall constitute a quorum.
 
Except as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding; provided, however, that, except as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a not less than such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding.
 
Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of Debentures duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Securityholders, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.
 
ARTICLE IX.
 
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
 
Section 9.1.                                Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders.  
 
The Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
 
(a)           to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company, pursuant to Article XI hereof;
 

 
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(b)           to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of the holders of Debentures as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of such Debentures, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, however, that in respect of any such additional covenant restriction or condition such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default;
 
(c)           to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that any such action shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debentures;
 
(d)           to add to, delete from, or revise the terms of Debentures, including, without limitation, any terms relating to the issuance, exchange, registration or transfer of Debentures, including to provide for transfer procedures and restrictions substantially similar to those applicable to the Capital Securities as required by Section 2.5 (for purposes of assuring that no registration of Debentures is required under the Securities Act); provided, however, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debentures then outstanding (it being understood, for purposes of this proviso, that transfer restrictions on Debentures substantially similar to those that were applicable to Capital Securities shall not be deemed to materially adversely affect the holders of the Debentures);
 
(e)           to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Debentures and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee;
 
(f)           to make any change (other than as elsewhere provided in this paragraph) that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect; or
 
(g)           to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Debentures, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or the Debentures, or to add to the rights of the holders of Debentures.
 
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
 
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Debentures at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.
 
Section 9.2.                                Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.  
 
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 7.1) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as a class), the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided, however,
 

 
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that no such supplemental indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture; provided further, however, that if the Debentures are held by a trust or a trustee of such trust, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture; provided further, however, that if the consent of the Securityholder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture.
 
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.
 
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the Company, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture Register.  Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
 
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
 
Section 9.3.                                Effect of Supplemental Indentures.  
 
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Debentures shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
 
Section 9.4.                                Notation on Debentures.  
 
Debentures authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture.  If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Debentures so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Debentures then outstanding.
 
Section 9.5.                                Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to Trustee.  
 
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.6, receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article IX.  The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this
 

 
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Article IX and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article IX to join in the execution thereof.
 
ARTICLE X.
 
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
 
Section 10.1.                                Optional Redemption.  
 
The Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2010 (the “Redemption Date”), at the Redemption Price.
 
Section 10.2.                                Special Event Redemption.  
 
If a Special Event shall occur and be continuing, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event (the “Special Redemption Date”) at the Special Redemption Price.  If the Special Event redemption occurs prior to the Interest Payment Date in December 2010, the Company shall appoint a Quotation Agent, which shall be a designee of the Institutional Trustee, for the purpose of performing the services contemplated in, or by reference in, the definition of Special Redemption Price.  Any error in the calculation of the Special Redemption Price by the Quotation Agent or the Trustee may be corrected at any time by notice delivered to the Company and the holders of the Debentures.  Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating to the payment and calculation of the Special Redemption Price on the Debentures by the Trustee or the Quotation Agent, as the case may be, shall (in the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) be final, conclusive and binding on the holders of the Debentures and the Company, and no liability shall attach (except as provided above) to the Trustee or the Quotation Agent in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by any of them of their respective powers, duties and discretion.
 
Section 10.3.                                Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures.  
 
In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of the Debentures, it shall cause to be mailed a notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date to the holders of Debentures so to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the Debenture Register.  Such mailing shall be by first class mail.  The notice if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice.  In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the holder of any Debenture designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debenture.
 
Each such notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number, if any, of the Debentures to be redeemed, the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price, as applicable, at which Debentures are to be redeemed, the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debentures, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue.  If less than all the Debentures are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the Debentures to be redeemed.  In case the Debentures are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debenture, a new Debenture or Debentures in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
 
Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all
 

 
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the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.
 
If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed.
 
Section 10.4.                                Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption.  
 
If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 10.3, the Debentures or portions of Debentures with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debentures at the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable) interest on the Debentures or portions of Debentures so called for redemption shall cease to accrue.  On presentation and surrender of such Debentures at a place of payment specified in said notice, such Debentures or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.
 
Upon presentation of any Debenture redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debenture or Debentures of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Debenture so presented.
 
ARTICLE XI.
 
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE
 
Section 11.1.                                Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.  
 
Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company, or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, that the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation, merger (where the Company is not the surviving corporation), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Debentures in accordance with their terms, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed by the Company, shall be expressly assumed by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.
 
Section 11.2.                                Successor Entity to be Substituted.  
 
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Debentures and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company, and thereupon the predecessor entity shall be relieved of any further liability or obligation hereunder or upon the Debentures.  Such successor entity thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue in its own name, any or all of the Debentures issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the
 

 
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Company and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent; and, upon the order of such successor entity instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any Debentures which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company, to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for authentication, and any Debentures which such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for that purpose.  All the Debentures so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debentures theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Debentures had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.
 
Section 11.3.                                Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee.  
 
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall receive, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.5, an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any assumption, permitted or required by the terms of this Article XI complies with the provisions of this Article XI.
 
ARTICLE XII.
 
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
 
Section 12.1.                                Discharge of Indenture.  
 
When
 
 
(a)
the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Debentures theretofore authenticated (other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) and not theretofore canceled, or
 
 
(b)
all the Debentures not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within 1 year or are to be called for redemption within 1 year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds, which shall be immediately due and payable, sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Debentures (other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any moneys for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures (1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.4, or (2) paid to any state or to the District of Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws,
 
and if in the case of either clause (a) or clause (b) the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9 and 12.4 hereof shall survive until such Debentures shall mature and be paid.  Thereafter, Sections 6.6 and 12.4 shall survive, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture.  The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Debentures.
 
Section 12.2.                                Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee.  
 
Subject to the provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.1 shall be held in trust in a non-interest bearing account and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including
 

 
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the Company if acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular Debentures for the payment of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, and premium, if any, and interest.
 
Section 12.3.                                Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.  
 
Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held by any paying agent of the Debentures (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.
 
Section 12.4.                                Return of Unclaimed Moneys.  
 
Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Debentures and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the holders of Debentures for 2 years after the date upon which the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such Debentures, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall, subject to applicable escheatment laws, be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent on written demand; and the holder of any of the Debentures shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such holder may be entitled to collect, and all liability of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease.
 
ARTICLE XIII.
 
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
 
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
Section 13.1.                                Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations.  
 
No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Debentures.
 
ARTICLE XIV.
 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
 
Section 14.1.                                Successors.  
 
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Company in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.
 
Section 14.2.                                Official Acts by Successor Entity.  
 
Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee, officer or other authorized Person of any entity that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.
 
Section 14.3.                                Surrender of Company Powers.  
 
The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of at least 2/3 (two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company, and as to any permitted successor.
 
Section 14.4.                                Addresses for Notices, etc.  
 
Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made, furnished or served by the Trustee or by the Securityholders on or to the Company may be given or served in writing by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company, with the Trustee for the purpose) to the Company, 3305 Flamingo Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32963, Attention:  Jeffrey J. Zimmer.  Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand by any Securityholder or the Company to or upon the
 

 
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Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of the Trustee, addressed to the Trustee, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware  19890-1600, Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration.  Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand on or to any Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the address set forth in the Debenture Register.
 
Section 14.5.                                Governing Law.  
 
This Indenture and each Debenture shall be deemed to be a contract made under the law of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of said State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.
 
Section 14.6.                                Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.  
 
Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the opinion of the signers all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
 
Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
 
Section 14.7.                                Table of Contents, Headings, etc.  
 
The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
 
Section 14.8.                                Execution in Counterparts.  
 
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
 
Section 14.9.                                Separability.  
 
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Debentures, but this Indenture and such Debentures shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
 
Section 14.10.                                Assignment.  
 
The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations.  Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties hereto.
 
Section 14.11.                                Acknowledgment of Rights.  
 
The Company agrees that, with respect to any Debentures held by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee of the Trust, if the Institutional Trustee of the Trust fails to enforce its rights under this Indenture as the holder of Debentures held as the assets of such Trust after the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such Trust have so directed such Institutional Trustee, a holder of record of such Capital Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, institute legal proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such Institutional Trustee’s rights under this Indenture without first instituting any legal proceedings against such trustee or any other
 

 
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Person.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest (or premium, if any) or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest (or premium, if any) or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), the Company agrees that a holder of record of Capital Securities of the Trust may directly institute a proceeding against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder directly of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures.
 
ARTICLE XV.
 
SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES
 
Section 15.1.                                Agreement to Subordinate.  
 
The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Debentures by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Debentures shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XV; and each holder of a Debenture, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.
 
The payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on all Debentures shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred; provided, however, that the Debentures shall rank pari passu in right of payment with the Company’s Junior Subordinated Securities due March 30, 2035 issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as of May 17, 2005 by and between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association.
 
No provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder.
 
Section 15.2.                                Default on Senior Indebtedness.  
 
In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company following any grace period, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default and such acceleration has not been rescinded or canceled and such Senior Indebtedness has not been paid in full, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption) of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures.
 
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 15.2, such payment shall, subject to Section 15.7, be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.
 
Section 15.3.                                Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy.  
 
Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company, on account of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures.  Upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Securityholders or the Trustee
 

 
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would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article XV, shall be paid by the Company, or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Securityholders or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money’s worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the Securityholders or to the Trustee.
 
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
 
For purposes of this Article XV, the words “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with respect to the Debentures to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, that may at the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment.  The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article XI of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article XI of this Indenture.  Nothing in Section 15.2 or in this Section shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6 of this Indenture.
 
Section 15.4.                                Subrogation.  
 
Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company, applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debentures shall be paid in full.  For the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the Debentures be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness.  It is understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.
 

 
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Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Debentures is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holders of the Debentures, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holders of the Debentures the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the holders of the Debentures and creditors of the Company, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Debenture from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, received upon the exercise of any such remedy.
 
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, and the Securityholders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Securityholders, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV.
 
Section 15.5.                                Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.  
 
Each Securityholder by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee such Securityholder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
 
Section 15.6.                                Notice by the Company.  
 
The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XV or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section at least 2 Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within 2 Business Days prior to such date.
 
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder or holders.  In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held
 

 
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by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
 
Section 15.7.                                Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.  
 
The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
 
With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.  The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Securityholders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise.
 
Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6.
 
Section 15.8.                                Subordination May Not Be Impaired.  
 
No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.
 
Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Securityholders, without incurring responsibility to the Securityholders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XV or the obligations hereunder of the holders of the Debentures to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following:  (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company, and any other Person.
 
Signatures appear on the following page
 

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

BIMINI MORTGAGE MANAGEMENT, INC.


By
Name:
Title:


WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee


By
Name:
Title:

 
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EXHIBIT A
 
FORM OF FIXED/FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURE
 
[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]
 
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW.  NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.  THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY.
 
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”),  OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING.  ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY
 

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EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.
 
THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF.  ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.
 
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
 
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
 
Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debenture
 
of
 
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc.
 
October 5, 2005
 
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received promises to pay to Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee for Bimini Capital Trust II (the “Holder”) or registered assigns, the principal sum of fifty one million five hundred forty seven thousand dollars ($51,547,000.00) on December 15, 2035, and to pay interest on said principal sum from October 5, 2005, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”) (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day during the applicable Distribution Period, beginning on or after December 15, 2010), commencing on the Interest Payment Date in December 2005, at an annual rate equal to 7.8575% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2010 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Interest Payment Date in December 2010, and each succeeding Interest Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (each a “Distribution Period”), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 3.50% (the “Coupon Rate”), applied to the principal amount hereof, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment; provided, however, that any overdue principal, premium, if any, or Additional Sums and any overdue installment of interest shall bear Additional Interest at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment and such interest shall be payable on demand.  The amount of interest payable (i) for any Distribution Period commencing on or after the date of original issuance but before the Interest Payment Date in December 2010 will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and (ii) for the Distribution Period commencing on the Interest Payment Date in December 2010 and each succeeding Distribution Period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360.  The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be fifteen
 

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Business Days prior to the day on which the relevant Interest Payment Date occurs.  Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date.
 
“3-Month LIBOR” as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority:  (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (“Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Moneyline Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.  If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.  If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period.  If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.  As used herein, “Determination Date” means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period.
 
The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law.
 
All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or ..09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).
 
The principal of and interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee (or other paying agent appointed by the Company) maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Debenture Register if a request for a wire transfer by such holder has not been received by the Company or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the holder hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Trustee.
 
The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this
 

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Debenture is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.  Each holder of this Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.  Each holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.
 
This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee.
 
The provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side hereof and such provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate.
 
BIMINI MORTGAGE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 


By
Name:
Title:

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee


By:
Authorized Officer


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1235483.1
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[FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE]

This Debenture is one of the fixed/floating rate junior subordinated debentures of the Company, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture dated as of October 5, 2005 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered between the Company and the Trustee, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Debentures.  The Debentures are limited in aggregate principal amount as specified in the Indenture.
 
Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event prior to the Interest Payment Date in December 2010, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, at the Special Redemption Price.
 
In addition, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2010, at the Redemption Price.
 
Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.
 
If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any redemption of Debentures by the Company shall be subject to the receipt of any and all required regulatory approvals.
 
In case an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon demand of the Trustee, the principal of all of the Debentures shall become due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.
 
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture.
 
The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures to waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof or of the Indenture which cannot be
 

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modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9 of the Indenture; provided, however, that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided, further, that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver.  Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of the Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.  Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by the Indenture, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and the Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.
 
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, including Additional Interest, on this Debenture at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.
 
The Company has agreed that if Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or its Affiliates’ capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above,  (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable default, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith).
 
The Debentures are issuable only in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to the transfer restrictions and limitations as may be contained herein and therein from time to time, this Debenture is transferable by the holder hereof on the Debenture Register of the Company.  Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in
 

A-
1235483.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Indenture
 
 

 

Section 3.2 of the Indenture, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount.  All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to, the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.  No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
 
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.  All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture.
 
