Exhibit 1.1

 

 

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

(a South Carolina corporation)

17,299 Shares of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series T

(par value $0.01 per share)

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

June 27, 2012

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P.

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

 

c/o  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York  10036

 

and

 

Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P.

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 6^th Floor

New York, New York  10020

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Southern First Bancshares, Inc., a South Carolina corporation (the “Company”), Southern First Bank, N.A. (the “Bank”) and the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Selling Shareholder”) each confirms its agreement with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) and Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. (“Sandler O’Neill,” and collectively with Merrill Lynch, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 11), for whom Merrill Lynch and Sandler O’Neill are acting as Representatives (in such capacity, the “Representatives”), with respect to the sale by the Selling Shareholder and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of shares of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series T, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”) set forth in Schedule A hereto.  The aforesaid 17,299 shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased by the Underwriters are referred to herein, collectively, as the “Securities.”

The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S‑1 (File No. 333-181198) covering the resale of certain securities of the Company from time to time, including the Securities to be sold by the Selling Shareholder under this Agreement, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “1933 Act Regulations”).  Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a final prospectus relating to the Securities in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A of the 1933 Act Regulations ("Rule 430A") and Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations ("Rule 424(b)").  The information included in such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 430A(b) is referred to herein as the "Rule 430A Information."  Such registration statement has been declared effective by the Commission under the 1933 Act.  Such registration statement, as of any time, means such registration statement as amended by any pre-effective or post-effective amendments thereto at such time, including the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S‑1 under the 1933 Act and the Rule 430A Information is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement;” provided, however, that the “Registration Statement” without reference to a time means such registration statement as amended by any pre-effective or post-effective amendments thereto as of the time of the first contract of sale for the Securities,  including the exhibits and schedules thereto as of such time, the documents incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S‑1 under the 1933 Act and the Rule 430A Information.  Each preliminary prospectus used in connection with the offering of the Securities, including the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S‑1 under the 1933 Act immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), are collectively referred to herein as a “preliminary prospectus.”  The final prospectus, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities, including the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S‑1 under the 1933 Act immediately prior to the Applicable Time, are collectively referred to herein as the “Prospectus.”  For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (or any successor system)(“EDGAR”). 

As used in this Agreement:

“Applicable Time” means 9:00 P.M., New York City time, on June 27, 2012 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representatives.

“General Disclosure Package” means each Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus, the most recent preliminary prospectus furnished to the Underwriters for general distribution to investors prior to the Applicable Time and the information specified in Schedule B hereto, all considered together.

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including, without limitation, any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) relating to the Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering thereof that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule C hereto.

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“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included,” “described,” “disclosed” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include all such financial statements and schedules and other information incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

This Agreement, the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended by the Articles of Amendment with respect to the Securities (collectively, the “Charter”), and the Company’s By-Laws (the “By-Laws”) are referred to herein, collectively, as the “Operative Documents.”

SECTION 1.         Representations and Warranties.

(a)          Representations and Warranties by the Company.  The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter and the Selling Shareholder at the date hereof, the Applicable Time and the Closing Time (as defined below) (each, a “Representation Date”), and agrees with each Underwriter and the Selling Shareholder, as follows:

(i)                       Compliance of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and Incorporated Documents.  The Company meets the requirements for incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement specified in General Instruction VII of Form S-1.  Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has been declared effective by the Commission under the 1933 Act.  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated.  The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.

Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time of its effectiveness, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.  Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and are identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. 

The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, at the time they were filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations").

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(ii)                     Accurate Disclosure.  Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time or at the Closing Time, contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.  At the Applicable Time, neither (A) the General Disclosure Package nor (B) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or at the Closing Time, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement became effective, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not, does not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto or the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives or by the Selling Shareholder, in each case expressly for use therein.  For purposes of this Agreement, the only information so furnished by (A) any Underwriter through the Representatives shall be (i) the information under the caption “Auction Process” (except for any statement that refers to the Company, its intentions or its potential activity as a bidder in the auction) and (ii) the information in the first, second and third paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting–Stabilization”, in each case, contained in the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (collectively, the “Underwriter Information”) and (B) the Selling Shareholder shall be the information in the third and fourth paragraphs under the heading “Selling Shareholder”, in each case, contained in the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (collectively, the “Selling Shareholder Information”).

(iii)                   Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.  No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, that has not been superseded or modified. 

(iv)                   Company Not Ineligible Issuer.  (A) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, (B) at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations) of the Securities, (C) at the date of this Agreement and (D) at the Applicable Time, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.

(v)                     Independent Accountants.  The accountants who certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act, the 1934 Act Regulations and the Public Accounting Oversight Board.

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(vi)                   Financial Statements; Non-GAAP Financial Measures.  The financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.  Any financial statements of businesses or properties acquired or proposed to be acquired, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information set forth therein, have been prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis and otherwise have been prepared in accordance with the financial statement requirements of Rule 3‑05 or Rule 3‑14 of Regulation S‑X, as applicable.  The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein.  The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included therein.  Any pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein.  Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act or the 1934 Act Regulations.  All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, if any, regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G under the 1934 Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, to the extent applicable.  Any interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly present the required information and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(vii)                 No Material Adverse Change.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Change”), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) except for regular dividends on the Company’s capital stock in amounts per share that are consistent with past practice, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class or series of its capital stock.

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(viii)               Good Standing of the Company.  The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of South Carolina and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties, to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under, and to consummate the transactions contemplated in, the Operative Documents.  The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect (A) in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (B) on the ability of the Company to enter into and perform its obligations under, or consummate the transactions contemplated in, the Operative Documents (a “Material Adverse Effect”).  The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.  The Company has furnished to the Representatives complete and correct copies of the Charter and By-Laws and all amendments thereto, and no change thereto is contemplated or has been authorized or approved by the Company or its stockholders.

(ix)                   Good Standing of Subsidiaries.  The Bank, which is the only “significant subsidiary” of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or other organization, has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties, to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, in the case of the Bank, to enter into, and perform its obligations under, this Agreement and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of or other equity interests in the Bank have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non‑assessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.  None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of or other equity interests in the Bank were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of the Bank or any other entity.  The only subsidiaries of the Company are (A) the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement and (B) certain other subsidiaries which, considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, do not constitute a “significant subsidiary” within the meaning of Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.  The deposit accounts of each of the Company’s banking subsidiaries are insured up to the applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) to the fullest extent permitted by law and the rules and regulations of the FDIC, and no proceeding for the revocation or termination of such insurance is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

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(x)                     Regulatory Matters.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject or is party to, or has received any notice or advice from any Regulatory Agency that any of them are reasonably expected to become subject or party to any investigation with respect to, any corrective, suspension or cease-and-desist order, agreement, consent agreement, memorandum of understanding or other regulatory enforcement action, proceeding or order with or by, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any directive by, or has been a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any Regulatory Agency (as defined below) that currently relates to or restricts in any material respect the conduct of their business or that in any manner relates to their capital adequacy, credit policies, management or business (each, a “Regulatory Agreement”), nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries been advised by any Regulatory Agency that it is considering issuing or requesting any Regulatory Agreement.  There is no unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Regulatory Agency with respect to any report or statement relating to any examinations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all laws administered by the Regulatory Agencies.  As used herein, the term “Regulatory Agency” means any federal or state agency charged with the supervision or regulation of depositary institutions or holding companies of depositary institutions, or engaged in the insurance of depositary institution deposits, or any court, administrative agency or commission or other authority, body or agency having supervisory or regulatory authority with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(xi)                   Capitalization.  The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are as set forth in the last balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus).  The outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, including the Securities, have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non‑assessable.  None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, including the Securities, were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company or any other entity.  The outstanding capital stock of the Company, including the Preferred Stock, conforms to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such statements conform to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same.

(xii)                 Authorization of Agreement.  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Bank.

(xiii)               Filing of Certificate of Designation; Form of Certificate.  The Certificate of Designation for the Securities has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of South Carolina.  The form of certificate representing the Securities complies with the requirements of South Carolina state law, the Charter and the By-Laws.

(xiv)               Registration Rights.  There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered for sale pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered for sale or sold by the Company under the 1933 Act pursuant to this Agreement other than any rights that have been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and have been waived.