No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of the Indenture and the issue of the Debentures.
 
Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Debenture shall have the meanings assigned in the Indenture dated as of the date of original issuance of this Debenture between the Trustee and the Company.
 
THE INDENTURE AND THE DEBENTURES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
 

A-
1235483.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Indenture
 
 

 

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO TRUSTEE

Pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Indenture between Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., as the Company (the “Company”), and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, dated as of October 5, 2005 (the “Indenture”), the undersigned hereby certifies as follows:
 
 
1.
In my capacity as an officer of the Company, I would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company during the last fiscal year in the performance of any covenants of the Company contained in the Indenture.
 
 
2.
[To my knowledge, the Company is not in default in the performance of any covenants contained in the Indenture.
 
or, alternatively:
 
I am aware of the default(s) in the performance of covenants in the Indentures, as specified below.]
 
Capitalized terms used herein, and not otherwise defined herein, have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate.
 

 
Date:


______________________________
Name:
Title:


bmnm10q09302008ex10_20.htm
 
Exhibit 10.20

                                                                




AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION
OF TRUST

by and among

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Delaware Trustee,

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Institutional Trustee,

BIMINI MORTGAGE MANAGEMENT, INC.,
as Sponsor,

and

JEFFREY J. ZIMMER, ROBERT E. CAULEY and
AMBER K. LUEDKE
as Administrators,

Dated as of October 5, 2005








1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 
Exhibit 10.20

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
1
 
Section 1.1.
Definitions.
1
       
ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION
7
 
Section 2.1.
Name.
7
 
Section 2.2.
Office.
7
 
Section 2.3.
Purpose.
8
 
Section 2.4.
Authority.
8
 
Section 2.5.
Title to Property of the Trust.
8
 
Section 2.6.
Powers and Duties of the Trustees and the Administrators.
8
 
Section 2.7.
Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Institutional Trustee.
11
 
Section 2.8.
Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee.
12
 
Section 2.9.
Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustees and Administrators.
13
 
Section 2.10.
Certain Rights of Institutional Trustee.
15
 
Section 2.11.
Delaware Trustee.
17
 
Section 2.12.
Execution of Documents.
17
 
Section 2.13.
Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
17
 
Section 2.14.
Duration of Trust.
17
 
Section 2.15.
Mergers.
17
     
ARTICLE III SPONSOR
18
 
Section 3.1.
Sponsor’s Purchase of Common Securities.
18
 
Section 3.2.
Responsibilities of the Sponsor.
19
 
Section 3.3.
Expenses.
19
 
Section 3.4.
Right to Proceed.
19
     
ARTICLE IV INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND ADMINISTRATORS
20
 
Section 4.1.
Number of Trustees.
20
 
Section 4.2.
Delaware Trustee; Eligibility.
20
 
Section 4.3.
Institutional Trustee; Eligibility.
20
 
Section 4.4.
Administrators.
21
 
Section 4.5.
Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees and Administrators.
21
 
Section 4.6.
Vacancies Among Trustees.
22
 
Section 4.7.
Effect of Vacancies.
22
 
Section 4.8.
Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators.
23
 
Section 4.9.
Delegation of Power.
23
 
Section 4.10.
Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
23
     
ARTICLE V DISTRIBUTIONS
24
 
Section 5.1.
Distributions.
24
     
ARTICLE VI ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES
24
 
Section 6.1.
General Provisions Regarding Securities.
24
 
Section 6.2.
Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar.
25
 
Section 6.3.
Form and Dating.
25
 
Section 6.4.
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
25
 
Section 6.5.
Temporary Securities.
26
 
Section 6.6.
Cancellation.
26
 
Section 6.7.
Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults.
26
     
ARTICLE VII DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST
28
 
Section 7.1.
Dissolution and Termination of Trust.
28
     
ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER OF INTERESTS
28
 
Section 8.1.
General.
28
 
Section 8.2.
Transfer Procedures and Restrictions.
29
 
Section 8.3.
Deemed Security Holders.
31
     
ARTICLE IX LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE OR OTHERS
32
 
Section 9.1.
Liability.
32
 
Section 9.2.
Exculpation.
32
 
Section 9.3.
Fiduciary Duty.
32
 
Section 9.4.
Indemnification.
33
 
Section 9.5.
Outside Businesses.
35
 
Section 9.6.
Compensation; Fee.
35
     
ARTICLE X ACCOUNTING
36
 
Section 10.1.
Fiscal Year.
36
 
Section 10.2.
Certain Accounting Matters.
36
 
Section 10.3.
Banking.
36
 
Section 10.4.
Withholding.
36
     
ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS
37
 
Section 11.1.
Amendments.
37
 
Section 11.2.
Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written Consent.
38
     
ARTICLE XII REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND THE DELAWARE TRUSTEE
39
 
Section 12.1.
Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee.
39
 
Section 12.2.
Representations of the Delaware Trustee.
40
     
ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS
40
 
Section 13.1.
Notices.
40
 
Section 13.2.
Governing Law.
41
 
Section 13.3.
Intention of the Parties.
42
 
Section 13.4.
Headings.
42
 
Section 13.5.
Successors and Assigns.
42
 
Section 13.6.
Partial Enforceability.
42
 
Section 13.7.
Counterparts.
42


Annex I                                Terms of Securities
Exhibit A-1                           Form of Capital Security Certificate
Exhibit A-2                           Form of Common Security Certificate
Exhibit B                               Specimen of Initial Debenture
Exhibit C                               Placement Agreement

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 
Exhibit 10.20

AMENDED AND RESTATED
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
BIMINI CAPITAL TRUST II
OCTOBER 5, 2005
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST (“Declaration”) dated and effective as of October 5, 2005, by the Trustees (as defined herein), the Administrators (as defined herein), the Sponsor (as defined herein) and by the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the Trust (as defined herein) to be issued pursuant to this Declaration;
 
WHEREAS, the Trustees, the Administrators and the Sponsor established Bimini Capital Trust II (the “Trust”), a statutory trust under the Statutory Trust Act (as defined herein) pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated as of September 28, 2005 (the “Original Declaration”), and a Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 28, 2005, for the sole purpose of issuing and selling certain securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and investing the proceeds thereof in certain debentures of the Debenture Issuer (as defined herein);
 
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no interests in the Trust have been issued; and
 
WHEREAS, the Trustees, the Administrators and the Sponsor, by this Declaration, amend and restate each and every term and provision of the Original Declaration;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to continue the Trust as a statutory trust under the Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration constitutes the governing instrument of such statutory trust, the Trustees declare that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust issued hereunder, subject to the provisions of this Declaration.  The parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
 
ARTICLE I
 

 
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
 
Section 1.1.                                Definitions.  
 
Unless the context otherwise requires:
 
(a)             Capitalized terms used in this Declaration but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1;
 
(b)             a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same meaning throughout;
 
(c)             all references to “the Declaration” or “this Declaration” are to this Declaration as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
 
(d)             all references in this Declaration to Articles and Sections and Annexes and Exhibits are to Articles and Sections of and Annexes and Exhibits to this Declaration unless otherwise specified; and
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(e)             a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
 
Acceleration Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
 
Additional Interest” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
 
Administrative Action” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Administrators” means each of Jeffrey J. Zimmer, Robert E. Cauley and Amber K. Luedke, solely in such Person’s capacity as Administrator of the Trust created and continued hereunder and not in such Person’s individual capacity, or such Administrator’s successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor appointed as herein provided.
 
Affiliate” has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.
 
Authorized Officer” of a Person means any Person that is authorized to bind such Person.
 
Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person:
 
(a)           a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of such Person in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or
 
(b)           such Person shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of such Person of any substantial part of its property, or shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due.
 
Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in New York City or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required by any applicable law or executive order to close.
 
Capital Securities” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 1(a) of Annex I.
 
Capital Security Certificate” means a definitive Certificate in fully registered form representing a Capital Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.
 
Certificate” means any certificate evidencing Securities.
 
Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in the Placement Agreement.
 
Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
 
Common Securities” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 1(b) of Annex I.
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Common Security Certificate” means a definitive Certificate in fully registered form representing a Common Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2.
 
Company Indemnified Person” means (a) any Administrator; (b) any Affiliate of any Administrator; (c) any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any Administrator; or (d) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates.
 
Comparable Treasury Issue” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Comparable Treasury Price” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Institutional Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Declaration is located at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware  19890-1600, Attn: Corporate Trust Administration.
 
Coupon Rate” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(a) of Annex I.
 
Covered Person” means:  (a) any Administrator, officer, director, shareholder, partner, member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust or (ii) any of the Trust’s Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of Securities.
 
Creditor” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.
 
Debenture Issuer” means Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation, in its capacity as issuer of the Debentures under the Indenture.
 
Debenture Trustee” means Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee under the Indenture until a successor is appointed thereunder, and thereafter means such successor trustee.
 
Debentures” means the Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2035 to be issued by the Debenture Issuer under the Indenture.
 
Defaulted Interest” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
 
Delaware Trustee” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
 
Determination Date” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Direct Action” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(d).
 
Distribution” means a distribution payable to Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 5.1.
 
Distribution Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(b) of Annex I.
 
Distribution Period” means (i) with respect to the Distribution paid on the first Distribution Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2005]and (ii) thereafter, with respect to a Distribution paid on each successive Distribution Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the preceding Distribution Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) such current Distribution Payment Date.
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Distribution Rate” means, for the Distribution Period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010, the rate per annum of 7.8575%, and for each Distribution Period beginning on or after the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010, the Coupon Rate for such Distribution Period.
 
Event of Default” means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such event and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
 
(a)           the occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default; or
 
(b)           default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price of any Security when it becomes due and payable; or
 
(c)           default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any covenant or warranty of the Institutional Trustee in this Declaration (other than those specified in clause (a) or (b) above) and continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail to the Institutional Trustee and to the Sponsor by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or
 
(d)           the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Institutional Trustee if a successor Institutional Trustee has not been appointed within 90 days thereof.
 
Fiduciary Indemnified Person” shall mean each of the Institutional Trustee (including in its individual capacity), the Delaware Trustee (including in its individual capacity), any Affiliate of the Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee and any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, custodians, nominees or agents of the Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee.
 
Fiscal Year” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
 
Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Holder” means a Person in whose name a Certificate representing a Security is registered, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Statutory Trust Act.
 
Indemnified Person” means a Company Indemnified Person or a Fiduciary Indemnified Person.
 
Indenture” means the Indenture dated as of the Closing Date, between the Debenture Issuer and the Debenture Trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued, as such Indenture and any supplemental indenture may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
 
Indenture Event of Default” means an “Event of Default” as defined in the Indenture.
 
Institutional Trustee” means the Trustee meeting the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 4.3.
 
Interest” means any interest due on the Debentures including any Additional Interest and Defaulted Interest.
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Investment Company” means an investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act.
 
Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
 
Investment Company Event” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Liquidation” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I.
 
Liquidation Distribution” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I.
 
Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities” means Holder(s) of outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class.
 
Maturity Date” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Officers’ Certificates” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person.  Any Officers’ Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant providing for it in this Declaration shall include:
 
(a)           a statement that each officer signing the Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
 
(b)           a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Certificate;
 
(c)           a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer’s opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
 
(d)           a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
 
Paying Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 6.2.
 
Person” means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
 
Placement Agreement” means the Placement Agreement relating to the offering and sale of Capital Securities in the form of Exhibit C.
 
Primary Treasury Dealer” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Property Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(c).
 
Pro Rata” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8 of Annex I.
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Quorum” means a majority of the Administrators or, if there are only two Administrators, both of them.
 
Quotation Agent” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Redemption/Distribution Notice” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(e) of Annex I.
 
Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Reference Treasury Dealer” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Registrar” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.
 
Relevant Trustee” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a).
 
Responsible Officer” means, with respect to the Institutional Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
 
Restricted Securities Legend” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(b).
 
Rule 3a-5” means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act.
 
Rule 3a-7” means Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act.
 
Securities” means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities.
 
Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
 
Special Event” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Special Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Special Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Sponsor” means Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation, or any successor entity in a merger, consolidation or amalgamation, in its capacity as sponsor of the Trust.
 
Statutory Trust Act” means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. §§ 3801, et seq. as may be amended from time to time.
 
Successor Entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b).
 
Successor Delaware Trustee” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(e).
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Successor Institutional Trustee” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(b).
 
Successor Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b).
 
Super Majority” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 5(b) of Annex I.
 
Tax Event” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
10% in liquidation amount of the Securities” means Holder(s) of outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of 10% or more of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class.
 
3-Month LIBOR” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Transfer Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.
 
Treasury Rate” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
 
Treasury Regulations” means the income tax regulations, including temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code by the United States Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
 
Trust Property” means (a) the Debentures, (b) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the Property Account and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to be held by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Declaration.
 
Trustee” or “Trustees” means each Person who has signed this Declaration as a trustee, so long as such Person shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may from time to time be duly appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and references herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons solely in their capacity as trustees hereunder.
 
U.S. Person” means a United States Person as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
 
ARTICLE II
 

 
ORGANIZATION
 
Section 2.1.                                Name.  
 
The Trust is named “Bimini Capital Trust II,” as such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrators following written notice to the Holders of the Securities.  The Trust’s activities may be conducted under the name of the Trust or any other name deemed advisable by the Administrators.
 
Section 2.2.                                Office.  
 
The address of the principal office of the Trust is c/o Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware  19890-1600.  On at least 10 Business Days written notice to the Holders of the Securities, the Administrators may designate another principal office, which shall be in a state of the United States or in the District of Columbia.
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Section 2.3.                                Purpose.  
 