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(xv)                 Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (A) in violation of its charter, by-laws or similar organizational document, (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the properties, assets or operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency (including, without limitation, each applicable Regulatory Agency) or other authority, body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, assets or operations (each, a “Governmental Entity”), except for such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The execution, delivery and performance of the Operative Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, including the purchase of Securities by the Company in the offering contemplated hereby, and compliance by the Company and the Bank with their respective obligations under the Operative Documents have been duly authorized by the Company and the Bank, as the case may be, by all requisite action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties, assets or operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, by-laws or similar organizational document of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity.  As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other financing instrument (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of the related financing by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(xvi)               Absence of Labor Dispute.  No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or any subsidiary’s principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, which could, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xvii)             Absence of Proceedings.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any Governmental Entity now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which could, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might materially and adversely affect their respective properties, assets or operations, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, or the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Operative Documents.  The aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries are a party or of which any of their respective properties, assets or operations are the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xviii)           Accuracy of Contracts; Exhibits.  All descriptions in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus of contracts and other documents to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries are a party are accurate in all material respects. There are no contracts, instruments or other documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been so described and filed as required.

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(xix)               Absence of Further Requirements.  No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Governmental Entity is necessary or required for the Company or the Bank to enter into, or perform their respective obligations under, the Operative Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the securities laws of any state or non-U.S. jurisdiction, the rules of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), or by the Bank’s primary regulator for purposes of Section 7(e). 

(xx)                 Possession of Licenses and Permits.  The Company and its subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate Governmental Entities necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.  All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Governmental Licenses which, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxi)               Title to Property.  The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property owned by them and good title to all other properties owned by them, in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such as (A) are described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (B) do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  All of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to its rights under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above or affecting or questioning its rights to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.

(xxii)             Possession of Intellectual Property.  The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know‑how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of its subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, or invalidity or inadequacy, could, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

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(xxiii)           Environmental Laws.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company and its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (D) there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or Governmental Entity, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

(xxiv)           Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain effective internal control over financial reporting (as defined under Rule 13‑a15 and 15d‑15 of the 1934 Act Regulations) and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that:  (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (E) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly present the required information and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a‑15 and Rule 15d‑15 of the 1934 Act Regulations) that are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

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(xxv)             Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; Registration and Listing of Common Stock.  There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.  The Company’s common stock has been duly registered under the 1934 Act and duly listed on the Nasdaq Global Market and the Company is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable rules and regulations with respect to such registration  and listing.  The Company has taken no action designed to, or reasonably likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Company’s common stock under the 1934 Act or the listing of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market and has not received any communication that the Commission or the Nasdaq Global Market has terminated, intends to terminate, or is contemplating terminating, such registration or listing, respectively.

(xxvi)           Payment of Taxes.  All United States federal income tax returns of the Company and its subsidiaries required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments against which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided.  The United States federal income tax returns of the Company and its subsidiaries through the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 have been settled and no assessment in connection therewith has been made against the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been established by the Company.  The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. 

(xxvii)         Insurance.  The Company and its subsidiaries carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as is generally maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business, and all such insurance is in full force and effect.  The Company has no reason to believe that it or any of its subsidiaries will not be able (A) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (B) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither of the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied. 

(xxviii)       Investment Company Act.  Neither the Company nor the Bank is required, or upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement will be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

(xxix)           Absence of Manipulation.  Neither the Company nor any subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any such subsidiary or other affiliate take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed, or would be reasonably expected, to cause or result in, or which might be reasonably expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or to result in a violation of Regulation M under the 1934 Act.

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(xxx)             Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its other affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(xxxi)           Money Laundering Laws.  The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”).  No action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxxii)         OFAC.  None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is (A) an individual or entity (“Person”) currently the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”) or (B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions.

(xxxiii)       Relationship with Underwriters.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company does not have any material lending or other relationship with the Underwriters or any affiliate of any Underwriter.

(xxxiv)       Statistical and Market-Related Data.  Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate and, to the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.

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(xxxv)         Prohibition on Dividends.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any order of any Regulatory Agency (other than orders applicable to bank or savings and loan holding companies and their subsidiaries generally), under any applicable law, or under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties, assets or operations to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.

(xxxvi)       Not a U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation.  The Company is not, and has not been, a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(xxxvii)     Fair Saleable Value of Assets.  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries owns and, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, will own assets the fair saleable value of which are greater than (A) the total amount of its liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) and (B) the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities of its existing debts as they become absolute and matured considering the financing alternatives reasonably available to it.  The Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it or any of its subsidiaries will be required to file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction, and has no present intent to so file.

(xxxviii)   Affiliated Transactions or Relationships.  No transaction has occurred or relationship exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and its affiliates, officers or directors, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus contained in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, that is not so described therein.

(b)         Representations and Warranties by the Bank.  The Bank represents and warrants to each Underwriter and the Selling Shareholder at each Representation Date, and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:

(i)                 Good Standing.  The Bank has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties, to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under, and to consummate the transactions contemplated in, this Agreement and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured up to the applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund of the FDIC to the fullest extent permitted by law and the rules and regulations of the FDIC, and no proceeding for the revocation or termination of such insurance is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

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(ii)               Regulatory Matters.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Bank is not subject or party to, and has not received any notice or advice that it is reasonably expected to become subject or party to any investigation with respect to, any Regulatory Agreement, and the Bank has not been advised by any Regulatory Agency that it is considering issuing or requesting any Regulatory Agreement.  There is no unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Regulatory Agency with respect to any report or statement relating to any examinations of the Bank.  The Bank is in compliance in all material respects with all laws administered by the Regulatory Agencies.

(iii)             Authorization of Agreement.  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Bank.

(iv)             Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts.  The Bank is not (A) in violation of its charter, by-laws or similar organizational document, (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any Agreement and Instrument to which the Bank is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of the properties, assets or operations of the Bank is subject, except for such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity (including, without limitation, each applicable Regulatory Agency) having jurisdiction over the Bank or any of its properties, assets or operations, except for such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(v)               Noncontravention.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and compliance by the Bank with its obligations under this Agreement have been duly authorized by the Bank by all requisite action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties, assets or operations of the Bank pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, by-laws or similar organizational document of the Bank or any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity.

(vi)             Absence of Further Requirements.  No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Governmental Entity is necessary or required for the performance by the Bank of its obligations under this Agreement.

(vii)           Investment Company Act.  The Bank is not required to register as an “investment company” under the 1940 Act.

(c)          Representations and Warranties by the Selling Shareholder.  The Selling Shareholder represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company and each Underwriter at each Representation Date as follows:

(i)                 Good and Marketable Title.  The Selling Shareholder now has and at the Closing Time will have good and marketable title to the Securities to be sold by it, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, equities and claims, and full right, power and authority to effect the sale and delivery of the Securities.  Upon the delivery of, against payment for, the Securities pursuant to this Agreement and assuming an Underwriter does not have notice of any adverse claim (within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York), such Underwriter will acquire good and marketable title thereto, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, equities and claims.

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(ii)               Authorization of Agreement.  The Selling Shareholder has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Shareholder.

(iii)             Absence of Further Requirements.  No consent, approval or waiver is required under any instrument or agreement to which the Selling Shareholder is a party or by which the Selling Shareholder is bound in connection with the offering, sale or purchase by the Underwriters of any of the Securities by the Selling Shareholder under this Agreement or the consummation by the Selling Shareholder of any of the other transactions contemplated hereunder.

(d)         Officer’s Certificates.  Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including the Bank) and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company and, if applicable, the Bank to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

SECTION 2.         Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.

(a)          Securities.  On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Selling Shareholder agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Selling Shareholder , at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, the number of Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 11, subject, in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

(b)         Payment.  Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for, the Securities shall be made at the offices of Sidley Austin LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder, at 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (New York City time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 11), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Time”).