The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and sell the Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (b) to invest the gross proceeds from such sale to acquire the Debentures, (c) to facilitate direct investment in the assets of the Trust through issuance of the Common Securities and the Capital Securities and (d) except as otherwise limited herein, to engage in only those other activities necessary or incidental thereto.  The Trust shall not borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from investments, pledge any of its assets, or otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken) any activity that would cause the Trust not to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust.
 
Section 2.4.                                Authority.  
 
Except as specifically provided in this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall have exclusive and complete authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust.  An action taken by a Trustee in accordance with its powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust.  In dealing with the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust, no Person shall be required to inquire into the authority of the Trustees to bind the Trust.  Persons dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely conclusively on the power and authority of the Trustees as set forth in this Declaration.  The Administrators shall have only those ministerial duties set forth herein with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust and are not intended to be trustees or fiduciaries with respect to the Trust or the Holders.  The Institutional Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be obligated except as provided in Section 2.6, to perform those duties assigned to the Administrators.
 
Section 2.5.                                Title to Property of the Trust.  
 
Except as provided in Section 2.8 with respect to the Debentures and the Property Account or as otherwise provided in this Declaration, legal title to all assets of the Trust shall be vested in the Trust.  The Holders shall not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust.
 
Section 2.6.                                Powers and Duties of the Trustees and the Administrators.
 
(a)             The Trustees and the Administrators shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with the terms of this Declaration.  Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section, and in accordance with the following provisions (i) and (ii), the Trustees and the Administrators shall have the authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the Institutional Trustee to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, under this Declaration, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including without limitation, the following:
 
(i)             Each Administrator shall have the power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters:
 
(A)  the issuance and sale of the Securities;
 
(B)  to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute and deliver on behalf of the Trust, such agreements as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the purposes and function of the Trust, including agreements with the Paying Agent;
 
(C)  ensuring compliance with the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws;
 
(D)  the sending of notices (other than notices of default), and other information regarding the Securities and the Debentures to the Holders in accordance with this Declaration;
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(E)  the consent to the appointment of a Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar in accordance with this Declaration, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed;
 
(F)  execution and delivery of the Securities in accordance with this Declaration;
 
(G)  execution and delivery of closing certificates pursuant to the Placement Agreement and the application for a taxpayer identification number;
 
(H)  unless otherwise determined by the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities or as otherwise required by the Statutory Trust Act, to execute on behalf of the Trust (either acting alone or together with any or all of the Administrators) any documents that the Administrators have the power to execute pursuant to this Declaration;
 
(I)  the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Institutional Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Declaration for the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Holder);
 
(J)  to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken hereunder that require a record date be established, including Distributions, voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue relevant notices to the Holders of Capital Securities and Holders of Common Securities as to such actions and applicable record dates; and
 
(K) to duly prepare and file all applicable tax returns and tax information reports that are required to be filed with respect to the Trust on behalf of the Trust.
 
(ii)             As among the Trustees and the Administrators, the Institutional Trustee shall have the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters:
 
(A)  
 
the establishment of the Property Account;
 
(B)  
 
the receipt and holding of legal title of the Debentures;
 
(C)  
 
the collection of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the Debentures in the Property Account;
 
(D)  
 
the distribution through the Paying Agent of amounts owed to the Holders in respect of the Securities;
 
(E)  
 
the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Debentures;
 
(F)  
 
the sending of notices of default and other information regarding the Securities and the Debentures to the Holders in accordance with this Declaration;
 
(G)  
 
the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this Declaration;
 
(H)  
 
to the extent provided in this Declaration, the winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(I)  
 
after any Event of Default (provided that such Event of Default is not by or with respect to the Institutional Trustee) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Institutional Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Declaration and protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Holder); and
 
(J)  
 
to take all action that may be necessary for the preservation and the continuation of the Trust’s valid existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware.
 
(iii)             
 
The Institutional Trustee shall have the power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to any of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Administrators set forth in Section 2.6(a)(i)(D), (E) and (F) herein but shall not have a duty to do any such act unless specifically requested to do so in writing by the Sponsor, and shall then be fully protected in acting pursuant to such written request; and in the event of a conflict between the action of the Administrators and the action of the Institutional Trustee, the action of the Institutional Trustee shall prevail.
 
(b)             
 
So long as this Declaration remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees or Administrators acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, neither the Trustees nor the Administrators may cause the Trust to (i) acquire any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Declaration, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Holders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any action that would reasonably be expected (x) to cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or (y) to require the trust to register as an Investment Company under the Investment Company Act, (iv) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any other debt or (v) take or consent to any action that would result in the placement of a lien on any of the Trust Property.  The Institutional Trustee shall, at the sole cost and expense of the Trust, defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming any lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of the Trust or the Holders in their capacity as Holders.
 
(c)             
 
In connection with the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities, the Sponsor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the Sponsor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Declaration are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):
 
(i)             
 
the taking of any action necessary to obtain an exemption from the Securities Act;
 
(ii)             
 
the determination of the States in which to take appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and the determination of any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and the advice to the Administrators of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and the preparation for execution and filing of any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust or on behalf of the Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States in connection with the sale of the Capital Securities;
 
(iii)             
 
the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and delivery of, the Placement Agreement providing for the sale of the Capital Securities; and
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(iv)             
 
the taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to carry out any of the foregoing activities.
 
(d)             
 
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that the Trust will not (i) be deemed to be an Investment Company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, and (ii) fail to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.  The Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities shall not take any action inconsistent with the treatment of the Debentures as indebtedness of the Debenture Issuer for United States federal income tax purposes.  In this connection, the Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable laws, the Certificate of Trust or this Declaration, as amended from time to time, that each of the Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities determines in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes.
 
(e)             
 
All expenses incurred by the Administrators or the Trustees pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be reimbursed by the Sponsor, and the Trustees and the Administrators shall have no obligations with respect to such expenses (for purposes of clarification, this Section 2.6(e) does not contemplate the payment by the Sponsor of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustees under this Declaration or the fees and expenses of the Trustees’ counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Declaration).
 
(f)             
 
The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.
 
(g)             
 
Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Institutional Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by the Institutional Trustee and the Administrators for the benefit of the Trust in accordance with this Declaration.
 
(h)             
 
If the Institutional Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Declaration and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Institutional Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Sponsor, the Institutional Trustee and the Holders 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 Institutional Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
 
Section 2.7.                                Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Institutional Trustee.
 
(a)             
 
The Trust shall not, and the Institutional Trustee shall cause the Trust not to, engage in any activity other than as required or authorized by this Declaration.  In particular, the Trust shall not and the Institutional Trustee shall cause the Trust not to:
 
(i)             
 
invest any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the Debentures, but shall distribute all such proceeds to Holders of the Securities pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and of the Securities;
 
(ii)             
 
acquire any assets other than as expressly provided herein;
 
(iii)             
 
possess Trust Property for other than a Trust purpose;
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(iv)             
 
make any loans or incur any indebtedness other than loans represented by the Debentures;
 
(v)             
 
possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary the Trust assets or the terms of the Securities in any way whatsoever other than as expressly provided herein;
 
(vi)             
 
issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial ownership of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than the Securities;
 
(vii)             
 
carry on any “trade or business” as that phrase is used in the Code; or
 
(viii)             
 
other than as provided in this Declaration (including Annex I), (A) direct the time, method and place of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (B) waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (C) exercise any right to rescind or annul any declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable, or (D) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required unless the Trust shall have received a written opinion of counsel to the effect that such modification will not cause the Trust to cease to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
Section 2.8.                                Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee.
 
(a)             
 
The legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and held of record in the name of the Institutional Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Trust and the Holders of the Securities.  The right, title and interest of the Institutional Trustee to the Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter be appointed as Institutional Trustee in accordance with Section 4.5.  Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents with regard to the Debentures have been executed and delivered.
 
(b)             
 
The Institutional Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and interest in the Debentures to the Administrators or to the Delaware Trustee.
 
(c)             
 
The Institutional Trustee shall:
 
(i)             
 
establish and maintain a segregated non-interest bearing trust account (the “Property Account”) in the name of and under the exclusive control of the Institutional Trustee, and maintained in the Institutional Trustee’s trust department, on behalf of the Holders of the Securities and, upon the receipt of payments of funds made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee, deposit such funds into the Property Account and make payments, or cause the Paying Agent to make payments, to the Holders of the Capital Securities and Holders of the Common Securities from the Property Account in accordance with Section 5.1.  Funds in the Property Account shall be held uninvested until disbursed in accordance with this Declaration;
 
(ii)             
 
engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the redemption of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities to the extent the Debentures are redeemed or mature; and
 
(iii)             
 
upon written notice of distribution issued by the Administrators in accordance with the terms of the Securities, engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the distribution of the Debentures to Holders of Securities upon the occurrence of certain circumstances pursuant to the terms of the Securities.
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(d)             
 
The Institutional Trustee may bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to legal action with respect to, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against, the Trust which arises out of or in connection with an Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee has actual knowledge or arises out of the Institutional Trustee’s duties and obligations under this Declaration; provided, however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a Holder of the Capital Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal of or interest on the Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such Holder (a “Direct Action”) on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures.  In connection with such Direct Action, the rights of the Holders of the Common Securities will be subrogated to the rights of such Holder of the Capital Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Debenture Issuer to such Holder of the Capital Securities in such Direct Action; provided, however, that no Holder of the Common Securities may exercise such right of subrogation so long as an Event of Default with respect to the Capital Securities has occurred and is continuing.
 
(e)             
 
The Institutional Trustee shall continue to serve as a Trustee until either:
 
(i)             
 
the Trust has been completely liquidated and the proceeds of the liquidation distributed to the Holders of the Securities pursuant to the terms of the Securities and this Declaration; or
 
(ii)             
 
a Successor Institutional Trustee has been appointed and has accepted that appointment in accordance with Section 4.5.
 
(f)             
 
The Institutional Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of the rights, powers and privileges of a Holder of the Debentures under the Indenture and, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Institutional Trustee may, for the benefit of Holders of the Securities, enforce its rights as holder of the Debentures subject to the rights of the Holders pursuant to this Declaration (including Annex I) and the terms of the Securities.
 
The Institutional Trustee must exercise the powers set forth in this Section 2.8 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 2.3, and the Institutional Trustee shall not take any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 2.3.
 
Section 2.9.                                Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustees and Administrators.
 
(a)             
 
The Institutional Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Declaration and no implied covenants shall be read into this Declaration against the Institutional Trustee.  In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 6.7), the Institutional Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
 
(b)             
 
The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees and the Administrators shall be as provided by this Declaration.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Declaration shall require any Trustee or Administrator to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of their duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate protection against such risk of liability is not reasonably assured to it.  Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

of this Declaration relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustees or Administrators shall be subject to the provisions of this Article.  Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to relieve an Administrator or a Trustee from liability for its own negligent act, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct.  To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Trustee or an Administrator has duties and liabilities relating to the Trust or to the Holders, such Trustee or such Administrator shall not be liable to the Trust or to any Holder for such Trustee’s or such Administrator’s good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration.  The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Administrators or the Trustee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Sponsor and the Holders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Administrators or the Trustees.
 
(c)             
 
All payments made by the Institutional Trustee or a Paying Agent in respect of the Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Institutional Trustee or a Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof.  Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Security, agrees that it will look solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees and the Administrators are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Security or for any other liability in respect of any Security.  This Section 2.9(c) does not limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Declaration.
 
(d)             
 
The Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for its own acts or omissions hereunder except as a result of its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
 
(i)             
 
the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by an Authorized Officer of the Institutional Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Institutional Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
 
(ii)             
 
the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities or the Common Securities, as applicable, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under this Declaration;
 
(iii)             
 
the Institutional Trustee’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and the Property Account shall be to deal with such property in a similar manner as the Institutional Trustee deals with similar property for its fiduciary accounts generally, subject to the protections and limitations on liability afforded to the Institutional Trustee under this Declaration;
 
(iv)             
 
the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree in writing with the Sponsor; and money held by the Institutional Trustee need not be segregated from other funds held by it except in relation to the Property Account maintained by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to Section 2.8(c)(i) and except to the extent otherwise required by law; and
 
(v)             
 
the Institutional Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the compliance by the Administrators or the Sponsor with their respective duties under this Declaration, nor shall the Institutional Trustee be liable for any default or misconduct of the Administrators or the Sponsor.
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Section 2.10.                                Certain Rights of Institutional Trustee.  
 
Subject to the provisions of Section 2.9:
 
(a)             
 
the Institutional Trustee may conclusively rely and shall fully be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, opinion of counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties;
 
(b)             
 
if (i) in performing its duties under this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action, (ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein, or (iii) the Institutional Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this Declaration, then, except as to any matter as to which the Holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote under the terms of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee may deliver a notice to the Sponsor requesting the Sponsor’s written instructions as to the course of action to be taken and the Institutional Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Institutional Trustee shall be instructed in writing, in which event the Institutional Trustee shall have no liability except for its own negligence or willful misconduct;
 
(c)             
 
any direction or act of the Sponsor or the Administrators contemplated by this Declaration shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate;
 
(d)             
 
whenever in the administration of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before undertaking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Institutional Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may request and conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate as to factual matters which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Sponsor or the Administrators;
 
(e)             
 
the Institutional Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof;
 
(f)             
 
the Institutional Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection (which counsel may be counsel to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates) and the advice of such 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 and in accordance with such advice; the Institutional Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Declaration from any court of competent jurisdiction;
 
(g)             
 
the Institutional Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Declaration at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Declaration, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Institutional Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction; provided, that nothing contained in this Section 2.10(g) shall be taken to relieve the Institutional Trustee, subject to Section 2.9(b), upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 6.7), to exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs;
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(h)             
 
the Institutional Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Holders, but the Institutional Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit;
 
(i)             
 
the Institutional Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or attorneys and the Institutional Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of or for the supervision of, any such agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
 
(j)             
 
whenever in the administration of this Declaration the Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder the Institutional Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Capital Securities which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as would be entitled to direct the Institutional Trustee under the terms of the Capital Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with such instructions;
 
(k)             
 
except as otherwise expressly provided in this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Declaration;
 
(l)             
 
when the Institutional Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with a Bankruptcy Event, 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 or law relating to creditors rights generally;
 
(m)             
 
the Institutional Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of an Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee obtains actual knowledge of such event or the Institutional Trustee receives written notice of such event from any Holder, the Sponsor or the Debenture Trustee;
 
(n)             
 
any action taken by the Institutional Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Trust and the Holders of the Securities, and the signature of the Institutional Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action and no third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Institutional Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Declaration, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Institutional Trustee’s or its agent’s taking such action; and
 
(o)             
 
no provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Institutional Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Institutional Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation.  No permissive power or authority available to the Institutional Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
 
Section 2.11.                                Delaware Trustee.  
 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration other than Section 4.1, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities of any of the Trustees or the Administrators described in this Declaration (except as may be required under the Statutory Trust Act).  Except as set forth in Section 4.1, the Delaware Trustee shall be a Trustee for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of § 3807 of the Statutory Trust Act.
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Section 2.12.                                Execution of Documents.  
 
Unless otherwise determined in writing by the Institutional Trustee, and except as otherwise required by the Statutory Trust Act, the Institutional Trustee, or any one or more of the Administrators, as the case may be, is authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any documents that the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, have the power and authority to execute pursuant to Section 2.6.
 
Section 2.13.                                Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.  
 
The recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Sponsor, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness.  The Trustees make no representations as to the value or condition of the property of the Trust or any part thereof.  The Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Declaration, the Debentures or the Securities.
 
Section 2.14.                                Duration of Trust.  
 
The Trust, unless earlier dissolved pursuant to the provisions of Article VII hereof, shall be in existence for 35 years from the Closing Date.
 
Section 2.15.                                Mergers.
 
(a)             
 
The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except as described in Section 2.15(b) and (c) and except in connection with the liquidation of the Trust and the distribution of the Debentures to Holders of Securities pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(iv) of the Declaration or Section 4 of Annex I.
 
(b)             
 
The Trust may, with the consent of the Institutional Trustee and without the consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by a trust organized as such under the laws of any state; provided that:
 
(i)             
 
if the Trust is not the surviving entity, such successor entity (the “Successor Entity”) either:
 
(A)  
 
expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under the Securities; or
 
(B)  
 
substitutes for the Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Securities (the “Successor Securities”) so that the Successor Securities rank the same as the Securities rank with respect to Distributions and payments upon Liquidation, redemption and otherwise;
 
(ii)             
 
the Sponsor expressly appoints a trustee of the Successor Entity that possesses substantially the same powers and duties as the Institutional Trustee as the Holder of the Debentures;
 
(iii)             
 
such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect;
 
(iv)             
 
the Institutional Trustee receives written confirmation from Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. and any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization that rates securities issued by a Holder of the Capital Securities at the time of such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement that it will not reduce or withdraw the rating of any such securities because of such merger, conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement;
 
(v)             
 
such Successor Entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust;
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(vi)             
 
prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Trust has received an opinion of a nationally recognized independent counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters to the effect that:
 
(A)  
 
such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect;
 
(B)  
 
following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, neither the Trust nor the Successor Entity will be required to register as an Investment Company; and
 
(C)  
 
following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Trust (or the Successor Entity) will continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes;
 
(vii)             
 
the Sponsor owns 100% of the common securities of any Successor Entity; and
 
(viii)             
 
prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Institutional Trustee shall have received an Officers’ Certificate of the Administrators and an opinion of counsel, each to the effect that all conditions precedent under this Section 2.15(b) to such transaction have been satisfied.
 
(c)             
 
Notwithstanding Section 2.15(b), the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would cause the Trust or Successor Entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
ARTICLE III
 

 
SPONSOR
 
Section 3.1.                                Sponsor’s Purchase of Common Securities.  
 
On the Closing Date, the Sponsor will purchase all of the Common Securities issued by the Trust in an amount at least equal to 3% of the capital of the Trust, at the same time as the Capital Securities are sold.
 
Section 3.2.                                Responsibilities of the Sponsor.  
 
In connection with the issue and sale of the Capital Securities, the Sponsor shall have the exclusive right and responsibility to engage in, or direct the Administrators to engage in, the following activities:
 
(a)             
 
to determine the States in which to take appropriate action to qualify the Trust or to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and to do any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by the Trust, and advise the Trust of actions it must take, and prepare for execution and filing any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States, to protect the limited liability of the Holders of the Capital Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the purposes for which it was created; and
 
(b)             
 
to negotiate the terms of and/or execute on behalf of the Trust, the Placement Agreement and other related agreements providing for the sale of the Capital Securities and Common Securities.
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Section 3.3.                                Expenses.  
 
In connection with the offering, sale and issuance of the Debentures to the Trust and in connection with the sale of the Securities by the Trust, the Sponsor, in its capacity as Debenture Issuer, shall:
 
(a)             pay all reasonable costs and expenses owing to the Debenture Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6 of the Indenture;
 
(b)             be responsible for and shall pay all debts and obligations (other than with respect to the Securities) and all costs and expenses of the Trust, the offering, sale and issuance of the Securities (including fees to the placement agents in connection therewith), the costs and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) of the Institutional Trustee and the Administrators, the costs and expenses relating to the operation of the Trust, including, without limitation, costs and expenses of accountants, attorneys, statistical or bookkeeping services, expenses for printing and engraving and computing or accounting equipment, Paying Agents, Registrars, Transfer Agents, duplicating, travel and telephone and other telecommunications expenses and costs and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition, financing, and disposition of Trust assets and the enforcement by the Institutional Trustee of the rights of the Holders (for purposes of clarification, this Section 3.3(b) does not contemplate the payment by the Sponsor of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustees pursuant to the services to be provided by the Trustees under this Declaration or the fees and expenses of the Trustees’ counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Declaration); and
 
(c)             
 
pay any and all taxes (other than United States withholding taxes required to be withheld that are attributable to the Trust or its assets) and all liabilities, costs and expenses with respect to such taxes of the Trust.
 
The Sponsor’s obligations under this Section 3.3 shall be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, any Person to whom such debts, obligations, costs, expenses and taxes are owed (a “Creditor”) whether or not such Creditor has received notice hereof.  Any such Creditor may enforce the Sponsor’s obligations under this Section 3.3 directly against the Sponsor and the Sponsor irrevocably waives any right or remedy to require that any such Creditor take any action against the Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the Sponsor.  The Sponsor agrees to execute such additional agreements as may be necessary or desirable in order to give full effect to the provisions of this Section 3.3.
 
Section 3.4.                                Right to Proceed.  
 
The Sponsor acknowledges the rights of Holders to institute a Direct Action as set forth in Section 2.8(d) hereto.
 
ARTICLE IV
 

 
INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND ADMINISTRATORS
 
Section 4.1.                                Number of Trustees.  
 
The number of Trustees shall initially be two, and;
 
(a)           at any time before the issuance of any Securities, the Sponsor may, by written instrument, increase or decrease the number of Trustees; and
 
(b)           after the issuance of any Securities, the number of Trustees may be increased or decreased by vote of the Holder of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of the Holder of the Common Securities; provided, however, that there shall be a Delaware Trustee if required by Section 4.2; and there shall always be one Trustee who shall be the Institutional Trustee, and such Trustee may also serve as Delaware Trustee if it meets the applicable requirements, in which case Section 2.11 shall have no application to such entity in its capacity as Institutional Trustee.
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Section 4.2.                                Delaware Trustee; Eligibility.
 
(a)             
 
If required by the Statutory Trust Act, one Trustee (the “Delaware Trustee”) shall be:
 
(i)             
 
a natural person at least 21 years of age who is a resident of the State of Delaware; or
 
(ii)             
 
if not a natural person, an entity which is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware, and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law, including § 3807 of the Statutory Trust Act.
 
(b)             
 
The initial Delaware Trustee shall be Wilmington Trust Company.
 
Section 4.3.                                Institutional Trustee; Eligibility.
 
(a)             
 
There shall at all times be one Trustee which shall:
 
(i)             
 
not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor;
 
(ii)             
 
not offer or provide credit or credit enhancement to the Trust; and
 
(iii)             
 
be a banking corporation or trust company organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000.00), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, state, or District of Columbia authority.  If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then for the purposes of this Section 4.3(a)(iii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
 
(b)             
 
If at any time the Institutional Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.3(a), the Institutional Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 4.5.
 
(c)             
 
If the Institutional Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Institutional Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to this Declaration.
 
(d)             
 
The initial Institutional Trustee shall be Wilmington Trust Company.
 
Section 4.4.                                Administrators.  
 
Each Administrator shall be a U.S. Person, 21 years of age or older and authorized to bind the Sponsor.  The initial Administrators shall be Jeffrey J. Zimmer, Robert E. Cauley and Amber K. Luedke.  There shall at all times be at least one Administrator.  Except where a requirement for action by a specific number of Administrators is expressly set forth in this Declaration and except with respect to any action the taking of which is the subject of a meeting of the Administrators, any action required or permitted to be taken by the Administrators may be taken by, and any power of the Administrators may be exercised by, or with the consent of, any one such Administrator.
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Section 4.5.                                Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees and Administrators.  
 
(a)             
 
No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the “Relevant 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 this Section 4.5.
 
(b)             
 
Subject to Section 4.5(a), a Relevant Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Holders of the Securities and by appointing a successor Relevant Trustee.  Upon the resignation of the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee shall appoint a successor by requesting from at least three Persons meeting the eligibility requirements their expenses and charges to serve as the successor Institutional Trustee on a form provided by the Administrators, and selecting the Person who agrees to the lowest expense and charges (the “Successor Institutional Trustee”).  If the instrument of acceptance by the successor Relevant Trustee required by this Section 4.5 shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation or delivery of the instrument of removal, the Relevant Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Trust, any federal, state or District of Columbia court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee.  Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Relevant Trustee. The Institutional Trustee shall have no liability for the selection of such successor pursuant to this Section 4.5.
 
(c)             
 
Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by an act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities.  If any Trustee shall be so removed, the Holders of the Common Securities, by act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities delivered to the Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee, and such successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.5.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may be removed by the act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust).  If any Trustee shall be so removed, the Holders of Capital Securities, by act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities then outstanding delivered to the Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and such successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.5.  If no successor Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by this Section 4.5 within 30 days after delivery of an instrument of removal, the Relevant Trustee or any Holder who has been a Holder of the Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any federal, state or District of Columbia court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee.  Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees.
 
(d)             
 
The Institutional Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of a Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders and to the Sponsor.  Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Institutional Trustee.
 
(e)             
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Declaration, in the event a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or is adjudged by a court to have become incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by the Institutional Trustee following the procedures in this Section 4.5 (with the successor being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement for a Delaware Trustee set forth in this Declaration) (the “Successor Delaware Trustee”).
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(f)             
 
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee, the retiring Relevant Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee with respect to the Securities shall execute and deliver an amendment hereto wherein each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (a) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the Securities and the Trust and (b) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Declaration as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust by more than one Relevant Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such amendment shall constitute such Relevant Trustees co-trustees and upon the execution and delivery of such amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on request of the Trust or any successor Relevant Trustee, such retiring Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities and the Trust subject to the payment of all unpaid fees, expenses and indemnities of such retiring Relevant Trustee.
 
(g)             
 
No Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Institutional Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be.
 
(h)             
 
The Holders of the Capital Securities will have no right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrators, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the Holders of the Common Securities.
 
(i)             
 
Any successor Delaware Trustee shall file an amendment to the Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware identifying the name and principal place of business of such Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware.
 
Section 4.6.                                Vacancies Among Trustees.  
 
If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 4.1, a vacancy shall occur.  A resolution certifying the existence of such vacancy by the Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of the Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of such vacancy.  The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 4.5.
 
Section 4.7.                                Effect of Vacancies.  
 
The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to dissolve, terminate or annul the Trust or terminate this Declaration.  Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of a Trustee in accordance with Section 4.5, the Institutional Trustee shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration.
 
Section 4.8.                                Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators.  
 
Meetings of the Administrators shall be held from time to time upon the call of an Administrator.  Regular meetings of the Administrators may be held in person in the United States or by telephone, at a place (if applicable) and time fixed by resolution of the Administrators.  Notice of any in-person meetings of the Trustees with the Administrators or meetings of the Administrators shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 48 hours before such meeting.  Notice of any telephonic meetings of the Trustees with the Administrators or meetings of the Administrators or any committee thereof shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before a meeting.  Notices shall contain a brief statement of the time, place and anticipated purposes of the meeting.  The presence (whether in person or by telephone) of a Trustee or an Administrator, as the case may be, at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where the Trustee or an Administrator,
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

as the case may be, attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any activity on the grounds that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened.  Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration, any action of the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Trustees or the Administrators present (whether in person or by telephone) and eligible to vote with respect to such matter, provided that a Quorum is present, or without a meeting by the unanimous written consent of the Trustees or the Administrators.  Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators together shall be held from time to time upon the call of any Trustee or an Administrator.
 
Section 4.9.                                Delegation of Power.
 
(a)             
 
Any Administrator may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 that is a U.S. Person his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section 2.6; and
 
(b)             
 
the Administrators shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Administrators or otherwise as the Administrators may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein.
 
Section 4.10.                                Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.  
 
Any Person into which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall be the successor of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article and, provided, further, that such Person shall file an amendment to the Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as contemplated in Section 4.5(i).
 