Payment shall be made to the Selling Shareholder by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Selling Shareholder against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates for the Securities to be purchased by them.  It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for their account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Securities, which it has agreed to purchase.  Merrill Lynch and Sandler O’Neill, individually and not as Representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

SECTION 3.         Covenants of the Company.  The Company covenants with each Underwriter and the Selling Shareholder as follows:

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(a)          Compliance with Commission Requests.  The Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430A, and will notify the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement relating to the Securities shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus shall have been used or filed, as the case may be, in each case only as permitted by Section 3, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of the issuance of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.  The Company will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus.  The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop, prevention or suspension order and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(b)         Continued Compliance with Securities Laws.  The Company will comply in all material respects with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.  If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Company or the Selling Shareholder, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, including, without limitation, any document incorporated therein by reference, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act or the 1934 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder written notice of such event or condition, (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement and use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission as soon as possible if the Company is not eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement at such time, provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives, the Selling Shareholder or counsel for the Underwriters or the Selling Shareholder shall reasonably object. 

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(c)          Filing or Use of Amendments or Supplements.  The Company has given the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder written notice of any filings made pursuant to the 1934 Act or 1934 Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time and will give the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder written notice of its intention to file or use any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, whether pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act or the 1934 Act Regulations or otherwise, from the Applicable Time to the later of (i) the time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is no longer required by the 1933 Act (without giving effect to Rule 172) to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities and (ii) the Closing Time, and will furnish the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder with copies of any such amendment or supplement a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives, the Selling Shareholder or counsel for the Underwriters or the Selling Shareholder shall reasonably object.

(d)         Delivery of Registration Statement.  The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder and counsel for the Underwriters and the Selling Shareholder, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters.  The signed copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S‑T.

(e)          Delivery of Prospectuses.  The Company has delivered to each Underwriter and the Selling Shareholder, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act.  The Company will furnish to each Underwriter and the Selling Shareholder, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with  sales of the Securities, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter or the Selling Shareholder, as applicable, may reasonably request.  The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S‑T.

(f)          Blue Sky Qualifications.  The Company will use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters and the Selling Shareholder, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and non-U.S. jurisdictions as the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder may reasonably designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

(g)          Earnings Statements.  The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

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(h)         Restriction on Sale of Securities.  During a period of 30 days from the date of this Agreement, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of preferred stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for preferred stock or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of preferred stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of preferred stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.

(i)           Reporting Requirements.  The Company, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by, and each such document will meet the requirements of, the 1934 Act and 1934 Act Regulations.

(j)           Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.  The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder, it will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder will be deemed to have consented to the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses listed on Schedule C hereto and any “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder.  The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping.  If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or condition as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder in writing and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(k)         DTC.  The Company will cooperate with the Underwriters and use its best efforts to permit the Securities to be eligible for clearance, settlement and trading through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”).

SECTION 4.         Covenants of the Selling Shareholder.  The Selling Shareholder covenants and agrees with the Underwriters and the Company as follows:

(a)          No Free Writing Prospectuses.  It has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or portion thereof, required to be filed with the Commission without the prior written consent of the Representatives and the Company.

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(b)         Restriction on Sale of Remaining Shares.  During a period of 30 days from the date of this Agreement, the Selling Shareholder will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Preferred Stock that do not constitute Securities to be sold under this Agreement (the “Remaining Shares”) or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any of the Remaining Shares, or cause to be filed any registration statement in connection therewith, under the 1933 Act or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Remaining Shares, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Preferred Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to any sales of the Remaining Shares by the Selling Shareholder to the Company.

SECTION 5.         Payment of Expenses.

(a)          Expenses.  The Company will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(f), including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities, (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of aircraft and other transportation chartered in connection with the road show, (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA, if required, of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (ix) the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Selling Shareholder in an amount not to exceed $25,000, (x) the fees and expenses of making the Securities eligible for clearance, settlement and trading through the facilities of DTC, and (xi) the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with the reforming of any contracts for sale of the Securities made by the Underwriters caused by a breach of the representation contained in the second sentence of Section 1(a)(ii).

(b)         Termination of Agreement.  If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 or Section 10(a)(i) or (iii), the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out‑of‑pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

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(c)          Other Agreement.  The provisions of this Section 5 shall not supersede or otherwise affect any agreement that the Company and the Selling Shareholder may otherwise have entered into for the allocation of such expenses between them.

SECTION 6.         Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations.  The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained herein or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including the Bank) or any representative of the Selling Shareholder delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a)          Effectiveness of Registration Statement, etc.  Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has been declared effective by the Commission under the 1933 Act.  Each preliminary prospectus (to the extent not included in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto at the time of the related effectiveness), each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus (which contains the Rule 430A Information) have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (without reliance, in the case of the Prospectus, on Rule 424(b)(8)) and Rule 433, as applicable, within the time period prescribed by, and in compliance with, the 1933 Act Regulations or, in the case of the Prospectus, a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement that includes the Rule 430A Information has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A.  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated.  The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.

(b)         Opinion of Counsel for Company.  At the Closing Time, the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder shall have received the favorable opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, to the effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto and to such further effect as counsel to the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder may reasonably request.

(c)          Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters.  At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Sidley Austin llp, counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may require.  In giving such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the State of New York and the federal securities laws of the United States, upon the opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Representatives.  Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers and other representatives of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

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(d)         Officers’ Certificate.  At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Change, and the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer or the President and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of each of the Company and the Bank, dated the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no Material Adverse Change, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company or the Bank, as the case may be, in this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time, and (iv) the conditions specified in Section 6(a) have been satisfied.

(e)          Accountant’s Comfort Letters.  At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder shall have received from Elliott Davis, LLC a letter or letters, dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter or letters for each of the other Underwriters, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters or selling shareholders, as applicable, with respect to the financial statements and financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(f)          Bring-down Comfort Letters.  At the Closing Time, the Representatives and the Selling Shareholder shall have received from Elliott Davis, LLC a letter or letters, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter or letters furnished pursuant to Section 6(e), except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

(g)          No Objection.  FINRA has confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements relating to the offering of the Securities.

(h)         Maintenance of Rating.  Since the execution of this Agreement, there shall not have been any decrease in or withdrawal of the rating of any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including the Bank) by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Section 3(a)(62) of the 1934 Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in or withdrawal of any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

(i)           Clearance, Settlement and Trading.  Prior to the Closing Time, the Company, Registrar and Transfer Company (or another transfer agent acceptable to the Underwriters) and DTC shall have executed and delivered the Letter of Representations, dated the Closing Time, and the Securities shall be eligible for clearance, settlement and trading through the facilities of DTC.

(j)           Additional Documents.  At the Closing Time, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company and the Bank in connection with this Agreement shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.

(k)         Termination of Agreement.  If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16 and 17 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

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SECTION 7.         Indemnification.

(a)          Indemnification of Underwriters.  The Company and the Bank, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations (each, an “Affiliate”)), selling agents, partners, officers and directors, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and the Selling Shareholder as follows:

(i)         against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included (A) in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (B) in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities (“Marketing Materials”), including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), or the omission or alleged omission in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or in any Marketing Materials of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ii)        against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 7(d)) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;

(iii)       against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, or in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information or the Selling Shareholder Information.

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(b)         Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers.  Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 7(a), as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, or in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(c)          Actions against Parties; Notification.  Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement.  In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), approved by the indemnifying party (or by the Representatives in the case of Sections 7(b) and 8), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 or Section 8 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

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(d)         Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse.  If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 7(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request (other than those fees and expenses of counsel that are being contested in good faith) prior to the date of such settlement.

(e)          Exclusion.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 and the contribution provided for in Section 8 shall not apply to the Bank to the extent that such indemnification or contribution, as the case may be, by the Bank is found by any Regulatory Agency, or in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction, to constitute a covered transaction under Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act.

SECTION 8.         Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, the Bank and the Selling Shareholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, the Bank and the Selling Shareholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Company, the Bank and the Selling Shareholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, the Bank and the Selling Shareholder, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

The relative fault of the Company, the Bank and the Selling Shareholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Bank or the Selling Shareholder or by the Underwriters, as the case may be, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8.  The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discount received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public.

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No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates, selling agents, partners, officers and directors shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.  The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the number of Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

SECTION 9.         Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive.  All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement, or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including the Bank) submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates, partners, officers, directors and or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter or the Company’s officers or directors or any person controlling the Company or the Selling Shareholder or any representative of the Selling Shareholder and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities.

SECTION 10.     Termination of Agreement.

(a)          Termination.  The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company and the Selling Shareholder, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time, (i) if there has been, in the judgment of the Representatives, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Change, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the offering of the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the Nasdaq Global Market, or (iv) if trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq Global Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other Governmental Entity, or (v)  if a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or with respect to Clearstream or Euroclear systems in Europe, or (vi) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal, New York or South Carolina authorities.

(b)         Liabilities.  If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 5, and provided further that Sections 1, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16 and 17 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

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SECTION 11.     Default by One or More of the Underwriters.  If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 36 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non‑defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 36‑hour period, then:

(i)                 if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non‑defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non‑defaulting Underwriters, or

(ii)               if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non‑defaulting Underwriter.

No action taken pursuant to this Section 11 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, either the Representatives or the Selling Shareholder shall have the right to postpone Closing Time for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements.  As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 11.

SECTION 12.     Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication.  Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the Representatives care of Merrill Lynch at One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, attention of Syndicate Department, with a copy to ECM Legal, and Sandler O’Neill at 1251 Avenue of the Americas, 6^th Floor, New York, New York  10020, attention of General Counsel; notices to the Company and the Bank shall be directed to it at Southern First Bancshares, Inc., 100 Verdae Boulevard, Greenville, SC 29607 attention of R. Arthur Seaver Jr., Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, Poinsett Plaza, 9^th Floor, 104 South Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601 attention of Neil E. Grayson, Esq.; and notices to the Selling Shareholder shall be directed to it at 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.  20220, Attention:  Chief Counsel, Office of Financial Stability, facsimile number (202) 927‑9225.

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SECTION 13.     No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship.  Each of the Company and the Bank acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the initial public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and the Bank, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering of the Securities and the process leading thereto, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including the Bank, with respect to the offering of the Securities or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including the Bank, on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including the Bank, with respect to the offering of the Securities except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and the Bank, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, financial, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Securities and each of the Company and the Bank has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. 

SECTION 14.     Parties.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company, the Bank and the Selling Shareholder and their respective successors.  Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Company, the Bank and the Selling Shareholder and their respective successors and the controlling persons, Affiliates, selling agents, officers and directors referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained.  This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Company, the Bank and the Selling Shareholder and their respective successors, and said controlling persons, Affiliates, selling agents, officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation.  No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 15.     Trial by Jury.  Each of the parties hereto other than the Selling Shareholder (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 16.     GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF, THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF NEW YORK), PROVIDED THAT ALL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDER UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE FEDERAL LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SECTION 17.     Consent to Jurisdiction.  Each of the parties hereto other than the Selling Shareholder agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) shall be instituted in (i) the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan or (ii) the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any Specified Court (a “Related Judgment”), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of the Specified Courts in any such suit, action or proceeding.  Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or proceeding brought in any Specified Court.  Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any Specified Court that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

SECTION 18.     TIME.  TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT.  EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

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SECTION 19.     Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

SECTION 20.     Effect of Headings.  The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

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            If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters, the Company, the Bank and the Selling Shareholder in accordance with its terms.

                                                    Very truly yours,

                                                    SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

                                                    By     /s/R. Arthur Seaver, Jr.                                      
                                               Name: R. Arthur Seaver Jr.
                                               Title: Chief Executive Officer

                                                    SOUTHERN FIRST BANK, N.A.

                                                    By     /s/R. Arthur Seaver, Jr.                                       
                                               Name: R. Arthur Seaver Jr.
                                               Title: Chief Executive Officer

                                                   UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
                                                   THE TREASURY, as Selling Shareholder

                                                    By      /s/Timothy G. Massad                                          
                                               Name:  Timothy G. Massad
                                               Title:  Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability

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CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
            as of the date first above written:

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED

SANDLER O’NEILL & PARTNERS, L.P.

 

By:  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED

By:        /s/William P. Hobbs                                             

Authorized Signatory

By:  SANDLER O’NEILL & PARTNERS, L.P.

By:  Sandler O’Neill & Partners Corp.,
         the sole general partner

By:     /s/Robert A. Kleinert                                                

      Name: Robert A. Kleinert

      Title:  An Officer of the Corporation

 

For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $890.4400, being an amount equal to the initial public offering price set forth in Schedule B less $13.5600 per share.

 

Sch A

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE B

1. The initial public offering price per share for the Securities shall be $904.0000.

2. The settlement date / Closing Time shall be July 3, 2012.

 

Sch B

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE C

Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses

None.

 

Sch C