ARTICLE V
 

 
DISTRIBUTIONS
 
Section 5.1.                                Distributions.  
 
Holders shall receive Distributions in accordance with the applicable terms of the relevant Holder’s Securities. Distributions shall be made on the Capital Securities and the Common Securities in accordance with the preferences set forth in their respective terms.  If and to the extent that the Debenture Issuer makes a payment of Interest or any principal on the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee shall and is directed, to the extent funds are available for that purpose, to make a distribution (a “Distribution”) of such amounts to Holders.
 
ARTICLE VI
 

 
ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES
 
Section 6.1.                                General Provisions Regarding Securities.
 
(a)             
 
The Administrators shall, on behalf of the Trust, issue one series of capital securities substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I and one series of common securities substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I.  The Trust shall issue no securities or other interests in the assets of the
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Trust other than the Capital Securities and the Common Securities.  The Capital Securities rank pari passu to, and payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with, the Common Securities except that, where an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights to payment of the Holders of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I.
 
(b)             
 
The Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by one or more Administrators. Such signature shall be the facsimile or manual signature of any Administrator.  In case any Administrator of the Trust who shall have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such Administrator before the Certificates so signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such Certificates nevertheless may be delivered as though the person who signed such Certificates had not ceased to be such Administrator, and any Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Trust by such persons who, at the actual date of execution of such Security, shall be an Administrator of the Trust, although at the date of the execution and delivery of the Declaration any such person was not such an Administrator.  A Capital Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the facsimile or manual signature of an Authorized Officer of the Institutional Trustee.  Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Capital Security has been authenticated under this Declaration.  Upon written order of the Trust signed by one Administrator, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate the Capital Securities for original issue.  The Institutional Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent that is a U.S. Person acceptable to the Trust to authenticate the Capital Securities.  A Common Security need not be so authenticated.
 
(c)             
 
The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall not constitute a loan to the Trust.
 
(d)             
 
Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration, the Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and, except as provided in Section 9.1(b) with respect to the Common Securities, non-assessable.
 
(e)             
 
Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder in accordance with the terms of this Declaration, shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of, and shall be bound by, this Declaration.
 
Section 6.2.                                Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar.  
 
The Trust shall maintain in Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency where the Capital Securities may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”), and an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange (the “Transfer Agent”).  The Trust shall keep or cause to be kept at such office or agency a register for the purpose of registering Securities, transfers and exchanges of Securities, such register to be held by a registrar (the “Registrar”).  The Administrators may appoint the Paying Agent, the Registrar and the Transfer Agent and may appoint one or more additional Paying Agents or one or more co-Registrars, or one or more co-Transfer Agents in such other locations as it shall determine.  The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent, the term “Registrar” includes any additional registrar or co-Registrar and the term “Transfer Agent” includes any additional transfer agent.  The Administrators may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar at any time without prior notice to any Holder.  The Administrators shall notify the Institutional Trustee of the name and address of any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar not a party to this Declaration.  The Administrators hereby initially appoint the Institutional Trustee to act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Capital Securities and the Common Securities.  The Institutional Trustee or any of its Affiliates in the United States may act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar.
 
Section 6.3.                                Form and Dating.  
 
The Capital Securities and the Institutional Trustee’s certificate of authentication thereon shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1, and the Common Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2, each of which is hereby incorporated in and
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

expressly made a part of this Declaration.  Certificates may be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrators, as conclusively evidenced by their execution thereof.  The Securities may have letters, numbers, notations or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Trust is subject if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Sponsor).  The Trust at the direction of the Sponsor shall furnish any such legend not contained in Exhibit A-1 to the Institutional Trustee in writing.  Each Capital Security shall be dated on or before the date of its authentication.  The terms and provisions of the Securities set forth in Annex I and the forms of Securities set forth in Exhibits A-1 and A-2 are part of the terms of this Declaration and to the extent applicable, the Institutional Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Administrators and the Sponsor, by their execution and delivery of this Declaration, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.  Capital Securities will be issued only in blocks having a stated liquidation amount of not less than $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof.
 
The Capital Securities are being offered and sold by the Trust pursuant to the Placement Agreement in definitive, registered form without coupons and with the Restricted Securities Legend.
 
Section 6.4.                                Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
 
If:
 
(a)             
 
any mutilated Certificates should be surrendered to the Registrar, or if the Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate; and
 
(b)             
 
there shall be delivered to the Registrar, the Administrators and the Institutional Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to keep each of them harmless;
 
then, in the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been acquired by a protected purchaser, an Administrator on behalf of the Trust shall execute (and in the case of a Capital Security Certificate, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate) and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like denomination.  In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 6.4, the Registrar or the Administrators may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.  Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in the relevant Securities, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time.
 
Section 6.5.                                Temporary Securities.  
 
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Administrators may prepare and, in the case of the Capital Securities, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate, temporary Securities.  Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Administrators consider appropriate for temporary Securities.  Without unreasonable delay, the Administrators shall prepare and, in the case of the Capital Securities, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate, definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities.
 
Section 6.6.                                Cancellation.  
 
The Administrators at any time may deliver Securities to the Institutional Trustee for cancellation.  The Registrar shall forward to the Institutional Trustee any Securities surrendered to it for registration of transfer, redemption or payment.  The Institutional Trustee shall promptly cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such canceled Securities as the Administrators direct.  The Administrators may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that have been paid or that have been delivered to the Institutional Trustee for cancellation.
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Section 6.7.                                Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults.
 
(a)             
 
The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the Institutional Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.5, and the Holders shall not have any right or title therein other than the undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below.  The Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Declaration.  The Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights.
 
(b)             
 
For so long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if upon an Indenture Event of Default, the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures fail to declare the principal of all of the Debentures to be immediately due and payable, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities then outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration by a notice in writing to the Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor and the Debenture Trustee.
 
At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Debentures has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Debenture Trustee as provided in the Indenture, if the Institutional Trustee, subject to the provisions hereof, fails to annul any such declaration and waive such default, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, by written notice to the Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor and the Debenture Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
 
(i)             
 
the Debenture Issuer has paid or deposited with the Debenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay
 
(A)  
 
all overdue installments of interest on all of the Debentures,
 
(B)  
 
any accrued Additional Interest on all of the Debentures,
 
(C)  
 
the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Debentures that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest and Additional Interest thereon at the rate borne by the Debentures, and
 
(D)  
 
all sums paid or advanced by the Debenture Trustee under the Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Debenture Trustee and the Institutional Trustee, their agents and counsel; and
 
(ii)             
 
all Events of Default with respect to the Debentures, other than the non-payment of the principal of the Debentures that has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.7 of the Indenture.
 
The Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities, waive any past default under the Indenture or any Indenture Event of Default, except a default or Indenture Event of Default in the payment of principal or interest on the Debentures (unless such default or Indenture Event of Default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture Trustee) or a default under the Indenture or an Indenture Event of Default in respect of a covenant or provision that under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture.  No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Upon receipt by the Institutional Trustee of written notice declaring such an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of any part of the Capital Securities, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of outstanding Capital Securities entitled to join in such notice, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Institutional Trustee receives such notice.  The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day that is 90 days after such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect.  Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such 90-day period, a new written notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, that is identical to a written notice that has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.7.
 
(c)             
 
Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.7, the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities, waive any past default or Event of Default and its consequences.  Upon such waiver, any such default or Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any default or Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
 
ARTICLE VII
 

 
DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST
 
Section 7.1.                                Dissolution and Termination of Trust.
 
(a)             
 
The Trust shall dissolve on the first to occur of:
 
(i)             
 
unless earlier dissolved, on December 15, 2040, the expiration of the term of the Trust;
 
(ii)             
 
upon a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Sponsor, the Trust or the Debenture Issuer;
 
(iii)             
 
upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent with respect to the Sponsor (other than in connection with a merger, consolidation or similar transaction not prohibited by the Indenture or this Declaration, as the case may be) or upon the revocation of the charter of the Sponsor and the expiration of 90 days after the date of revocation without a reinstatement thereof;
 
(iv)             
 
upon the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of the Securities, upon exercise of the right of the Holder of all of the outstanding Common Securities to dissolve the Trust as provided in Annex I hereto;
 
(v)             
 
upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Holder of the Common Securities, the Sponsor, the Trust or the Debenture Issuer;
 
(vi)             
 
when all of the Securities shall have been called for redemption and the amounts necessary for redemption thereof shall have been paid to the Holders in accordance with the terms of the Securities; or
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(vii)             
 
before the issuance of any Securities, with the consent of all of the Trustees and the Sponsor.
 
(b)             
 
As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred to in Section 7.1(a), and after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as required by applicable law, including of the Statutory Trust Act, and subject to the terms set forth in Annex I, the Institutional Trustee shall terminate the Trust by filing a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
 
(c)             
 
The provisions of Section 2.9 and Article IX shall survive the termination of the Trust.
 
ARTICLE VIII
 

 
TRANSFER OF INTERESTS
 
Section 8.1.                                General.
 
(a)             
 
Subject to Section 8.1(c), where Capital Securities are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal number of Capital Securities represented by different certificates, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met.  To permit registrations of transfer and exchanges, the Trust shall issue and the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate Capital Securities at the Registrar’s request.
 
(b)             
 
Upon issuance of the Common Securities, the Sponsor shall acquire and retain beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities and for so long as the Securities remain outstanding, and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Sponsor shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Sponsor, in its capacity as Debenture Issuer, under the Indenture that is a U.S. Person may succeed to the Sponsor’s ownership of the Common Securities.
 
(c)             
 
Capital Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration and in the terms of the Securities.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any transfer or purported transfer of any Security not made in accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void and will be deemed to be of no legal effect whatsoever and any such transferee shall be deemed not to be the holder of such Capital Securities for any purpose, including but not limited to the receipt of Distributions on such Capital Securities, and such transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Capital Securities.
 
(d)             
 
The Registrar shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities, which will be effected without charge but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Registrar may require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in relation to it.  Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Securities, the Registrar shall cause one or more new Securities of the same tenor to be issued in the name of the designated transferee or transferees.  Every Security surrendered for registration of transfer shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by the Holder or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.  Each Security surrendered for registration of transfer shall be canceled by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6.  A transferee of a Security shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder upon the receipt by such transferee of a Security.  By acceptance of a Security, each transferee shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Declaration.
 
(e)             
 
The Trust shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days before the day of any selection of Securities for redemption and ending at the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

notice of redemption is deemed to have been given to all Holders of the Securities to be redeemed, or (ii) to register the transfer or exchange of any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
 
Section 8.2.                                Transfer Procedures and Restrictions.
 
(a)             
 
The Capital Securities shall bear the Restricted Securities Legend, which shall not be removed unless there is delivered to the Trust such satisfactory evidence, which may include an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Institutional Trustee, as may be reasonably required by the Trust, that neither the legend nor the restrictions on transfer set forth therein are required to ensure that transfers thereof comply with the provisions of the Securities Act.  Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence, the Institutional Trustee, at the written direction of the Trust, shall authenticate and deliver Capital Securities that do not bear the legend.
 
(b)             
 
Except as permitted by Section 8.2(a), each Capital Security shall bear a legend (the “Restricted Securities Legend”) in substantially the following form and a Capital Security shall not be transferred except in compliance with such legend, unless otherwise determined by the Sponsor, upon the advice of counsel expert in securities law, in accordance with applicable law:
 
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW.  NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.  THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE SPONSOR’S AND THE TRUST’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST.  HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.
 
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TRUST THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) TO THE TRUST OR (II) TO A PERSON WHOM THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED PURCHASER” (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2(a)(51) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED), AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF ANY CAPITAL SECURITIES FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.
 
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING.  ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.
 
THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF.  ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.
 
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(c)             
 
To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trust shall execute and the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate Capital Securities at the Registrar’s request.
 
(d)             
 
Registrations of transfers or exchanges will be effected without charge, but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Registrar or the Sponsor may require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation to it.
 
(e)             
 
All Capital Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Declaration shall evidence the same security and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Declaration as the Capital Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
 
Section 8.3.                                Deemed Security Holders.  
 
The Trust, the Administrators, the Trustees, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar may treat the Person in whose name any Certificate shall be registered on the books and records of the Trust as the sole holder of such Certificate and of the Securities represented by such Certificate for purposes of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Certificate or in the Securities represented by such Certificate on the part of any Person, whether or not the Trust, the Administrators, the Trustees, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar shall have actual or other notice thereof.
 
ARTICLE IX
 

 
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
 
HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE OR OTHERS
 
Section 9.1.                                Liability.
 
(a)             
 
Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration and the terms of the Securities, the Sponsor shall not be:
 
(i)             
 
personally liable for the return of any portion of the capital contributions (or any return thereon) of the Holders of the Securities which shall be made solely from assets of the Trust; or
 
(ii)             
 
required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder of the Securities any deficit upon dissolution of the Trust or otherwise.
 
(b)             
 
The Holder of the Common Securities shall be liable for all of the debts and obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the Securities) to the extent not satisfied out of the Trust’s assets.
 
(c)             
 
Pursuant to the Statutory Trust Act, the Holders of the Capital Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
 
Section 9.2.                                Exculpation.
 
(a)             
 
No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person’s negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(b)             
 
An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Trust and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Trust by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence and, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected by such Indemnified Person with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Trust, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Securities might properly be paid.
 
Section 9.3.                                Fiduciary Duty.
 
(a)             
 
To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to any other Covered Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this Declaration shall not be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration.  The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Indemnified Person.
 
(b)             
 
Whenever in this Declaration an Indemnified Person is permitted or required to make a decision:
 
(i)             
 
in its “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority, the Indemnified Person shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust or any other Person; or
 
(ii)             
 
in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the Indemnified Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard imposed by this Declaration or by applicable law.
 
Section 9.4.                                Indemnification.
 
(a)             
 
The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Declaration by reason of the fact that he is or was an Indemnified Person against expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnified Person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
 
(b)             
 
The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Trust to procure a judgment in its favor arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Declaration by reason of the fact that he is or was an Indemnified Person against expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust; provided, however, that no such indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Trust unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.
 
(c)             
 
To the extent that an Indemnified Person shall be successful on the merits or otherwise (including dismissal of an action without prejudice or the settlement of an action without admission of liability) in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified, to the full extent permitted by law, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
 
(d)             
 
Any indemnification of an Administrator under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Sponsor only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Indemnified Person is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b).  Such determination shall be made (i) by the Administrators by a majority vote of a Quorum consisting of such Administrators who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, (ii) if such a Quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a Quorum of disinterested Administrators so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust.
 
(e)             
 
To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4 shall be paid by the Sponsor in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Sponsor as authorized in this Section 9.4.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be made by the Sponsor if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by the Administrators by a majority vote of a Quorum of disinterested Administrators, (ii) if such a Quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested Administrators so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iii) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust, that, based upon the facts known to the Administrators, counsel or the Common Security Holder at the time such determination is made, such Indemnified Person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such Indemnified Person did not believe to be in the best interests of the Trust, or, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that such Indemnified Person believed or had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  In no event shall any advance be made in instances where the Administrators, independent legal counsel or the Common Security Holder reasonably determine that such Indemnified Person deliberately breached his duty to the Trust or its Common or Capital Security Holders.
 
(f)             
 
The Trustees, at the sole cost and expense of the Sponsor, retain the right to representation by counsel of their own choosing in any action, suit or any other proceeding for which they are indemnified under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4, without affecting their right to indemnification hereunder or waiving any rights afforded to it under this Declaration or applicable law.
 
(g)             
 
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Section 9.4 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification and advancement of expenses may be entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors of the Sponsor or Capital Security Holders of the Trust or otherwise, both as to
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.  All rights to indemnification under this Section 9.4 shall be deemed to be provided by a contract between the Sponsor and each Indemnified Person who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 9.4 is in effect.  Any repeal or modification of this Section 9.4 shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing.
 
(h)             
 
The Sponsor or the Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person who is or was an Indemnified Person against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Sponsor would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Section 9.4.
 
(i)             
 
For purposes of this Section 9.4, references to “the Trust” shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving entity, any constituent entity (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger, so that any Person who is or was a director, trustee, officer or employee of such constituent entity, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another entity, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section 9.4 with respect to the resulting or surviving entity as he would have with respect to such constituent entity if its separate existence had continued.
 
(j)             
 
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 9.4 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, (i) continue as to a Person who has ceased to be an Indemnified Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a Person; and (ii) survive the termination or expiration of this Declaration or the earlier removal or resignation of an Indemnified Person.
 
Section 9.5.                                Outside Businesses.  
 
Any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Trust, and the Trust and the Holders of Securities shall have no rights by virtue of this Declaration in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper.  None of any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee or the Institutional Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular investment or other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee shall have the right to take for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such particular investment or other opportunity.  Any Covered Person, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor, or may act as depositary for, trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other obligations of the Sponsor or its Affiliates.
 
Section 9.6.                                Compensation; Fee.  
 
The Sponsor agrees:
 
(a)             
 
to pay to the Trustees from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder as the parties shall agree from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and
 
(b)             
 
except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Declaration (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their respective agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

For purposes of clarification, this Section 9.6 does not contemplate the payment by the Sponsor of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustees under this Declaration or the fees and expenses of the Trustees’ counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Declaration.
 
The provisions of this Section 9.6 shall survive the dissolution of the Trust and the termination of this Declaration and the removal or resignation of any Trustee.
 
No Trustee may claim any lien or charge on any property of the Trust as a result of any amount due pursuant to this Section 9.6.
 
ARTICLE X
 

 
ACCOUNTING
 
Section 10.1.                                Fiscal Year.  
 
The fiscal year (“Fiscal Year”) of the Trust shall be the calendar year, or such other year as is required by the Code.
 
Section 10.2.                                Certain Accounting Matters.  
 
(a)             
 
At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Administrators shall keep, or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, full books of account, records and supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail each transaction of the Trust.  The books of account shall be maintained, at the Sponsor’s expense, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.  The books of account and the records of the Trust shall be examined by and reported upon (either separately or as part of the Sponsor’s regularly prepared consolidated financial report) as of the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust by a firm of independent certified public accountants selected by the Administrators.
 
(b)             
 
The Administrators shall cause to be duly prepared and delivered to each of the Holders of Securities Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 or such other annual United States federal income tax information statement required by the Code, containing such information with regard to the Securities held by each Holder as is required by the Code and the Treasury Regulations.  Notwithstanding any right under the Code to deliver any such statement at a later date, the Administrators shall endeavor to deliver all such statements within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust.
 
(c)             
 
The Administrators, at the Sponsor’s expense, shall cause to be duly prepared at the principal office of the Sponsor in the United States, as ‘United States’ is defined in Section 7701(a)(9) of the Code (or at the principal office of the Trust if the Sponsor has no such principal office in the United States), and filed an annual United States federal income tax return on an Internal Revenue Service Form 1041 or such other form required by United States federal income tax law, and any other annual income tax returns required to be filed by the Administrators on behalf of the Trust with any state or local taxing authority.
 
Section 10.3.                                Banking.  
 
The Trust shall maintain in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, one or more bank accounts in the name and for the sole benefit of the Trust; provided, however, that all payments of funds in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee shall be made directly to the Property Account and no other funds of the Trust shall be deposited in the Property Account.  The sole signatories for such accounts (including the Property Account) shall be designated by the Institutional Trustee.
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Section 10.4.                                Withholding.  
 
The Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent and the Administrators shall comply with all withholding requirements under United States federal, state and local law.  The Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent shall request, and each Holder shall provide to the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent, such forms or certificates as are necessary to establish a complete exemption from withholding with respect to the Holder, and any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its withholding obligations.  The Administrators shall file required forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless a complete exemption from withholding is properly established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder to applicable jurisdictions.  To the extent that the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent is required to withhold and pay over any amounts to any authority with respect to distributions or allocations to any Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a Distribution in the amount of the withholding to the Holder.  In the event of any claimed overwithholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction.  If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld from actual Distributions made, the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent may reduce subsequent Distributions by the amount of such withholding.
 
ARTICLE XI
 

 
AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS
 
Section 11.1.                                Amendments.
 
(a)             
 
Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration or by any applicable terms of the Securities, this Declaration may only be amended by a written instrument approved and executed (i) by the Institutional Trustee, or (ii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Delaware Trustee, by the Delaware Trustee.
 
(b)             
 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article XI, an amendment may be made, and any such purported amendment shall be valid and effective only if:
 
(i)             
 
the Institutional Trustee shall have first received
 
(A)  
 
an Officers’ Certificate from each of the Trust and the Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and
 
(B)  
 
an opinion of counsel (who may be counsel to the Sponsor or the Trust) that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and
 
(ii)             
 
the result of such amendment would not be to
 
(A)  
 
cause the Trust to cease to be classified for purposes of United States federal income taxation as a grantor trust; or
 
(B)  
 
cause the Trust to be deemed to be an Investment Company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act.
 
(c)             
 
Except as provided in Section 11.1(d), (e) or (h), no amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall be void and ineffective, unless the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities shall have consented to such amendment.
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(d)             
 
In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Declaration, without the consent of each affected Holder, this Declaration may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Securities as of a specified date or change any conversion or exchange provisions or (ii) restrict the right of a Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date.
 
(e)             
 
Sections 9.1(b) and 9.1(c) and this Section 11.1 shall not be amended without the consent of all of the Holders of the Securities.
 
(f)             
 
Article III shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities.
 
(g)             
 
The rights of the Holders of the Capital Securities under Article IV to appoint and remove Trustees shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities.
 
(h)             
 
This Declaration may be amended by the Institutional Trustee and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities without the consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities to:
 
(i)             
 
cure any ambiguity;
 
(ii)             
 
correct or supplement any provision in this Declaration that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of this Declaration;
 
(iii)             
 
add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the Sponsor; or
 
(iv)             
 
modify, eliminate or add to any provision of this Declaration to such extent as may be necessary to ensure that the Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes at all times as a grantor trust and will not be required to register as an Investment Company (including without limitation to conform to any change in Rule 3a-5, Rule 3a-7 or any other applicable rule under the Investment Company Act or written change in interpretation or application thereof by any legislative body, court, government agency or regulatory authority) which amendment does not have a material adverse effect on the rights, preferences or privileges of the Holders of Securities;
 
provided, however, that no such modification, elimination or addition referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) shall adversely affect in any material respect the powers, preferences or special rights of Holders of Capital Securities.
 
Section 11.2.                                Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written Consent.
 
(a)             
 
Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at any time by the Administrators (or as provided in the terms of the Securities) to consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such class of Securities are entitled to act under the terms of this Declaration or the terms of the Securities.  The Administrators shall call a meeting of the Holders of such class if directed to do so by the Holders of at least 10% in liquidation amount of such class of Securities.  Such direction shall be given by delivering to the Administrators one or more calls in a writing stating that the signing Holders of the Securities wish to call a meeting and indicating the general or specific purpose for which the meeting is to be called.  Any Holders of the Securities calling a meeting shall specify in writing the Certificates held by the Holders of the Securities exercising the right to call a meeting and only those Securities
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

represented by such Certificates shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the required percentage set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph has been met.
 
(b)             
 
Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the Securities, the following provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders of the Securities:
 
(i)             
 
notice of any such meeting shall be given to all the Holders of the Securities having a right to vote thereat at least 7 days and not more than 60 days before the date of such meeting.  Whenever a vote, consent or approval of the Holders of the Securities is permitted or required under this Declaration, such vote, consent or approval may be given at a meeting of the Holders of the Securities.  Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Holders of the Securities may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the Holders of the Securities owning not less than the minimum amount of Securities in liquidation amount that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Holders of the Securities having a right to vote thereon were present and voting.  Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Holders of the Securities entitled to vote who have not consented in writing.  The Administrators may specify that any written ballot submitted to the Holders of the Securities for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Trust within the time specified by the Administrators;
 
(ii)             
 
each Holder of a Security may authorize any Person to act for it by proxy on all matters in which a Holder of Securities is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy.  Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Holder of the Securities executing it.  Except as otherwise provided herein, all matters relating to the giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware corporation and the Holders of the Securities were stockholders of a Delaware corporation; each meeting of the Holders of the Securities shall be conducted by the Administrators or by such other Person that the Administrators may designate; and
 
(iii)             
 
unless the Statutory Trust Act, this Declaration, or the terms of the Securities otherwise provides, the Administrators, in their sole discretion, shall establish all other provisions relating to meetings of Holders of Securities, including notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting at which any matter is to be voted on by any Holders of the Securities, waiver of any such notice, action by consent without a meeting, the establishment of a record date, quorum requirements, voting in person or by proxy or any other matter with respect to the exercise of any such right to vote; provided, however, that each meeting shall be conducted in the United States (as that term is defined in Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7).
 
ARTICLE XII
 

 
REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND THE DELAWARE TRUSTEE
 
Section 12.1.                                Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee.  
 
The initial Institutional Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each Successor Institutional Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Institutional Trustee’s acceptance of its appointment as Institutional Trustee, that:
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(a)             
 
the Institutional Trustee is a Delaware banking corporation with trust powers, duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration;
 
(b)             
 
the execution, delivery and performance by the Institutional Trustee of this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Institutional Trustee.  This Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Institutional Trustee, and it constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Institutional Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
 
(c)             
 
the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the Institutional Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter or by-laws of the Institutional Trustee; and
 
(d)             
 
no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any state or federal banking authority is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Institutional Trustee of this Declaration.
 
Section 12.2.                                Representations of the Delaware Trustee.  
 
The Trustee that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee’s acceptance of its appointment as Delaware Trustee that:
 
(a)             
 
if it is not a natural person, the Delaware Trustee is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;
 
(b)             
 
if it is not a natural person, the execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Delaware Trustee.  This Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Delaware Trustee, and under Delaware law (excluding any securities laws) constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
 
(c)             
 
if it is not a natural person, the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the Delaware Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter or by-laws of the Delaware Trustee;
 
(d)             
 
it has trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration;
 
(e)             
 
no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any state or federal banking authority governing the trust powers of the Delaware Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration; and
 
(f)             
 
the Delaware Trustee is a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, it is an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and, in either case, a Person that satisfies for the Trust the requirements of Section 3807 of the Statutory Trust Act.
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

ARTICLE XIII
 
 
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
Section 13.1.                                Notices.  
 
All notices provided for in this Declaration shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied (which telecopy shall be followed by notice delivered or mailed by first class mail) or mailed by first class mail, as follows:
 
(a)             
 
if given to the Trust, in care of the Administrators at the Trust’s mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Trust may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities):
 
Bimini Capital Trust II
c/o Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc.
3305 Flamingo Drive
Vero Beach, Florida  32963
Attention:  Jeffrey J. Zimmer
Telecopy:  772-231-1477
 
(b)             
 
if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the Delaware Trustee’s mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Delaware Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities):
 
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware  19890-1600
Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration
Telecopy:  302-636-4140
 
(c)             
 
if given to the Institutional Trustee, at the Institutional Trustee’s mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Institutional Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities):
 
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware  19890-1600
Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration
Telecopy:  302-636-4140
 
(d)             
 
if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing address of the Sponsor set forth below (or such other address as the Holder of the Common Securities may give notice of to the Trust):
 
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc.
3305 Flamingo Drive
Vero Beach, Florida  32963
Attention:  Jeffrey J. Zimmer
Telecopy:  772-231-1477
 
(e)             
 
if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Trust.
 
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given,
 

 
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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
 
Section 13.2.                                Governing Law.  
 
This Declaration and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware and all rights and remedies shall be governed by such laws without regard to the principles of conflict of laws of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction that would call for the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware; provided, however, that there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this Declaration any provision of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware pertaining to trusts that relate to or regulate, in a manner inconsistent with the terms hereof (a) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (b) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (c) the necessity for obtaining court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal property, (d) fees or other sums payable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (e) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal, or (f) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage or other manner of holding or investing trust assets.
 
Section 13.3.                                Intention of the Parties.  
 
It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The provisions of this Declaration shall be interpreted to further this intention of the parties.
 
Section 13.4.                                Headings.  
 
Headings contained in this Declaration are inserted for convenience of reference only and do not affect the interpretation of this Declaration or any provision hereof.
 
Section 13.5.                                Successors and Assigns.  
 
Whenever in this Declaration any of the parties hereto is named or referred to, the successors and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be included, and all covenants and agreements in this Declaration by the Sponsor and the Trustees shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns, whether or not so expressed.
 
Section 13.6.                                Partial Enforceability.  
 
If any provision of this Declaration, or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this Declaration, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.
 
Section 13.7.                                Counterparts.  
 
This Declaration may contain more than one counterpart of the signature page and this Declaration may be executed by the affixing of the signature of each of the Trustees and Administrators to any of such counterpart signature pages.  All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature page.
 
Signatures appear on the following page
 

 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused these presents to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
 
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Delaware Trustee


By:                                                                
Name:
Title:


WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Institutional Trustee


By:                                                                
Name:
Title:


BIMINI MORTGAGE MANAGEMENT, INC., as Sponsor


By:                                                                
Name:
Title:

ADMINISTRATORS OF BIMINI CAPITAL TRUST II


By:                                                                
Administrator


By:                                                                
Administrator


By:                                                                
Administrator


 
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

ANNEX I

TERMS OF SECURITIES

Pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of October 5, 2005 (as amended from time to time, the “Declaration”), the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities are set out below (each capitalized term used but not defined herein has the meaning set forth in the Declaration):
 
1.           Designation and Number.
 
(a)           50,000 Fixed/Floating Rate Capital Securities of Bimini Capital Trust II (the “Trust”), with an aggregate stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000.00) and a stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000.00 per Capital Security, are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as the “Capital Securities”.  The Capital Security Certificates evidencing the Capital Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice.
 
(b)           1,547 Fixed/Floating Rate Common Securities of the Trust (the “Common Securities”) will be evidenced by Common Security Certificates substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice.
 
2.           Distributions.
 
(a)           Distributions will be payable on each Security for the Distribution Period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010 at a rate per annum of 7.8575% and shall bear interest for each successive Distribution Period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 3.50% (the “Coupon Rate”), applied to the stated liquidation amount thereof, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee.  Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the applicable Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by law).  Distributions, as used herein, include cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted.  A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor.  The amount of the Distribution payable (i) for any Distribution Period commencing on or after the date of original issuance but before the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010 will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and (ii) for the Distribution Period commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010 and each succeeding Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360.  All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Capital Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).
 

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(b)           Distributions on the Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance, and will be payable, quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each a “Distribution Payment Date”), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2005 when, as and if available for payment.  Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust.  The Trust’s funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer.  
 
(c)           Distributions on the Securities will be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the relevant record dates.  The relevant record dates shall be fifteen days before the relevant Distribution Payment Date.  Distributions payable on any Securities that are not punctually paid on any Distribution Payment Date, as a result of the Debenture Issuer having failed to make a payment under the Debentures, as the case may be, when due, will cease to be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the relevant record date, and such defaulted Distribution will instead be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the special record date or other specified date determined in accordance with the Indenture.
 
(d)           In the event that there is any money or other property held by or for the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property shall be distributed Pro Rata (as defined herein) among the Holders of the Securities.
 
3.           Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution.  In the event of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (each a “Liquidation”) other than in connection with a redemption of the Debentures, the Holders of the Securities will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders of the Securities, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust (to the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer), distributions equal to the aggregate of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the “Liquidation Distribution”), unless in connection with such Liquidation, the Debentures in an aggregate stated principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of such Securities, with an interest rate equal to the Distribution Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions on, and having the same record date as, such Securities, after paying or making reasonable provision to pay all claims and obligations of the Trust in accordance with the Statutory Trust Act, shall be distributed on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Securities in exchange for such Securities.
 
The Sponsor, as the Holder of all of the Common Securities, has the right at any time to dissolve the Trust (including, without limitation, upon the occurrence of a Special Event), and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, cause the Debentures to be distributed to the Holders of the Securities on a Pro Rata basis in accordance with the aggregate stated liquidation amount thereof.
 
If a Liquidation of the Trust occurs as described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (v) in Section 7.1(a) of the Declaration, the Trust shall be liquidated by the Institutional Trustee as expeditiously as it determines to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, to the Holders of the Securities, the Debentures on a Pro Rata basis to the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer, unless such distribution is determined by the Institutional Trustee not to be practical, in which event such Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to the Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities of creditors of the Trust to the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer, an amount equal to the Liquidation Distribution.  An early Liquidation of the Trust pursuant to clause (iv) of Section 7.1(a) of the Declaration shall occur if the Institutional Trustee determines that such
 

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1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Liquidation is possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, to the Holders of the Securities on a Pro Rata basis, the Debentures, and such distribution occurs.
 
If, upon any such Liquidation the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the Trust on such Capital Securities shall be paid to the Holders of the Trust Securities on a Pro Rata basis, except that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Capital Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities with regard to such distributions.
 
After the date for any distribution of the Debentures upon dissolution of the Trust (i) the Securities of the Trust will be deemed to be no longer outstanding, (ii) upon surrender of a Holder’s Securities certificate, such Holder of the Securities will receive a certificate representing the Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution, (iii) any certificates representing the Securities still outstanding will be deemed to represent undivided beneficial interests in such of the Debentures as have an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount with an interest rate identical to the Distribution Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid distributions on, the Securities until such certificates are presented to the Debenture Issuer or its agent for transfer or reissuance (and until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal shall be made to Holders of Securities in respect of any payments due and payable under the Debentures; provided, however that such failure to pay shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default), and (iv) all rights of Holders of Securities under the Declaration shall cease, except the right of such Holders to receive Debentures upon surrender of certificates representing such Securities.
 
4.           Redemption and Distribution.
 
(a)           The Debentures will mature on December 15, 2035.  The Debentures may be redeemed by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part, at any Distribution Payment Date on or after the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010, at the Redemption Price. In addition, the Debentures may be redeemed by the Debenture Issuer at the Special Redemption Price, in whole but not in part, at any Distribution Payment Date, upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event at the Special Redemption Price, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice to holders of such Debentures so long as such Special Event is continuing.  The Sponsor shall appoint a Quotation Agent, which shall be a designee of the Institutional Trustee, for the purpose of performing the services contemplated in or by reference in, the definition of Special Redemption Price.  Any error in the calculation of the Special Redemption Price by the Quotation Agent or the Debenture Trustee may be corrected at any time by notice delivered to the Sponsor and the holders of the Capital Securities.  Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating to the payment and calculation of the Special Redemption Price on the Debentures or the Capital Securities by the Debenture Trustee, the Quotation Agent or the Institutional Trustee, as the case may be, shall (in the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) be final, conclusive and binding on the holders of the Debentures and the Capital Securities, the Trust and the Sponsor, and no liability shall attach (except as provided above) to the Debenture Trustee, the Quotation Agent or the Institutional Trustee in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by any of them of their respective powers, duties and discretion.
 
3-Month LIBOR” means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month, U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority:
 
(1)           the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (as defined below).  “Telerate Page 3750” means the display
 

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1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

designated as “Page 3750” on the Moneyline Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits;
 
(2)           if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.  If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations;
 
(3)           if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (2) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.  If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and
 
(4)           if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (3) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period.
 
If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.
 
The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law.
 
Comparable Treasury Issue” means with respect to any Special Redemption Date the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life.  If no United States Treasury security has a maturity which is within a period from 3 months before to 3 months after the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010, the two most closely corresponding United States Treasury securities as selected by the Quotation Agent shall be used as the Comparable Treasury Issue, and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated and extrapolated on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month using such securities.
 
Comparable Treasury Price” means (a) the average of 5 Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Special Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than 5 such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations.
 
Determination Date” means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the particular Distribution Period for which a Coupon Rate is being determined.
 
Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life” means, with respect to any Debenture, the period from the Special Redemption Date for such Debenture to the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010.
 

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1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Investment Company Event” means the receipt by the Debenture Issuer and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will be considered an Investment Company that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Debentures.
 
Maturity Date” means December 15, 2035.
 
Primary Treasury Dealer” shall mean either a primary United States Government securities dealer or an entity of nationally recognized standing in matters pertaining to the quotation of treasury securities that is reasonably acceptable to the Sponsor and the Institutional Trustee.
 
Quotation Agent” means a designee of the Institutional Trustee who shall be a Primary Treasury Dealer.
 
Redemption Date” shall mean the date fixed for the redemption of Capital Securities, which shall be any Distribution Payment Date on or after the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010.
 
Redemption Price” means 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid Interest on such Debentures to the Redemption Date.
 
Reference Treasury Dealer” means (i) the Quotation Agent and (ii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Debenture Trustee after consultation with the Debenture Issuer.
 
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Special Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Debenture Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.
 
Special Event” means a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event.
 
Special Redemption Date” means a date on which a Special Event redemption occurs, which shall be a Distribution Payment Date.
 
Special Redemption Price” means (a) if the Special Redemption Date occurs before the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010, the greater of (i) 107.5% of the principal amount of the Debentures, plus accrued and unpaid Interest on the Debentures to the Special Redemption Date, or (ii) as determined by the Quotation Agent, (A) the sum of the present values of the scheduled payments of principal and Interest on the Debentures during the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life of the Debentures (assuming the Debentures matured on December 15, 2010) discounted to the Special Redemption Date on a quarterly basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate, plus (B) accrued and unpaid Interest on the Debentures to such Special Redemption Date, or (b) if the Special Redemption Date occurs on or after the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010, 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid Interest on such Debentures to the Special Redemption Date.
 
Tax Event” means the receipt by the Debenture Issuer and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change (including any
 

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1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, field service advice, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt such procedures or regulations) (an “Administrative Action”) or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Debenture Issuer or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Debenture Issuer on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
 
Treasury Rate” means (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the week immediately prior to the date of calculation, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated H.15 (519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Federal Reserve and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life (if no maturity is within three months before or after the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life shall be determined and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Special Redemption Date.  The Treasury Rate shall be calculated by the Quotation Agent on the third Business Day preceding the Special Redemption Date.
 
(b)           Upon the repayment in full at maturity or redemption in whole or in part of the Debentures (other than following the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of the Securities), the proceeds from such repayment or payment shall concurrently be applied to redeem Pro Rata at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, Securities having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures so repaid or redeemed; provided, however, that holders of such Securities shall be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice of such redemption (other than at the scheduled maturity of the Debentures).
 
(c)           If fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be so redeemed, the Common Securities and the Capital Securities will be redeemed Pro Rata and the Capital Securities to be redeemed will be redeemed Pro Rata from each Holder of Capital Securities.
 
(d)           The Trust may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding Capital Securities unless all accrued and unpaid Distributions have been paid on all Capital Securities for all quarterly Distribution periods terminating on or before the date of redemption.
 

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1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

(e)           Redemption or Distribution Procedures.
 
(i)           Notice of any redemption of, or notice of distribution of the Debentures in exchange for, the Securities (a “Redemption/Distribution Notice”) will be given by the Trust by mail to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed or exchanged not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption or exchange thereof which, in the case of a redemption, will be the date fixed for redemption of the Debentures. For purposes of the calculation of the date of redemption or exchange and the dates on which notices are given pursuant to this paragraph 4(e)(i), a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be deemed to be given on the day such notice is first mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders of such Securities. Each Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be addressed to the Holders of such Securities at the address of each such Holder appearing on the books and records of the Trust. No defect in the Redemption/Distribution Notice or in the mailing thereof with respect to any Holder shall affect the validity of the redemption or exchange proceedings with respect to any other Holder.
 
(ii)           If the Securities are to be redeemed and the Trust gives a Redemption/ Distribution Notice, which notice may only be issued if the Debentures are redeemed as set out in this paragraph 4 (which notice will be irrevocable), then, provided that the Institutional Trustee has a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the Debentures, the Institutional Trustee will pay the relevant Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, to the Holders of such Securities by check mailed to the address of each such Holder appearing on the books and records of the Trust on the Redemption Date.  If a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall have been given and funds deposited as required then immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such deposit Distributions will cease to accrue on the Securities so called for redemption and all rights of Holders of such Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the Holders of such Securities to receive the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price specified in paragraph 4(a), but without interest on such Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.  If payment of the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price in respect of any Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid by the Trust, Distributions on such Securities will continue to accrue at the Distribution Rate from the original Redemption Date to the actual date of payment, in which case the actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.  In the event of any redemption of the Capital Securities issued by the Trust in part, the Trust shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days before any selection for redemption of the Capital Securities and ending at the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant notice of redemption is deemed to have been given to all Holders of the Capital Securities to be so redeemed or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Capital Securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except for the unredeemed portion of any Capital Securities being redeemed in part.
 
(iii)           Redemption/Distribution Notices shall be sent by the Administrators on behalf of the Trust to (A) in respect of the Capital Securities, the Holders thereof and (B) in respect of the Common Securities, the Holder thereof.
 
(iv)           Subject to the foregoing and applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), and provided that the acquiror is not the Holder of the Common Securities or the obligor under the Indenture, the Sponsor or any of its subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding Capital Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
 

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1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

5.           Voting Rights - Capital Securities.
 
(a)           Except as provided under paragraphs 5(b) and 7 and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Capital Securities will have no voting rights. The Administrators are required to call a meeting of the Holders of the Capital Securities if directed to do so by Holders of at least 10% in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities.
 
(b)           Subject to the requirements of obtaining a tax opinion by the Institutional Trustee in certain circumstances set forth in the last sentence of this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, voting separately as a class, have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration, including the right to direct the Institutional Trustee, as holder of the Debentures, to (i) exercise the remedies available under the Indenture as the holder of the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable or (iv) consent on behalf of all the Holders of the Capital Securities to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required; provided, however, that, where a consent or action under the Indenture would require the consent or act of the holders of greater than a simple majority in aggregate principal amount of Debentures (a “Super Majority”) affected thereby, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent or take such action at the written direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities outstanding which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Debentures after the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of such Capital Securities have so directed the Institutional Trustee, to the fullest extent permitted by law, a Holder of the Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Debenture Issuer to enforce the Institutional Trustee’s rights under the Debentures without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date the interest or principal is payable (or in the case of redemption, the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable), then a Holder of record of the Capital Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment, on or after the respective due dates specified in the Debentures, to such Holder directly of the principal of or interest on the Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such Holder. The Institutional Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Capital Securities of any default actually known to the Institutional Trustee with respect to the Debentures unless (x) such default has been cured prior to the giving of such notice or (y) the Institutional Trustee determines in good faith that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of such Capital Securities, except where the default relates to the payment of principal of or interest on any of the Debentures. Such notice shall state that such Indenture Event of Default also constitutes an Event of Default hereunder. Except with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting a proceeding for a remedy, the Institutional Trustee shall not take any of the actions described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee, as the holder of the Debentures, is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture, the Institutional Trustee shall request the direction of the Holders of the Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with respect to such amendment, modification or termination as directed by a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as a single class; provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of a Super
 

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1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent at the direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities outstanding which the relevant Super-Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. The Institutional Trustee shall not take any such action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the Securities unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
A waiver of an Indenture Event of Default will constitute a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default hereunder. Any required approval or direction of Holders of the Capital Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of the Capital Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of the Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Institutional Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of record of the Capital Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth the following information (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Capital Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities.
 
Notwithstanding that Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Capital Securities that are owned by the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor shall not entitle the Holder thereof to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if such Capital Securities were not outstanding.
 
In no event will Holders of the Capital Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrators, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the Sponsor as the Holder of all of the Common Securities of the Trust.  Under certain circumstances as more fully described in the Declaration, Holders of Capital Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Institutional Trustee and the Delaware Trustee.
 
6.           Voting Rights - Common Securities.
 
(a)           Except as provided under paragraphs 6(b), 6(c) and 7 and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Common Securities will have no voting rights.
 
(b)           The Holders of the Common Securities are entitled, in accordance with Article IV of the Declaration, to vote to appoint, remove or replace any Administrators.
 
(c)           Subject to Section 6.7 of the Declaration and only after each Event of Default (if any) with respect to the Capital Securities has been cured, waived, or otherwise eliminated and subject to the requirements of the second to last sentence of this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities, voting separately as a class, may direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration, including (i) directing the time, method, place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (ii) waiving any past default and its consequences that is waivable under the Indenture, or (iii) exercising any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable; provided, however, that, where a consent or action under the Indenture would require a Super Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent or take such action at the written direction
 

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1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Common Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. Notwithstanding this paragraph 6(c), the Institutional Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote or consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities. Other than with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee or the Debenture Trustee as set forth above, the Institutional Trustee shall not take any action described in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such action. If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights, to the fullest extent permitted by law, under the Declaration, any Holder of the Common Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against any Person to enforce the Institutional Trustee’s rights under the Declaration, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other Person.
 
Any approval or direction of Holders of the Common Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of the Common Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of the Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent.  The Administrators will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of the Common Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of the Common Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents.
 
No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities.
 
7.           Amendments to Declaration and Indenture.
 
(a)           In addition to any requirements under Section 11.1 of the Declaration, if any proposed amendment to the Declaration provides for, or the Trustees, Sponsor or Administrators otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Declaration or otherwise, or (ii) the Liquidation of the Trust, other than as described in Section 7.1 of the Declaration, then the Holders of outstanding Securities, voting together as a single class, will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities, affected thereby; provided, however, if any amendment or proposal referred to in clause (i) above would adversely affect only the Capital Securities or only the Common Securities, then only the affected class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of a Majority in liquidation amount of such class of Securities.
 
(b)           In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee as the holder of the Debentures is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures, the Institutional Trustee shall request the written direction of the Holders of the Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with respect to such amendment, modification, or termination as directed by a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as a single class; provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would require a Super Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent at the direction of
 

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Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding.
 
(c)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification may be made to the Declaration if such amendment or modification would (i) cause the Trust to be classified for purposes of United States federal income taxation as other than a grantor trust, (ii) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the Institutional Trustee or (iii) cause the Trust to be deemed an Investment Company which is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act.
 
(d)           Notwithstanding any provision of the Declaration, the right of any Holder of the Capital Securities to receive payment of distributions and other payments upon redemption or otherwise, on or after their respective due dates, or to institute a suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder. For the protection and enforcement of the foregoing provision, each and every Holder of the Capital Securities shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or equity.
 
8.           Pro Rata.  A reference in these terms of the Securities to any payment, distribution or treatment as being “Pro Rata” shall mean pro rata to each Holder of the Securities according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities held by the relevant Holder in relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Securities then outstanding unless, in relation to a payment, an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case any funds available to make such payment shall be paid first to each Holder of the Capital Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Capital Securities outstanding, and only after satisfaction of all amounts owed to the Holders of the Capital Securities, to each Holder of the Common Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Common Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Common Securities outstanding.
 
9.           Ranking.  The Capital Securities rank pari passu with and payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with the Common Securities except that, where an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to receive payment of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of the Holders of the Capital Securities with the result that no payment of any Distribution on, or Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) of, any Common Security, and no other payment on account of redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on all outstanding Capital Securities for all distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) the full amount of such Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) on all outstanding Capital Securities then called for redemption, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Institutional Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or the Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) of, the Capital Securities then due and payable.
 
10.           Acceptance of Indenture. Each Holder of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities, by the acceptance of such Securities, agrees to the provisions of the Indenture including the subordination provisions therein.
 
11.           No Preemptive Rights. The Holders of the Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights to subscribe for any additional securities.
 

I-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

12.           Miscellaneous. These terms constitute a part of the Declaration. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration and the Indenture to a Holder without charge on written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.
 

I-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE

[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]
 
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW.  NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.  THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE SPONSOR’S AND THE TRUST’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST.  HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.
 
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TRUST THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) TO THE TRUST OR (II) TO A PERSON WHOM THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED PURCHASER” (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2(a)(51) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED), AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF ANY CAPITAL SECURITIES FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.
 
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY
 

A-1-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING.  ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.
 
THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF.  ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.
 
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
 
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE DECLARATION TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
 
Certificate Number P-1                                                                                                           50,000 Capital Securities
[CUSIP NO. [_______]  **To be inserted at the request of a subsequent transferee]
 
October 5, 2005
 
Certificate Evidencing Fixed/Floating Rate Capital Securities
 
of
 
Bimini Capital Trust II
 
(liquidation amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security)
 
Bimini Capital Trust II, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Trust”), hereby certifies that First Tennessee Bank National Association is the registered owner of capital securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (liquidation amount $1,000.00 per capital security) (the “Capital Securities”). Subject to the Declaration (as defined below), the Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The Capital Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of October 5, 2005, among Jeffrey J. Zimmer, Robert E. Cauley and Amber K. Luedke, as Administrators, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as
 

A-1-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

Institutional Trustee, Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I to such amended and restated declaration as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Declaration”).  Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.
 
Upon receipt of this Security, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
 
By acceptance of this Security, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital Securities as evidence of beneficial ownership in the Debentures.
 
This Capital Security is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
 
Signatures appear on following page
 

A-1-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate.
 
BIMINI CAPITAL TRUST II



By:                                                                           
Name:
Title:  Administrator


CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Capital Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration.


WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as the Institutional Trustee


By:                                                                           
Authorized Officer


A-1-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

[FORM OF REVERSE OF CAPITAL SECURITY]
 
Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be payable at an annual rate equal to 7.8575% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date (each a “Distribution Period”), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 3.50% (the “Coupon Rate”), applied to the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Capital Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law).  The term “Distributions” as used herein includes cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted.  A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor.  As used herein, “Determination Date” means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period.  The amount of the Distribution payable (i) for any Distribution Period commencing on or after the date of original issuance but before the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010 will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and (ii) for the Distribution Period commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010 and each succeeding Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360.
 
“3-Month LIBOR” as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority:  (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (“Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Moneyline Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.  If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.  If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period.  If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.
 
The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law.
 

A-1-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Capital Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).
 
Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Capital Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if any such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such day, a “Distribution Payment Date”), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2005.  Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust.  The Trust’s funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer.
 
The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration.
 

A-1-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

ASSIGNMENT
 
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security Certificate to:
 

 
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number)
 

 

 

 
(Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints
 

 

 
agent to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Trust.  The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
 
Date:                                                                
 
Signature:                                                      
 
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security Certificate)
 
Signature Guarantee:1
 


 
1 Signature must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 

A-1-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

EXHIBIT A-2
 
FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE
 
THIS COMMON SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION.
 
THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 8.1 OF THE DECLARATION.
 
Certificate Number C-1                                                                                                           1,547 Common Securities
 
October 5, 2005
 
Certificate Evidencing Fixed/Floating Rate Common Securities
 
of
 
Bimini Capital Trust II
 
Bimini Capital Trust II, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Trust”), hereby certifies that Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc. (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of common securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the “Common Securities”).  The Common Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of October 5, 2005, among Jeffrey J. Zimmer, Robert E. Cauley and Amber K. Luedke, as Administrators, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee, Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth in Annex I to such amended and restated declaration, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Declaration”).  Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration.  The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.
 
As set forth in the Declaration, when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon Liquidation, redemption or otherwise are subordinated to the rights of payment of Holders of the Capital Securities.
 
Upon receipt of this Certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
 
By acceptance of this Certificate, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Common Securities as evidence of undivided beneficial ownership in the Debentures.
 
This Common Security is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
 

A-2-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate.
 
BIMINI CAPITAL TRUST II


By:                                                                           
Name:
Title: Administrator

A-2-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

[FORM OF REVERSE OF COMMON SECURITY]
 
Distributions payable on each Common Security will be payable at an annual rate equal to 7.8575% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date (each a “Distribution Period”), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 3.50% (the “Coupon Rate”), applied to the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Common Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law).  The term “Distributions” as used herein includes cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted.  A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor.  As used herein, “Determination Date” means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period.  The amount of the Distribution payable (i) for any Distribution Period commencing on or after the date of original issuance but before the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010 will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and (ii) for the Distribution Period commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2010 and each succeeding Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360.
 
“3-Month LIBOR” as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority:  (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (“Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Moneyline Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.  If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.  If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period.  If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.
 
The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law.
 

A-2-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Common Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).
 
Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Common Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if any such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such day, a “Distribution Payment Date”), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2005.  Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust’s funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer.
 
The Common Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration.
 

A-2-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

ASSIGNMENT
 
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Common Security Certificate to:
 

 
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number)
 

 

 
(Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints
 

 

 
 agent to transfer this Common Security Certificate on the books of the Trust.  The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
 
Date:                                                                           
 
Signature:                                                                
 
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common Security Certificate)
 
Signature:                                                                
 
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common Security Certificate)
 
Signature Guarantee2
 


 
2 Signature must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union, meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 

A-2-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

EXHIBIT B
 
SPECIMEN OF INITIAL DEBENTURE
 
(See Document No. 17)
 

B-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

EXHIBIT C
 
PLACEMENT AGREEMENT
 
(See Document No. 1)
 

C-
1235512.1
Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc./Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
 
 

 

bmnm10q09302008ex31_1.htm

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Robert E. Cauley, Vice Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, certify that:
 
1.  
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2008, of Bimini Capital Management, Inc. (the "registrant");
  
2.  
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
  
3.  
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
  
4.  
The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  
 
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
  
 
b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
  
 
c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
  
 
d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.  
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing equivalent functions):

a)  
all significant deficiencies and material weakness in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)  
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 6, 2008
 
/s/ Robert E. Cauley                                                                
Name: Robert E. Cauley
Title: Vice Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
   


bmnm10q09302008ex31_2.htm

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, G. Hunter Haas, IV, Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, certify that:
 
1.  
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2008, of Bimini Capital Management, Inc. (the "registrant");
  
2.  
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
  
3.  
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
  
4.  
The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  
 
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
  
 
b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
  
 
c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
  
 
d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.  
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing equivalent functions):

a)  
all significant deficiencies and material weakness in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)  
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 6, 2008
 
/s/ G. Hunter Haas, IV                                                      
Name: G. Hunter Haas, IV
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
   


bmnm10q09302008ex32_1.htm

Exhibit 32.1

 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Bimini Capital Management, Inc. (the "Company") for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Robert E. Cauley, Vice Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in the Report.

November 6, 2008
 
 
 /s/ Robert E. Cauley            
Robert E. Cauley
Vice Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer



bmnm10q09302008ex32_2.htm


Exhibit 32.2

 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Bimini Capital Management, Inc. (the "Company") for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, G. Hunter Haas, IV, Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in the Report.

November 6, 2008
 
 
/s/ G. Hunter Haas, IV                                           
G. Hunter Haas, IV
Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, Interim
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer