Edgar Filing: META FINANCIAL GROUP INC

Redemption

Redemption

Document

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 2016

Registration No. 333-

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

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware		42-1406262
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

________________________




5501 South Broadband Lane Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108 (605) 782-1767 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

	Glen W. Herrick Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 5501 South Broadband Lane Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108 (605) 782-1767 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) Copy to:
	Jeffrey M. Werthan, Esq. Lawrence D. Levin, Esq. Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP 2900 K Street NW, Suite 200 Washington, D.C. 20007 Telephone No.: (202) 625-3500 Facsimile No.: (202) 298-7570

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer x

Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company ¨

________________________

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



Title of each class of securities to be registered	Amount to be registered (1)(2)(3)	Proposed maximum offering price per unit (1)(2)	Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (1)(2)	Amount of registration fee (4)
Debt Securities (5)
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Nonvoting Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Depositary Shares (6)
Warrants
Units (7)
Total	$150,000,000		$150,000,000	$15,105

(1) An indeterminate number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered for sale at prices to be determined, with an aggregate public offering price not to exceed $150,000,000. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion, or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units. Any securities registered under this registration statement may be sold separately or together with other securities registered under this registration statement. The proposed maximum offering price per class of securities will be determined, from time to time, by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder.

(2) In accordance with General Instruction II.D. to Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), information as to each class of securities to be registered is not specified.

(3) This registration statement also covers the issuance of any additional securities which may be issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other securities that provide for such issuance. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, the securities being registered hereunder includes such additional indeterminate number of securities as may be issuable with respect to the securities being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

(4) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act.

(5) The debt securities may consist of one or more series of senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

(6) Each depositary share will be issued under a deposit agreement, will represent a fractional interest in a share of a class or series of preferred stock, and will be evidenced by a depositary receipt.

(7) Each unit will be issued under a unit agreement or indenture and will represent an interest in two or more of the listed securities, which may or may not be separable from one another.

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

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

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 27, 2016

PROSPECTUS

Meta Financial Group, Inc.

$150,000,000

Debt Securities
Common Stock

Nonvoting Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants

Units

________________________

Meta Financial Group, Inc. may offer, issue and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, the securities described in this prospectus.

These securities may be offered or sold to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continued or delayed basis.

This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which we will offer them. We will provide the specific terms of these securities, and the manner in which they are being offered, in supplements to this prospectus. These securities cannot be sold unless this prospectus is accompanied by a prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus, any post-effective amendment and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

The principal executive offices of Meta Financial Group, Inc. are located at 5501 South Broadband Lane, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108, and the telephone number is (605) 782-1767.

The shares of the common stock of Meta Financial Group, Inc. are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “CASH.” On June 24, 2016, the closing price of Meta Financial Group, Inc.’s common stock was $51.71 per share.

________________________

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before buying our securities, you should consider the risks described under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 of this prospectus and refer to the risk factors that may be included in a prospectus supplement and in our periodic reports and other information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

________________________

THE SECURITIES WILL BE EQUITY SECURITIES IN OR UNSECURED OBLIGATIONS OF META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND WILL NOT BE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS OR DEPOSITS IN OUR SUBSIDIARY BANK, WILL NOT BE GUARANTEED BY OUR SUBSIDIARY BANK AND, UNLESS SPECIFIED IN A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, WILL NOT BE INSURED OR GUARANTEED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

________________________

This prospectus is dated , 2016.

Table of Contents



		Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION		1
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE		2
RISK FACTORS		3
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		3
META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.		5
CERTAIN REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS		5
USE OF PROCEEDS		6
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES		6
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER		6
DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR AND SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES		7
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK		13
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK		15
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES		16
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS		17
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS		18
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		18
LEGAL MATTERS		20
EXPERTS		20
PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS		II-1

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Such prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in the prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information incorporated by reference herein as provided for under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus and any relevant prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer to sell or soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make the offer or solicitation. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the document that contains the information.

Any of the securities described in this prospectus and in a prospectus supplement may be convertible or exchangeable into other securities that are described in this prospectus or which will be described in a prospectus supplement or may be issued separately, together or as part of a unit consisting of two or more securities, which may or may not be separate from one another. These securities may include new or hybrid securities developed in the future that combine features of any of the securities described in this prospectus.

The registration statement that contains this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, contains additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. You can find the registration statement at the SEC’s website or at the SEC office mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Unless the context otherwise indicates, the terms “us,” “we,” “our,” “Meta Financial” and the “Company” refer to Meta Financial Group, Inc. and our subsidiaries.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy, at prescribed rates, any documents we have filed with the SEC at its Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. We also file these documents with the SEC electronically. You can access the electronic versions of these filings on the SEC’s internet website found at http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain free copies of the documents we have filed with the SEC from our internet website at http://www.metafinancialgroup.com. These filings will be available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The information found on, or that may be accessed through, the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus and should not be considered a part of this prospectus.

This prospectus is a part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3. This prospectus does not contain all of the information you can find in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part of the registration statement.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information that we incorporate by reference is deemed to be a part of this prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by information that is included directly in this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC. The documents contain important information about us.



Our SEC Filings (File No. 000-22140)		Period or Filing Date
Our SEC Filings (File No. 000-22140)		Period or Filing Date
Annual Report on Form 10-K		Year ended September 30, 2015;
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q		Quarters ended December 31, 2015; March 31, 2016;
Current Reports on Form 8-K		Filed on October 30, 2015, November 20, 2015, November 25, 2015, December 8, 2015, December 17, 2015, January 26, 2016, January 28, 2016, February 23, 2016, April 28, 2016, May 10, 2016, May 23, 2016 and May 24, 2016(excluding all information furnished in such reports under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01); and
The description of our common stock contained in a Registration Statement on Form 8-A, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description		July 29, 1993

We also incorporate by reference additional documents that we will file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than portions of the documents that are furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of a Current Report on Form 8-K and exhibits furnished on such form that relate to such items, unless otherwise indicated therein) after the date of this document. Those documents include periodic reports such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as proxy statements on Schedule DEF 14A.

Information in this prospectus supersedes related information in the documents listed above, and information in subsequently filed documents supersedes related information in both this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein.

Documents which we incorporate by reference are available from us without charge, excluding all exhibits, unless we have specifically incorporated by reference an exhibit in this prospectus. You may obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at:

Meta Financial Group, Inc.
Attention: Corporate Secretary
5501 South Broadband Lane,
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108
(605) 782-1767

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risk. Please see the “Risk Factors” section in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, along with any disclosure related to the risk factors contained in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, or Current Reports on Form 8-K, in each case, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If any of the events described in such "Risk Factors" section occurs or the risks described therein actually materialize, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow or prospects could be materially adversely affected. Risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations, our financial results and the value of our securities. The prospectus supplement applicable to each type or series of securities we offer may contain a discussion of additional risks applicable to an investment in us and the particular type of securities we are offering under that prospectus supplement.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents that are incorporated by reference herein may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “hope,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “could,” “future” or the negative of those terms or other words of similar meaning. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss our future expectations or state other “forward-looking” information.

These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, expectations, estimates, and intentions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control. Such statements address, among others, the following subjects: future operating results; customer retention; loan and other product demand; the potential benefits of the acquisition of Fort Knox Financial Services Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tax Product Services LLC (collectively, “Fort Knox” or “Refund Advantage”); important components of the Company's statements of financial condition and operations; growth and expansion; new products and services, such as those offered by MetaBank or Meta Payment Systems® (“MPS”), a division of the Bank; credit quality and adequacy of reserves; technology; and the Company's employees. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements contained herein. The following factors, among others, could cause the Company's financial performance and results of operations to differ materially from the expectations, estimates, and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements: the risk that the Company may incur unanticipated or unknown losses or liabilities as a result of the completion of the transaction with Fort Knox; the strength of the United States' economy, in general, and the strength of the local economies in which the Company conducts operations; the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary, and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), as well as efforts of the United States Treasury in conjunction with bank regulatory agencies to stimulate the economy and protect the financial system; inflation, interest rate, market, and monetary fluctuations; the timely development of, and acceptance of new products and services offered by the Company, as well as risks (including reputational and litigation) attendant thereto, and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users; the risks of dealing with or utilizing third parties; any actions which may be initiated by our regulators; the impact of changes in financial services laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, laws and regulations relating to the tax refund industry, our relationship with our primary regulators, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) and the Federal Reserve, as well as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), which insures the Bank’s deposit accounts up to applicable limits; technological changes, including, but not limited to, the protection of electronic files or databases; acquisitions; litigation risk, in general, including, but not limited to, those risks involving the MPS division; the growth of the Company’s business, as well as expenses related thereto; continued maintenance by the Bank of its status as a well-capitalized institution, particularly in light of our deposit base, a substantial portion of which has been characterized as “brokered”; changes in consumer spending and saving habits; and the success of the Company at managing and collecting assets of borrowers in default.

The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Additional discussions of factors affecting the Company’s business and prospects are contained in the Company’s periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings made with the SEC. The Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries.

META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

Meta Financial, a registered unitary savings and loan holding company regulated by the Federal Reserve, is a Delaware corporation. The principal assets of Meta Financial are all the issued and outstanding shares of the Bank, a federal savings bank, the accounts of which are insured up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) of the FDIC. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to Meta Financial include Meta Financial and the Bank, and all subsidiaries of Meta Financial, direct or indirect, on a consolidated basis.

The Bank, a wholly-owned full-service banking subsidiary of Meta Financial, is both a community-oriented financial institution offering a variety of financial services to meet the needs of the communities it serves and a payments company providing services on a nationwide basis. The business of the Bank consists of attracting retail deposits from the general public and investing those funds primarily in loans for one- to- four-family residential mortgages, commercial and multi-family real estate, agricultural operations and real estate, construction, consumer and commercial operations, and premium finance. The Bank also purchases mortgage-backed securities and other investments permissible under applicable regulations. The Bank has four market areas: Northwest Iowa (“NWI”), Brookings, South Dakota (“Brookings”), Central Iowa (“CI”), and Sioux Empire (“SE”). The Bank’s home office is located at 5501 South Broadband Lane, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. NWI operates two offices in Storm Lake, Iowa. Brookings operates one office in Brookings, South Dakota. CI operates a total of four offices in Iowa: Des Moines (2), West Des Moines, and Urbandale. SE operates three offices and one administrative office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. AFS/IBEX is also operated under the Bank segment. AFS/IBEX provides nationwide, commercial insurance premium financing for business and insurance agencies, through offices in Texas and California.

The Company’s payments business, Meta Payment Systems (“MPS”), includes our electronic payments division and Refund Advantage, our tax refund-transfer software division. MPS offers prepaid cards and other payment industry products and services nationwide and operates out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Refund Advantage offers professional tax refund-transfer services used by independent Electronic Refund Originators and their customers and operates out of Louisville, Kentucky.

The Company’s revenues are derived primarily from interest on commercial and residential mortgage loans, mortgage-backed securities and other investments, fees generated through the activities of MPS and Refund Advantage, consumer loans, agricultural operating loans, commercial operating loans, income from service charges, loan origination fees and loan servicing fee income.

Meta Financial’s headquarters are located at 5501 South Broadband Lane, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108 and our telephone number is (605) 782-1767. Our internet address is http://www.metafinancialgroup.com. The reference to our website does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on the website, which should not be considered part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

CERTAIN REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS

General

As a savings and loan holding company under the Savings and Loan Holding Company Act, we are subject to the comprehensive supervision, examination, and regulation of the Federal Reserve. Similarly our primary subsidiary, MetaBank, is subject to comprehensive supervision, examination and regulation of, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”), its primary federal regulator, and by the FDIC, which insures its deposits up to applicable limits.

For a discussion of the material elements of the regulatory framework applicable to thrift holding companies and their subsidiaries, and specific information relevant to us, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and any subsequent reports we file with the SEC that are so incorporated. This regulatory framework is intended primarily for the protection of depositors and other clients of banking subsidiaries, the FDIC, and the banking system as a whole, not for the protection of investors.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we indicate a different use in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from our sale of the offered securities will be added to our general corporate funds and may be used for:



•	debt reduction or debt refinancing;
•	investments in or advances to subsidiaries;
•	acquisitions of bank and nonbank businesses;
•	capital expenditures;
•	repurchase of shares of our common stock or other securities; and
•	general corporate purposes.

Until the net proceeds have been used, they may be temporarily invested in securities or held in deposits of our subsidiary bank.

The applicable prospectus supplement will provide more details on the use of proceeds of any specific offering.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table shows our ratio of consolidated earnings to fixed charges for the six months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 and each of our last five fiscal years:



Six Months Ended March 31,		Year Ended September 30,
2016	2015		2015	2014	2013	2012	2011
13.33x	8.29x		7.64x	7.48x	5.94x	7.53x	2.56x

For the purpose of computing the above ratios, earnings consist of pre-tax income (loss), distributed equity income of affiliated companies and fixed charges, less capitalized interest and net income – noncontrolling interests. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, capitalized interest and the portion of rental expense which represents the interest factor. As of the date of this prospectus we do not have any shares of preferred stock outstanding and, prior to the date of this prospectus, we did not have any shares of preferred stock outstanding that paid holders thereof any preference dividends. Accordingly, our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends is the same as our ratio of consolidated earnings to fixed charges as disclosed above.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the senior and subordinated debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants and units that we may offer from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. The particular terms of any security that will be offered under this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material. The applicable prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the securities as described in this prospectus. The terms of the offering of securities, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us will be contained in the prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to such offering. You should read the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus and any other offering materials that we may provide.

DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR AND SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

General

We may issue, separately or together with, or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of other securities, debt securities from time to time in one or more series, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following is a description of the material features, terms and provisions of debt securities that we may offer. This summary does not purport to be exhaustive and may not contain all the information that is important to you. Therefore, you should read the applicable prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities and any other offering materials that we may provide.

We may issue senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities under separate indentures, which may be supplemented or amended from time to time. Senior debt securities would be issued under a senior indenture and subordinated debt securities would be issued under a subordinated indenture. The senior indenture and subordinated indenture are referred to individually in this prospectus as the indenture, and collectively as the indentures. You should carefully consider the actual provisions of the indentures and any supplemental indentures.

The particular terms of a series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities. The indentures will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and may be supplemented or amended from time to time following their execution. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not be limited in the amount of debt securities that we may issue, and neither the senior debt securities nor the subordinated debt securities will be secured by any of our property or assets. Thus, by owning debt securities, you will be one of our unsecured creditors.

We are a holding company and conduct substantially all of our operations through our subsidiary bank. As a result, claims of holders of debt securities of the holding company will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of the Bank.

In addition, our right to participate as a stockholder in any distribution of assets of our subsidiary (and thus the ability of holders of our debt securities to benefit from such distribution as our creditors) is junior to creditors of such subsidiary, including depositors of the Bank.

The indentures, forms of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and any supplemental indentures, will contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section of the prospectus. Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities or any applicable indentures or supplemental indenture. This summary is therefore subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of any applicable indenture or supplemental indenture, including any definitions of terms used in such indenture. Your rights will be defined by the terms of any applicable indenture or supplemental indenture, not the summary provided herein. This summary is also subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of a particular series of debt securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or supplements.

The debt securities may be denominated and payable in U.S. dollars. We may also issue debt securities, from time to time, with the principal amount, interest or other amounts payable on any relevant payment date to be determined by reference to one or more currency exchange rates, securities or baskets of securities, commodity prices, indices or any other financial, economic or other measure or instrument, including the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or circumstance. In addition, we may issue debt securities as part of any units issued by us. All references in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement to other amounts will include premiums, if any, other cash amounts payable under the applicable indenture, and the delivery of securities or baskets of securities under the terms of the debt securities. Debt securities may bear interest at a fixed rate, which may be zero, or a floating rate.

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our preferred stock, common stock or other securities. We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is permitted or mandatory, whether at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our preferred stock, common stock or other securities that holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the debt securities and the price or prices at which we will offer the debt securities. The description will, to the extent applicable, include:



•	the title and form of the debt securities;
•	the ranking of the debt securities as compared to other debt;
•	the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities or the series of which they are a part;
•	the person or persons to whom any principal or interest on a debt security of the series will be paid;
•	the date or dates on which we must repay the principal;
•	the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear interest;
•	the date or dates from which interest will accrue, and the dates on which we must pay interest;
•	the place or places where we must pay the principal and any premium or interest on the debt securities;
•	the terms and conditions on which the debt securities may be convertible into other securities;
•	whether the debt securities are entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund;
•	the identity of the trustee;
•	the terms and conditions on which we may redeem any debt security, if at all;
•	any obligation to redeem or purchase any debt securities, and the terms and conditions on which we must do so;
•	the denominations in which we may issue the debt securities;
•	the manner in which we will determine the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on the debt securities;
•	the currency in which we will pay the principal of and any premium or interest on the debt securities;
•	the principal amount of the debt securities that we will pay upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity;
•	the amount that will be deemed to be the principal amount for any purpose, including the principal amount that will be due and payable upon any maturity or that will be deemed to be outstanding as of any date;
•	whether the debt securities are defeasible and the terms of such defeasance; and
•	any addition to or change in the events of default applicable to the debt securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal amount of any of the debt securities due and payable.

Some of the debt securities may be issued as original issue discount debt securities. Original issue discount securities bear no interest or bear interest at below market rates and will be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. A prospectus supplement relating to an issue of original issue discount securities will contain information relating to United States federal income tax, accounting, and other special considerations applicable to original issue discount securities.

Senior Debt Securities

The senior debt securities will be our direct, unsecured general obligations, will constitute senior indebtedness, and will have the same rank as our other senior indebtedness. For a definition of “senior indebtedness,” see “Subordinated Debt Securities — Subordination” below.

Events of Default. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, any of the following events will be an event of default for any series of senior debt securities:



•	default in the payment of interest on any senior debt security of that series and the continuance of that default for 30 days;
•	default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on, any senior debt security of that series at maturity;
•	default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment applicable to any senior debt security of that series and the continuance of that default for five days;
•	failure by us for 60 days after notice to perform any of the other covenants or warranties in the senior indenture applicable to that series;
•	specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization; and
•	any other event of default specified with respect to senior debt securities of that series.

If any event of default with respect to senior debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of that series will be entitled to declare the principal amount (or, if the senior debt securities of that series are original issue discount senior debt securities, a specified portion of the principal amount) of all senior debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. No such declaration will be required upon specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. Subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of that series will be entitled to annul the declaration.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any particular provisions relating to the acceleration of the maturity of a portion of the principal amount of original issue discount senior debt securities upon an event of default.

Subject to the duty to act with the required standard of care during a default, the trustee will not be obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the senior indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of senior debt securities, unless the holders have offered to the trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding senior debt securities of any series will be entitled to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee for that series, or exercising any trust or other power conferred on the trustee. However, the trustee will be entitled to decline to act if the direction is contrary to law or the senior indenture.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate of no default or specifying any default that exists.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will be permitted to elect:



•	defeasance, which would discharge us from all of our obligations (subject to limited exceptions) with respect to any senior debt securities of that series then outstanding; and/or
•	covenant defeasance, which would release us from our obligations under specified covenants and the consequences of the occurrence of an event of default resulting from a breach of these covenants.

To make either of the above elections, we will be required to deposit in trust with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations (as defined below) or, with respect to senior debt securities denominated in a foreign currency, foreign government obligations (as defined below) which, through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms, will provide sufficient money, without reinvestment, to repay in full those senior debt securities.

As used in the senior indenture, “U.S. government obligations” are:



•	direct obligations of the U.S. or of an agency or instrumentality of the U.S., in either case that are guaranteed as full faith and credit obligations of the U.S. and that are not redeemable by the issuer; and
•	certain depositary receipts with respect to obligations referred to in clause immediately above.

As used in the senior indenture, “foreign government obligations” are direct obligations of a foreign government or governments or of an agency or instrumentality of such foreign government or governments, in either case that are guaranteed as full faith and credit obligations of such foreign government or governments and that are not redeemable by the issuer.

As a condition to defeasance or covenant defeasance, we will be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the holders of the senior debt securities will not recognize income, gain, or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. That opinion, in the case of defeasance, but not covenant defeasance, will be required to refer to and be based upon a ruling received by us from the Internal Revenue Service or published as a revenue ruling or upon a change in applicable federal income tax law.

If we exercise our covenant defeasance option with respect to a particular series of senior debt securities, then even if there were a default under the related covenant, payment of those senior debt securities would not be accelerated. We will be entitled to exercise our defeasance option with respect to a particular series of senior debt securities, even if we previously had exercised our covenant defeasance option. If we were to exercise our defeasance option, payment of those senior debt securities may not be accelerated because of any event of default. If we exercise our covenant defeasance option and an acceleration were to occur, the realizable value at the acceleration date of the money and U.S. government obligations in the defeasance trust could be less than the principal and interest then due on those senior debt securities. This is because the required deposit of money and/or U.S. government obligations in the defeasance trust will be based upon scheduled cash flows, rather than market value, which will vary depending upon interest rates and other factors.

Modification and Waiver. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we, together with the trustee, will be entitled to enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of senior debt securities to:



•	evidence the assumption by another person of our obligations;
•	add covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of senior debt securities;
•	add any additional events of default;
•	add to or change the senior indenture to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in bearer form;
•	add to, change or eliminate a provision of the senior indenture if such addition, change or elimination does not apply to a senior debt security created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture, or modify the rights of a holder of any senior debt security with such provision;
•	secure any senior debt security;
•	establish the form or terms of senior debt securities of any series;
•	evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee; or
•	cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in the senior indenture or make other changes, provided that any such action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of senior debt securities of any affected series in any material respect.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, other amendments and modifications of the senior indenture may be made with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of each series of the outstanding senior debt securities affected by the amendment or modification. No modification or amendment will be permitted to, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding senior debt security affected:



•	change the stated maturity of the principal of or any installment of principal or interest, if any, on any such senior debt security;
•	reduce the principal amount of (or premium, if any) or the interest rate, if any, on any such senior debt security or the principal amount due upon acceleration of an original issue discount security;
•	change the place or currency of payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or the interest, if any, on such senior debt security;
•	impair the right to sue for the enforcement of any such payment on or with respect to any such senior debt security;
•	reduce the percentage of holders of senior debt securities necessary to modify or amend the senior indenture; or
•	modify the foregoing requirements or reduce the percentage of outstanding securities necessary to waive compliance with certain provisions of the senior indenture or for waiver of certain defaults.

The holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of any series will be entitled to, on behalf of all holders of that series, waive our required compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the senior indenture and waive any past default under the senior indenture, except a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest or in the performance of certain covenants.

Consolidation, Merger, and Sale of Assets. We may, without the consent of the holders of any senior debt securities, consolidate or merge with any other person or transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to another person, or permit another corporation to merge into us, as long as:



•	the successor is a person organized under U.S. law;
•	the successor, if not us, assumes our obligations on the senior debt securities and under the senior indenture;
•	after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and
•	other specified conditions are met.

Subordinated Debt Securities

The subordinated debt securities will be our direct, unsecured general obligations. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all senior indebtedness — and, in certain circumstances described below relating to our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, or reorganization — to all other financial obligations. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the amount of debt, including senior indebtedness, or other financial obligations we may incur will not be limited.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the maturity of the subordinated debt securities will be subject to acceleration only upon our bankruptcy or reorganization. See “— Events of Default” below.

Subordination. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all senior indebtedness and, under certain circumstances described below, to all other financial obligations.

As used in this prospectus, “senior indebtedness” means the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all indebtedness for money borrowed by us or evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in connection with the acquisition of any business, properties or assets of any kind. Senior indebtedness, however, does not include indebtedness that is stated in its terms to not be superior to, or to have the same rank as or be subordinate to, the subordinated debt securities.

As used in this prospectus, “other financial obligations” means all indebtedness of the Company for claims in respect of derivative products, such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts, and similar arrangements, except obligations that constitute senior indebtedness and except obligations that are expressly stated in their terms to have the same rank as, or be subordinate to, the subordinated debt securities.

If the maturity of any subordinated debt securities is accelerated, the holders of all senior indebtedness outstanding at the time of such acceleration will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due thereon before the holders of subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive any payment upon the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the subordinated securities.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, no payments on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, in respect of the subordinated debt securities will be permitted to be made if:



•	there shall have occurred and be continuing a default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on senior indebtedness or an event of default with respect to any senior indebtedness resulting in the acceleration of the maturity thereof; or
•	any judicial proceeding shall be pending with respect to any such default in payment or event of default.

In addition, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, upon our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, we will be required to pay to the holders of senior indebtedness the full amounts of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the senior indebtedness before any payment or distribution is made on the subordinated debt securities. If, after we have made those payments on the senior indebtedness, amounts are available for payment on the subordinated debt securities and creditors that hold other financial obligations have not received their full payments, then we will first be required to use amounts available for payment on the subordinated debt securities to pay in full all other financial obligations before we may make any payment on the subordinated debt securities.

Events of Default. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, an event of default under the subordinated indenture with respect to subordinated debt securities of any series will occur upon certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization involving us and any other event of default regarding that series of debt securities. If an event of default in connection with any outstanding series of subordinated debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series will be entitled to declare the principal amount due and payable immediately. Subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority of the principal amount of subordinated debt securities of a series will be entitled to rescind and annul any such declaration of acceleration.

In addition, the subordinated indenture may provide for defaults, which are not events of default and do not entitle the holders to accelerate the principal of the subordinated debt securities. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following will constitute defaults under the subordinated indenture with respect to subordinated debt securities of a series:



•	our failure to pay principal of, or any premium on, any debt security of that series when the payment is due;
•	our failure to pay any interest on any debt security of that series when the interest payment is due, and continuance of this default for 30 days;
•	our default in the performance, or breach, of any of our covenants or warranties in the subordinated indenture, other than a covenant or warranty included in the subordinated indenture solely for the benefit of a different series of subordinated debt securities, which has continued for 60 days after we have been given written notice of the default as provided in the subordinated indenture; and
•	any other default regarding that series of debt securities.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will be permitted to elect defeasance and/or covenant defeasance under the same terms described above under “Senior Debt Securities—Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.”

Modification and Waiver. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the terms for amendment or modification of the subordinated indenture and waiver of compliance with certain provisions or past defaults under the subordinated indenture will be the same as those described above under “Senior Debt Securities—Modification and Waiver.” Additionally, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, no modification or amendment to the subordinated indenture will be permitted to, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding subordinated debt security affected, modify the subordination provisions of the subordinated debt securities of any series in a manner adverse to the holders of the subordinated debt securities.

Consolidation, Merger, and Sale of Assets. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will be entitled to, without the consent of the holders of any subordinated debt securities, consolidate or merge with any other person or transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to another person or permit another corporation

to merge into the Company under the same terms described above under “Senior Debt Securities—Consolidation, Merger, and Sale of Assets.”

Regarding the Trustee

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims or secure its claims will be limited, should it become our creditor.

The trustee will be permitted to engage in certain other transactions with us. However, if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest (within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended), the trustee will be required to either eliminate the conflict or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the applicable indenture.

The accompanying prospectus supplement will specify the trustee for the particular series of debt securities to be issued under either of the indentures.

Governing Law

The senior indenture, the subordinated indenture, the senior debt securities, and the subordinated debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

We may issue, separately or together with, or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of other securities, shares of our common stock, par value $.01 per share, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following summary does not purport to be exhaustive and may not contain all the information that is important to you. You should refer to the applicable provision of our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, and to the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) for a complete statement of the terms and rights of our common stock. You should carefully consider the actual provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, as well as relevant portions of the DGCL.

Under our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, we are authorized to issue up to an aggregate of 18,000,000 shares of common stock, consisting of 15,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, and 3,000,000 shares of nonvoting common stock, par value $.01 per share. As of June 24, 2016, there were 8,522,320 shares of common stock outstanding, and an aggregate of 132,508 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding stock options. Our common stock is currently traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “CASH.” No shares of our nonvoting common stock are issued or outstanding.

Each share of our common stock has the same relative rights and is identical in all respects with each other share of our common stock, except that our nonvoting common stock only has those voting rights required by the DGCL. Each share of our nonvoting common stock will automatically convert into one share of our common stock only in the event of a “Permitted Transfer” (as defined in our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended) to a transferee. Our common stock represents non-withdrawable capital, is not of an insurable type and is not insured by the FDIC.

Except with respect to the nonvoting common stock, each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters voted upon by stockholders, subject to the restrictions on acquisitions of stock and related takeover defensive provisions set forth in our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (see below for a summary). If the Company issues preferred stock, holders of the preferred stock may also possess voting rights.

Liquidation or Dissolution. In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive — after payment or provision for payment of all debts and liabilities of the Company (including all deposits in the Bank and accrued interest thereon) and after the distribution to certain eligible account holders who continue their deposit accounts at the Bank — all assets of the Company available for distribution, in cash or in kind. If the Company issues preferred stock, the holders thereof may have a priority interest over the holders of our common stock in the event of liquidation or dissolution.

No Preemptive Rights. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights with respect to any shares of our common stock which may be issued. Our common stock is not subject to call for redemption and each outstanding share of our common stock is fully paid and nonassessable.

Dividends. The board of directors of the Company (or an authorized committee thereof) has the power to declare dividends from time to time as permitted by applicable law. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor. Holders of preferred stock and debt securities, however, have a priority right to distributions and payment over common stock. The ability to pay dividends depends on the amount of dividends paid to us by the Bank. Our payment of dividends, and the Bank’s payment of dividends to us, are subject to government regulation, in that regulatory authorities may prohibit banks and their holding companies from paying dividends in a manner that would constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice or would reduce the amount of its capital below that necessary to meet minimum applicable regulatory capital requirements. In addition, under the Dodd-Frank Act and Federal Reserve regulations, a bank holding company is required to serve as a source of financial and managerial strength to its subsidiary banks and may not conduct its operations in an unsafe or unsound manner. Under these requirements, the holding company may be required to contribute additional capital to an undercapitalized subsidiary bank. This additional capital may be required at times when the holding company may not have the resources to provide such support. The board of directors may fix a record date, which shall not be more than sixty days prior to the date on which a dividend is to be paid, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of such dividend, provided that if no record date is fixed by the board of directors in connection with the declaration of a dividend, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts a resolution declaring such dividend.

Dividend Restrictions-Company. The Company, a Delaware corporation and savings and loan holding company, is regulated by the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve has issued a policy statement on the payment of cash dividends by financial institution holding companies, which expresses its view that such companies should pay cash dividends only to the extent that its net income for the past year is sufficient to cover both the cash dividends and a rate of earnings retention that is consistent with the holding company’s capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. The Federal Reserve also indicated that it would be inappropriate for a company experiencing serious financial problems to borrow funds to pay dividends. Furthermore, a holding company may be prohibited from paying any dividends if the holding company’s bank subsidiary is not adequately capitalized. Delaware law also imposes restrictions on the payment of dividends that may prohibit the Company from paying dividends under certain circumstances.

Dividend Restrictions-Bank. The Bank may not pay cash dividends if doing so would reduce the amount of its capital below that necessary to meet minimum regulatory capital requirements, including capital conservation buffer requirements. Moreover, and among other requirements based on safety and soundness, the Bank is subject to minimum earnings tests imposed by its primary federal regulator and must also receive Federal Reserve approval under the Dodd-Frank Act before dividends can be declared. Accordingly, the dividend restrictions imposed on the Bank by regulation or statute effectively may limit the amount of dividends we can pay.

Unissued Stock. The authorized but unissued and unreserved shares of our common stock are available for general corporate purposes including, but not limited to, possible issuance as stock dividends or stock splits, in future mergers or acquisitions, under a cash dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, in a future underwritten or other public offering or under an employee stock ownership plan. Except as described above, or as otherwise required to approve the transaction in which the additional authorized shares of our common stock would be issued, no stockholder approval will be required for the issuance of these shares of our common stock. The board of directors of the Company, without stockholder approval, can issue preferred stock with voting and conversion rights which could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of the Company’s common stock.

Transfer Agent. Our transfer agent for the common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Certain Restrictions on Acquisitions of Stock and Related Takeover Defensive Provisions. The following discussion is a general summary of certain material provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, which may be deemed to have an “anti-takeover” effect and could potentially discourage

or even prevent a bid for the Company, which might otherwise result in stockholders receiving a premium for their stock.

Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides that the board of directors of the Company will be divided into three classes, with directors in each class elected for three-year staggered terms. Thus, it would take two annual elections to replace a majority of the board of directors. The size of our board of directors may be increased or decreased only by a majority vote of the board of directors and any vacancy occurring in the board of directors, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by a majority vote of the directors then in office. The stockholders of the Company do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors and a director may only be removed for cause by the affirmative vote of 75% of the shares of stock eligible to vote. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, impose certain notice and information requirements in connection with the nomination by stockholders of candidates for election to the board of directors or the proposal by stockholders of business to be acted upon at an annual meeting of stockholders.

Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, further provides that any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.

Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, further provides that a special meeting of our stockholders may be called only pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the board of directors.

Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, also authorizes our board of directors to issue preferred stock from time to time in one or more series subject to applicable provisions of law. In the event of a proposed merger, tender offer or other attempt to gain control of the Company that the board of directors does not approve, it might be possible for our board of directors to authorize the issuance of a series of our preferred stock with rights and preferences that would impede the completion of such a transaction.

Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, further provides that in no event shall any record owner of any outstanding common stock which is beneficially owned (pursuant to Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, by a person who beneficially owns in excess of 10% of the then‑outstanding shares of our common stock (the “Limit”) be entitled or permitted to any vote in respect of the shares of our common stock held in excess of the Limit.

Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, also requires that certain business combinations, as defined therein, between the Company (or any majority-owned subsidiary thereof) and a 10% or more stockholder either (1) be approved by at least 75% of the total number of outstanding shares of our voting stock, voting as a single class, (2) be approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company or (3) involve consideration per share of stock generally equal to that paid by such 10% stockholder when it acquired its block of stock.

Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, further provides that purchases by the Company of any of the Company’s equity securities traded on a public exchange or system from a 5% or more stockholder must be approved by at least 75% of the total number of outstanding shares of our voting stock (not counting the stock held by the proposed selling stockholder), unless such purchase is made (1) in connection with a tender or exchange offer applicable to all holders of the same securities, (2) under an open market purchase program approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company, or (3) at no more than the market price and with the approval of a majority of the disinterested directors of the board of directors of the Company.

Finally, amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, must be approved by a majority vote of our board of directors and also by a majority of the outstanding shares of our voting stock; provided, however, that approval by at least 75% of the outstanding voting stock is generally required for certain provisions (i.e., provisions relating to number, classification, election and removal of directors; amendment of bylaws; call of special stockholder meetings; offers to acquire and acquisitions of control; director liability; certain business combinations; power of indemnification; and amendments to provisions relating to the foregoing in our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended). Our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, may be amended by a majority of the board of directors or the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the total votes eligible to be voted at a duly constituted meeting of stockholders.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

We may issue, separately or together with, or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of other securities, preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following summary does not purport to be exhaustive and may not contain all the information that is important to you . You should refer to the applicable provision of our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, and to the DGCL for a complete statement of the terms and rights of our preferred stock. You should carefully consider the actual provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, as well as relevant portions of the DGCL.

Under our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, we are authorized to issue up to 3,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of June 24, 2016, no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding.

Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue from time to time the preferred stock in one or more series, and to fix the number of shares, designations, preferences, powers, and other rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions as our board of directors may authorize, including:



•	the distinctive designation of each series and the number of shares that will constitute the series;
•	the voting rights, if any, of shares of the series and the terms and conditions of the voting rights;
•	the dividend rate on the shares of the series, the dates on which dividends are payable, any restriction, limitation or condition upon the payment of dividends, whether dividends will be cumulative, and the dates from and after which dividends shall accumulate;
•	the prices at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the series may be redeemed, if the shares are redeemable;
•	the terms and conditions of a sinking or purchase fund for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series, if such a fund is provided;
•	any preferential amount payable upon shares of the series in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon the distribution of any of our assets; and
•	the prices or rates of conversion or exchange at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the series may be converted or exchanged into other securities, if the shares are convertible or exchangeable.

The particular terms of any series of preferred stock, and the transfer agent and registrar for that series, will be described in a prospectus supplement. All preferred stock offered, when issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable. Any material U.S. federal income tax consequences and other special considerations with respect to any preferred stock offered under this prospectus will also be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

We may issue, separately or together with, or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of other securities, fractional interests in shares of our preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we do, we will provide for the issuance by a depositary to the public of receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fractional interest in a share of a particular series of preferred stock, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following summary of the terms of the depositary shares does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the terms of the depositary shares and preferred stock, as well as the form of the deposit agreement, which we will file with the SEC in connection with the issuance of the depositary shares, and our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws. You should carefully consider the actual provisions of these documents.

The shares of any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of such amount as may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, which we refer to in this section as the depositary. We will name the depositary in the applicable prospectus supplement. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will have a fractional interest in all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying the depositary share. Those rights include any dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued under the deposit agreement. If you purchase fractional interests in shares of the related series of preferred stock, you will receive depositary receipts as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, you will not be entitled to receive the whole shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or required by law, the form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended at any time by an agreement between us and the depositary. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or required by law, a deposit agreement may be terminated by either the depositary or us only if:



•	all outstanding depositary shares relating to the deposit agreement have been redeemed; or
•	there has been a final distribution on the preferred stock of the relevant series in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and the distribution has been distributed to the holders of the related depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares.

If necessary, the prospectus supplement will provide a description of U.S. Federal income tax consequences relating to the purchase and ownership of the series of depositary shares offered under this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary associated with the initial deposit and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges, and any other charges that are stated to be their responsibility in the deposit agreement.

The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications that it receives from us, and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. The description in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material of any depositary shares we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable depositary agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer depositary shares, and the terms of the underlying preferred stock.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue, separately or together with, or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of other securities, warrants in one or more series to purchase common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, or any combination of those securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with the underlying securities, and may be attached to or separate from the underlying securities. We may issue series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement between us and a warrant agent. The following descriptions outline some of the general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may issue from time to time. Specific terms of a series of warrants and any related warrant agreement will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description and any description of a series of warrants in a prospectus supplement are not complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the warrants and any related warrant agreement, which we will file with the SEC in connection with the issuance of that series of warrants. We urge you to read any applicable warrant agreements and warrant certificates, because those documents, and not these descriptions, define your rights as a holder of warrants.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, where applicable, of warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:



•	the title of the warrants;
•	the designation, amount and terms of the securities for which the warrants are exercisable and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such warrants;
•	the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which the warrants are to be issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security;
•	the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
•	the aggregate number of warrants;
•	any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants;
•	the price or prices at which the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;
•	if applicable, a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the warrants;
•	the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which the right shall expire;
•	the maximum or minimum number of warrants which may be exercised at any time;
•	whether the warrants are to be issued in registered or bearer form;
•	whether the warrants are extendible and the period or periods of such extendibility;
•	the identity of any warrant agent; and
•	other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange, transfer and exercise of the warrants.

Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up or to exercise voting rights, if any.

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue, separately or together with, or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of other securities,. units comprised of one or more of the securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit also is the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time or at any time before a specified date.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to the units we may offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among others: the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, and whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; any provision for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising those units; and whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form. This summary is therefore subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of any applicable unit agreement, including any definitions of terms used therein. Your rights will be defined by the terms of any applicable unit agreement, not the summary provided herein. This summary is also subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of a particular unit described in the applicable prospectus supplement or supplements.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities being offered hereby, from time to time, by one or more of the following methods, or any combination thereof, or through any other method permitted by law: to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers, with or without an underwriting syndicate, for them to offer and sell to the public; directly to one or more purchasers in negotiated purchases or in competitively bid transactions; through designated agents; directly to holders of warrants exercisable for our securities upon the exercise of warrants; or through a combination of any of these methods of sale. We reserve the right to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities, whether the purchase is to be made directly or through agents.

Each time that we use this prospectus to sell our securities, we will also provide a prospectus supplement that contains the specific terms of the offering. We will set forth the terms of the offering of securities in the prospectus supplement, including: the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents and the types and amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them; the public offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us, any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; any agency fees or underwriting discounts or other items constituting agents' or underwriters' compensation; and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to underwriters, agents or dealers; and any delayed delivery arrangements.

The offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by us, the underwriters, or the third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions: at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; in “at the market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange, or otherwise; at prices related to the prevailing market prices; or at negotiated prices.

Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

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

If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities. Only underwriters that we have named in the prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement.

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

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

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

in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions or discounts we pay for solicitation of these contracts.

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

In connection with any offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, over-allotment, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales and penalty bids. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase in an offering. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of the offered securities or any underlying securities made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while an offering is in progress. Short-covering transactions involve purchases of the securities, either through exercise of the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution is completed, to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities. As a result, the price of the securities may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected on an exchange or automated quotation system, if the securities are listed on an exchange or admitted for trading on an automated quotation system, in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise.

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

Underwriters, dealers and agents and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their businesses. In connection with the distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus, we may enter into swap or other hedging transactions with, or arranged by, underwriters or agents or their affiliates. These underwriters or agents or their affiliates may receive compensation, trading gain or other benefits from these transactions.

Under the securities laws of some states, to the extent applicable, the securities may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the securities may not be sold unless such securities have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

LEGAL MATTERS

Except as otherwise provided in any prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered by us pursuant to this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. If legal matters in connection with any offering made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel for underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, such counsel will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Meta Financial Group, Inc. as of September 30, 2015 and 2014, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended September 30, 2015, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2015, which are included in our Annual Report on Form

10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuances and Distribution.

The following table sets forth those expenses to be incurred by Meta Financial Group, Inc. in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All of the amounts shown are estimates, except the SEC registration fee.



SEC registration fee	$	15,105
Printing, engraving, and postage expenses		(1)
Legal fees and expenses		(1)
Trustee fees and expenses		(1)
Accounting fees and expenses		(1)
Rating agency fees		(1)
Miscellaneous expenses		(1)
Total		(1)



(1)	These expenses are not presently known and cannot be estimated at this time as they are based upon the amount and type of security being offered, as well as the number of offerings. The aggregate amount of these expenses will be reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Section 145 further provides that a corporation similarly may indemnify any such person serving in any such capacity who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. No indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

The DGCL further authorizes a Delaware corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation

II-1

of law, for payments of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions or for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Article ELEVENTH of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (“Article ELEVENTH”), provides that each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of another corporation, including, without limitation, any subsidiary, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (or to any employee or agent of the Company that a majority of disinterested directors of the Company grants the rights provided by Article ELEVENTH) (an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent provided by the DGCL, as amended (to the extent such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, with respect to Proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (except suits brought under certain circumstances by the Indemnitee against the Company to recover unpaid amounts of claims), the Company shall indemnify any such Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors of the Company.

The right to indemnification conferred by Article ELEVENTH includes the right of the Indemnitee to be advanced expenses by the Company; provided, however, that an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal, that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under Article ELEVENTH or otherwise.

Article ELEVENTH also provides that the Company may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

The Company maintains standard policies of insurance under which coverage is provided (a) to its directors and officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act, and (b) to the Company with respect to payments which may be made by the Company to such officers and directors pursuant to the above indemnification provision or otherwise as a matter of law.

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Item 16. Exhibits.



1.1	Form of Underwriting Agreement*
3.1	Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Meta Financial Group, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on May 10, 2013)
3.2	Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Meta Financial Group, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 26, 2016)
3.3	Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to Meta Financial Group, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, filed on December 14, 2015
4.1	Specimen Common Stock Certificate**
4.2	Specimen Nonvoting Common Stock Certificate*
4.3	Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate*
4.4	Form of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities**
4.5	Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities**
4.6	Form of Deposit Agreement, including form of Depositary Receipt*
4.7	Form of Debt Warrant Agreement, including form of Debt Warrant Certificate*
4.8	Form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement, including form of Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate*
4.9	Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement, including form of Common Stock Warrant Certificate*
4.10	Form of Unit Agreement*
5.1	Opinion of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP**
12	Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges**
23.1	Consent of KPMG LLP**
23.2	Consent of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1	Powers of Attorney of directors of Meta Financial Group, Inc. (included on signature page)
25.1	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Trustee under the Indenture for Senior Debt Securities***
25.2	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Trustee under the Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities***
__ *	_______________ If applicable, to be filed by an amendment to the Registration Statement or by a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.
**	Filed herewith.
***	To be filed pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 305(b)(2), if applicable.

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned hereby undertakes:

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

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(i)	to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii)	to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereto) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)	to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this Registration Statement.

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

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

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



(i)	Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in this Registration Statement; and
(ii)	Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of this Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be a part of and included in this Registration Statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of this Registration Statement relating to the securities in this Registration Statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in this Registration Statement or a prospectus that is part of this Registration Statement or made in a document incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement or prospectus that is part of this Registration Statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in this Registration Statement or a prospectus that was part of this Registration Statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

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

II-4



(i)	Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)	Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii)	The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv)	Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

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

(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

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

(e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Sioux Falls, State of South Dakota, on the 27th day of June, 2016.




	META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

	By:		/s/ J. Tyler Haahr
	By:		Name: J. Tyler Haahr
	Title:		Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

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POWER OF ATTORNEY

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

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



Signature	Title	Date

/s/ J. Tyler Haahr	Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)	June 27, 2016
J. Tyler Haahr

/s/ Douglas J. Hajek	Director	June 27, 2016
Douglas J. Hajek

/s/ Bradley C. Hanson	Director and President	June 27, 2016
Bradley C. Hanson

/s/ Elizabeth G. Hoople	Director	June 27, 2016
Elizabeth G. Hoople

/s/ Frederick V. Moore	Vice Chairman and Director	June 27, 2016
Frederick V. Moore

/s/ Troy Moore III	Director and Executive Vice President	June 27, 2016
Troy Moore III

/s/ Rodney G. Muilenburg	Director	June 27, 2016
Rodney G. Muilenburg

/s/ Glen W. Herrick	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	June 27, 2016
Glen W. Herrick
	(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Sonja A. Theisen	Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer	June 27, 2016
Sonja A. Theisen
	(Principal Accounting Officer)

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Exhibit Index



Number	Description
1.1	Form of Underwriting Agreement*
3.1	Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Meta Financial Group, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on May 10, 2013)
3.2	Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Meta Financial Group, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 26, 2016)
3.3	Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to Meta Financial Group, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, filed on December 14, 2015
4.1	Specimen Common Stock Certificate**
4.2	Specimen Nonvoting Stock Certificate*
4.3	Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate*
4.4	Form of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities**
4.5	Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities**
4.6	Form of Deposit Agreement, including form of Depositary Receipt*
4.7	Form of Debt Warrant Agreement, including form of Debt Warrant Certificate*
4.8	Form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement, including form of Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate*
4.9	Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement, including form of Common Stock Warrant Certificate*
5.1	Opinion of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP**
12	Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges**
23.1	Consent of KPMG LLP**
23.2	Consent of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1	Powers of Attorney of directors of Meta Financial Group, Inc. (included on signature page)
25.1	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Trustee under the Indenture for Senior Debt Securities***
25.2	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Trustee under the Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities***
_____ *	To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein.
**	Filed herewith.
***	To be filed pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 305(b)(2), if applicable.

E-1

Exhibit 4.1

Exhibit 4.4

META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

___________________________________________,
Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of ___________, ___ 20__

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE RELATING TO
SECTIONS 3.10 THROUGH 3.18, INCLUSIVE, OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939



TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION		INDENTURE SECTION
ss. 310	(a)(1)	6.09
	(a)(2)	6.09
	(a)(3)	Not Applicable
	(a)(4)	Not Applicable
	(b)	6.08
		6.10
ss. 311	(a)	6.13
	(b)	6.13
ss. 312	(a)	7.01
		7.02
	(b)	7.02
	(c)	7.02
ss. 313	(a)	7.03
	(b)	7.03
	(c)	7.03
	(d)	7.04
ss. 314	(a)	1.01
	(a)(4)	10.04
	(b)	Not Applicable
	(c)(1)	1.02
	(c)(2)	1.02
	(c)(3)	Not Applicable
	(d)	Not Applicable
	(e)	1.02
ss. 315	(a)	6.01
	(b)	6.02
	(c)	6.01
	(d)	6.01
	(e)	5.14
ss. 316	(a)	1.01
	(a)(1)(A)	5.02
		5.12
	(a)(1)(B)	5.13
	(a)(2)	Not Applicable
	(b)	5.08
	(c)	1.04
ss. 317	(a)(1)	5.03
	(a)(2)	5.04
	(b)	10.03
ss. 318	(a)	1.07



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

TABLE OF CONTENTS



RECITALS OF THE COMPANY	1

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION	1
SECTION 1.01 Definitions	1
Act	1
Affiliate	1
Authenticating Agent	2
Bank	2
Board of Directors	2
Board Resolution	2
Business Day	2
Commission	2
Company	2
Company Request	2
Corporate Trust Office	2
Corporation	2
Covenant Defeasance	2
Defaulted Interest	2
Defeasance	2
Depositary	2
Event of Default	3
Exchange Act	3
Expiration Date	3
Foreign Government Obligations	3
Global Security	3
Holder	3
Indenture	3
Interest	3
Interest Payment Date	3
Investment Company Act	3
Maturity	3
Notice of Default	3
Officers’ Certificate	3
Opinion of Counsel	3
Original Issue Discount Security	4
Outstanding	4
Paying Agent	4
Person	4
Place of Payment	4
Predecessor Security	5
Principal Subsidiary Bank	5
Redemption Date	5
Redemption Price	5
Regular Record Date	5



Responsible Officer	5
Securities	5
Securities Act	5
Security Register	5
Special Record Date	5
Stated Maturity	5
Subsidiary	5
Trust Indenture Act	5
Trustee	6
U.S. Government Obligation	6
Vice President	6
Voting Stock	6
SECTION 1.02 Compliance Certificates and Opinions	6
SECTION 1.03 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee	6
SECTION 1.04 Acts of Holders; Record Dates	7
SECTION 1.05 Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company	8
SECTION 1.06 Notice to Holders; Waiver	9
SECTION 1.07 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act	9
SECTION 1.08 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents	9
SECTION 1.09 Successors and Assigns	9
SECTION 1.10 Separability Clause	9
SECTION 1.11 Benefits of Indenture	9
SECTION 1.12 Governing Law	10
SECTION 1.13 Legal Holidays	10

ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS	10
SECTION 2.01 Forms Generally	10
SECTION 2.02 Form of Face of Security	10
SECTION 2.03 Form of Reverse of Security	13
SECTION 2.04 Form of Legend for Global Securities	15
SECTION 2.05 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication	16
SECTION 2.06 Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security	16

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES	18
SECTION 3.01 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series	18
SECTION 3.02 Denominations	20
SECTION 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating	20
SECTION 3.04 Temporary Securities	21
SECTION 3.05 Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange	22
SECTION 3.06 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities	23
SECTION 3.07 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved	23
SECTION 3.08 Persons Deemed Owners	24
SECTION 3.09 Cancellation	25



SECTION 3.10 Computation of Interest	25
SECTION 3.11 CUSIP Numbers	25
SECTION 3.12 Further Issuances	25

ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE	26
SECTION 4.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture	26
SECTION 4.02 Application of Trust Money	26

ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES	27
SECTION 5.01 Events of Default	27
SECTION 5.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment	28
SECTION 5.03 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee	28
SECTION 5.04 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim	29
SECTION 5.05 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities	30
SECTION 5.06 Application of Money Collected	30
SECTION 5.07 Limitation on Suits	30
SECTION 5.08 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest	30
SECTION 5.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies	31
SECTION 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative	31
SECTION 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver	31
SECTION 5.12 Control by Holders	31
SECTION 5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults	31
SECTION 5.14 Undertaking for Costs	32
SECTION 5.15 Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws	32

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE	32
SECTION 6.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities	32
SECTION 6.02 Notice of Defaults	33
SECTION 6.03 Certain Rights of Trustee	34
SECTION 6.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities	35
SECTION 6.05 May Hold Securities	35
SECTION 6.06 Money Held in Trust	35
SECTION 6.07 Compensation and Reimbursement	35
SECTION 6.08 Conflicting Interests	36
SECTION 6.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility	36
SECTION 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor	36
SECTION 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor	38
SECTION 6.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business	39
SECTION 6.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company	39
SECTION 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent	39

ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY	40
SECTION 7.01 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders	40

iii



SECTION 7.02 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders	40
SECTION 7.03 Reports by Trustee	41
SECTION 7.04 Reports by Company	41

ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE	41
SECTION 8.01 Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms	41
SECTION 8.02 Successor Substituted	42

ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES	42
SECTION 9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders	42
SECTION 9.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders	43
SECTION 9.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures	44
SECTION 9.04 Effect of Supplemental Indentures	44
SECTION 9.05 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act	44
SECTION 9.06 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures	44
SECTION 9.07 Notice to Holders	44

ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS	44
SECTION 10.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest	44
SECTION 10.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency	45
SECTION 10.03 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust	45
SECTION 10.04 Statement by Officers as to Default	46
SECTION 10.05 Existence	46
SECTION 10.06 Maintenance of Properties	46
SECTION 10.07 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims	46
SECTION 10.08 Limitation Upon Disposition of Stock of Principal Subsidiary Bank	47
SECTION 10.09 Waiver of Certain Covenants	47
SECTION 10.10 Calculation of Original Issue Discount	48

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES	48
SECTION 11.01 Applicability of Article	48
SECTION 11.02 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee	48
SECTION 11.03 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed	48
SECTION 11.04 Notice of Redemption	49
SECTION 11.05 Deposit of Redemption Price	49
SECTION 11.06 Securities Payable on Redemption Date	49
SECTION 11.07 Securities Redeemed in Part	50

ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS	50
SECTION 12.01 Applicability of Article	50
SECTION 12.02 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities	50
SECTION 12.03 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund	50



ARTICLE THIRTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE	51
SECTION 13.01 Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance	51
SECTION 13.02 Defeasance and Discharge	51
SECTION 13.03 Covenant Defeasance	51
SECTION 13.04 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance	52
SECTION 13.05 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions	53
SECTION 13.06 Reinstatement	54

INDENTURE, dated as of ______ __, 20__ between Meta Financial Group, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 5501 South Broadband Lane, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57108, and ______________________________, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

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

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 1.01 Definitions.

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

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

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted at the date of such computation;

(4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture; and

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

“Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such

Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

“Bank” means (i) any institution which accepts deposits that the depositor has a legal right to withdraw on demand and engages in the business of making commercial loans, and (ii) any trust company.

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

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

“Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

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

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

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

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date of the execution of this instrument is located at _____________________________________, Attention: _________________________, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company).

“corporation” means a corporation, association, company, joint-stock company or business trust.

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.03.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.02.

Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statue or regulation.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.

“Foreign Government Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 13.04.

“Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depository or pursuant to the Depository’s instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and pursuant to a Company Order, which shall be registered as to principal and interest in the name of the Depository or its nomine.

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01.

“Interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

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

“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

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

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 5.01(4).

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 10.04 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company, and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02.

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

(6) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

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

(8) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 13.02; and

(9) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.06 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 5.02, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 3.01, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.01, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

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

“Place of Payment”, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

“Principal Subsidiary Bank” means any Subsidiary which is a Bank and has total assets equal to 30 percent or more of the consolidated assets of the Company determined as of the date of the most recent audited financial statements of such entities.

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

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

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

“Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any trust officer or assistant trust officer or any other officer in the corporate trust department of the Trustee having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.05.

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.

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

“Subsidiary” means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

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

“U.S. Government Obligation” has the meaning specified in Section 13.04.

“Vice President”, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.

“Voting Stock” means stock of the class or classes having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes shall have contingent voting rights).

SECTION 1.02 Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 10.04) shall include,

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

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

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

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

SECTION 1.03 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

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

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

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

SECTION 1.04 Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

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

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

from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06.

(f) The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 5.02, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.07(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 3.05(2) or Section 5.12, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06.

(g) With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 90th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 90th day after the applicable record date.

(h) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

SECTION 1.05 Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

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

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office.

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

SECTION 1.06 Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

SECTION 1.07 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act which is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

SECTION 1.08 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 1.09 Successors and Assigns.

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

SECTION 1.10 Separability Clause.

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

SECTION 1.11 Benefits of Indenture.

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

SECTION 1.12 Governing Law.

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required or deemed to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provision.

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

SECTION 1.13 Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue with respect to such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 2.01 Forms Generally.

The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.03 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

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

SECTION 2.02 Form of Face of Security.

[If the Security is a Global Security, insert — Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (the “Depositary”), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE,

OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.]

This security is not a deposit [if applicable, insert — and is not insured by a federal agency]

META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

CUSIP NO. ___




No.		$

Meta Financial Group, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to , or registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars on [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert - , and to pay interest thereon from or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on and in each year, commencing at the rate of ___% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert - , provided that any principal and premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of ___% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the or (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture].

[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert - The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall bear interest at the rate of ___% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue principal or premium shall be payable on demand. [Any such interest on overdue principal or premium which is not paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of ___% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest on interest shall be legally enforceable), from the date of such demand until the amount so demanded is paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue interest shall be payable on demand.]]

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert - any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts [if applicable, insert - ; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register].

[Interest on this Security shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.]

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.




By

Attest:

SECTION 2.03 Form of Reverse of Security.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and ________________________________, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [, limited in aggregate principal amount to [$] ].

[If applicable, insert - The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, [if applicable, insert - (1) on in any year commencing with the year ___and ending with the year ___through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [if applicable, insert - on or after ___, ___], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if applicable, insert - on or before , ___%, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated,

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to___% of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert - (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert - The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, (1) on in any year commencing with the year and ending with the year through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if applicable,

insert - on or after ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated,




	Redemption Price	Redemption Price For
	For Redemption	Redemption Otherwise
	Through Operation of the	Than Through Operation of
Year	Sinking Fund	the Sinking Fund

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to ___% of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert - Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to , redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [if applicable, insert - Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than ___% per annum.]

[If applicable, insert - The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on in each year beginning with the year and ending with the year of [if applicable, insert - not less than $ (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $ aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if applicable, insert - MANDATORY] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [if applicable, insert - mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [if applicable, insert - , in the inverse order in which they become due].]

[If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert - In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

[If applicable, insert - The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or] [certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security] [, in each case] upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert - If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert - If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to — insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $ and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

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

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

SECTION 2.04 Form of Legend for Global Securities.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

[If the Security is a Global Security, insert - Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (the “Depositary”), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE,

OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

SECTION 2.05 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

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




Dated:


___________________________________________

as Trustee

By
		Authorized Signatory

SECTION 2.06 Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.

(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 3.03 and the Company Order delivered to the Trustee thereunder, authenticate and deliver, such Global Security or Securities, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Securities represented hereby, this Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such success Depositary.”

Global Security selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of the Securities represented by such Global Security and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under this Indenture.

(c) (i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities for such series shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company’s election pursuant to Section 3.01(16) shall no longer be effective with respect to such Global Security and the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security in exchange for such Global Security.

(ii) The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Securities of any series issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security or Securities representing such series in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(iii) A Global Security will also be exchangeable if there shall have occurred or be continuing a default or an event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default with respect to the Securities of such series represented by such Global Security. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security or Securities representing such series in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

(iv) If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to Securities issued or issuable in the form of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge, (1) to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Security or Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denominations as requested by such Person or the Depositary in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and (2) to such Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and terms and in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

(v) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding four paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver individual fully registered Securities in authorized denominations. Upon the exchange of a Global Security for individual Securities, such Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.06 shall be registered in such names

and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to the instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee in writing. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

(vi) Members in and participants of the Depositary shall have no rights under the Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by a Depositary, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by a Depositary or impair, as between a Depositary and its members and participants, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Security of the series represented by such Global Security, including, without limitation, the granting of proxies or other authorization of participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 3.01 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

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

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 3.03, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 9.06 or 11.07 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.03, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(3) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

(4) the date or dates on which the principal of any Securities of the series is payable;

(5) the rate or rates at which any Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

(6) the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable;

(7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

(8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

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

(10) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(11) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01;

(12) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

(13) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02;

(14) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);

(15) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 or both such Sections and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

(16) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 2.04 and any circumstances in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

(17) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 5.02;

(18) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article Ten which applies to Securities of the series; and

(19) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.01(5)).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 3.03) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. All securities of any one series need not be issued at one time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional securities of such series.

Unless otherwise specifically provided with respect to the Securities of a series, at the option of the Company, interest on the Securities of any series that bears interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

SECTION 3.02 Denominations.

The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

SECTION 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or one of its Vice Presidents, attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

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

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

(1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.01, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.01, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles;

(4) that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Company of such Securities have been complied with; and

(5) that all conditions precedent under the Indenture relating to the authentication and delivery of such securities have been complied with.

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.09, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

SECTION 3.04 Temporary Securities.

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

the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and tenor.

SECTION 3.05 Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

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

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

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04, 9.06 or 11.07 not involving any transfer.

If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 11.03 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

SECTION 3.06 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

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

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

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

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

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

SECTION 3.07 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

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

SECTION 3.08 Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.07) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on such holder’s behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall impair, as between a Depositary and such holders of beneficial interests, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary as Holder of any Security.

None of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner in a Global Security or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any agent member, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any agent member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Securities and this Indenture shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of the Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in the Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable procedures. The Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar shall be entitled to rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners. The Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary, and any nominee

thereof, that is the registered holder of any Global Security for all purposes of this Indenture relating to such Global Security (including the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest and additional amounts, if any, and the giving of instructions or directions by or to the owner or holder of a beneficial ownership interest in such Global Security) as the sole holder of such Global Security and shall have no obligations to the beneficial owners thereof. None of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any acts or omissions of the Depository with respect to such Global Security, for the records of any such Depositary, including records in respect of beneficial ownership interests in respect of any such Global Security, for any transactions between the Depository and any agent member or between or among the Depositary, any such agent member and/or any holder or owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security, or for any transfer or beneficial interests in any such Global Security.

SECTION 3.09 Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures.

SECTION 3.10 Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 3.11 CUSIP Numbers.

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

SECTION 3.12 Further Issuances.

The Company may from time to time without the consent of the Holders of Securities of any series affected create and issue further Securities of such series having the same terms and conditions as the Securities of such series in all respects (or in all respects except for the payment of interest of the Securities of such series (i) scheduled and paid prior to the date of issuance of the additional Securities of such series or (ii) payable on the first Interest Payment Date following such issuance) so that such further issues shall be consolidated and form a single series with the outstanding Securities of any series. Any further Securities forming a single series with the outstanding Securities of any series may be constituted by the Indenture or any supplement to this Indenture.

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 4.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

(1) either

(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

(i) have become due and payable, or

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

(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

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

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.07, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.02 and the last paragraph of Section 10.03 shall survive. The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

SECTION 4.02 Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

SECTION 5.01 Events of Default.

“Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

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

(2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series and a continuance of such default for a period of 5 days; or

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

(5) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

(6) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

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

SECTION 5.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(5) or 5.01(6)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(5) or 5.01 (6) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.

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

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and

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

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

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

SECTION 5.03 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days,

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof, or

(3) default is made in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund payment or analogous obligation when the same becomes due pursuant to the terms of any Security and such default continues for 5 days, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

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

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

SECTION 5.04 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities in accordance with the terms thereof and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expense, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to the Trustee for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07.

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

SECTION 5.05 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

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

SECTION 5.06 Application of Money Collected.

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

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07; and

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively.

SECTION 5.07 Limitation on Suits.

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

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

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

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

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

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

SECTION 5.08 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.07) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 5.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

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

SECTION 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.06, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

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

SECTION 5.12 Control by Holders.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that

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

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

(3) such direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders.

SECTION 5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.

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

(1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series, or

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

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

SECTION 5.14 Undertaking for Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard for the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).

SECTION 5.15 Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

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

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 6.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

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

(b) In case an Event of Default with respect to Securities of a particular series shall have occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise with respect to the Securities of such series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

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

(1) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;

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

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

(4) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

SECTION 6.02 Notice of Defaults.

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder known to the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such default hereunder, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in clauses (3) or (4) of the third paragraph of Section 5.01 with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, a default with respect to Securities of such series.

Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is

received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

SECTION 6.03 Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.01:

(1) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

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

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

(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

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

(8) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(9) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof of unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture, unless the Trustee has received notice of such default or Event of Default pursuant to Section 10.04 hereof;

(10) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder;

(11) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded;

(12) anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Trustee has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action; and

(13) the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; any act or provision of any present of future law or regulation or governmental authority, the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority and governmental action.

SECTION 6.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 6.05 May Hold Securities.

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 6.08 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

SECTION 6.06 Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

SECTION 6.07 Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company agrees

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith; and

(3) to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee and their officers, agents, directors and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether against the Company, a Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder or in connection with enforcing the Provisions of this Section 6.07.

The Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities as to all property and funds held by it hereunder for any amount owing it or any predecessor Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.07, except with respect to funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(5) or Section 5.01(6), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

SECTION 6.08 Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.

SECTION 6.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

SECTION 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(d) If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.06. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

SECTION 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges (including fees and expenses of its agents and counsel), execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of fees and expenses of its agents and counsel, duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

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

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

SECTION 6.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

SECTION 6.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

SECTION 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.06, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

Any Person into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such Person shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

the Company and shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 1.06 to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

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

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

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

_______________________________________,
As Trustee

By ,
As Authenticating Agent

By ,
Authorized Signatory

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 7.01 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

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

(1) semi-annually, not later than 10 calendar days after each Regular Record Date in each year, a list for each series of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of the preceding Regular Record Date, and

(2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

SECTION 7.02 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.01 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 7.03 Reports by Trustee.

(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the year 20__, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of each series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, and to any other Persons specified in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of such May 15, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.

(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which the Securities of any series are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when the Securities of any series are listed on any stock exchange.

SECTION 7.04 Reports by Company.

The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be filed with the Commission.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

SECTION 8.01 Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the Company shall not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into the Company or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Company, unless:

(1) in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, partnership or trust, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

SECTION 8.02 Successor Substituted.

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 8.01, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

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

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

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

(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); or

(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or

(ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

(6) to secure the Securities; or

(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01; or

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11; or

(9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this clause (9) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect.

SECTION 9.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or

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

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13 or Section 10.09, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 10.09, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 6.11 and 9.01(8).

the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

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

SECTION 9.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 9.04 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

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

SECTION 9.05 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 9.06 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

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

SECTION 9.07 Notice to Holders

After any supplemental indenture under this Article become effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders a notice briefly describing such supplemental Indenture; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of such supplemental indenture.

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

SECTION 10.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

SECTION 10.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

(a) The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

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

SECTION 10.03 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

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

Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 10.04 Statement by Officers as to Default.

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 10.05 Existence.

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

SECTION 10.06 Maintenance of Properties.

The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

SECTION 10.07 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

SECTION 10.08 Limitation Upon Disposition of Stock of Principal Subsidiary Bank.

So long as any of the Securities shall be outstanding, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary will (except to the Company or an Intermediate Subsidiary) sell, assign, transfer, grant a security interest in or otherwise dispose of any shares of, securities convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Voting Stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares) of any Principal Subsidiary Bank, nor will the Company or any Intermediate Subsidiary permit any Principal Subsidiary Bank to issue (except to the Company or an Intermediate Subsidiary) any shares of, or securities convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Voting Stock of such Principal Subsidiary Bank (other than directors’ qualifying shares) nor will the Company permit any Intermediate Subsidiary that owns any shares of, or securities convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Voting Stock of any Principal Subsidiary Bank to cease to be an Intermediate Subsidiary, except that the Company or an Intermediate Subsidiary may make any such sale, assignment, transfer, or grant of a security interest or other disposition (A)(i) for fair market value on the date thereof, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (which determination shall be conclusive), and evidenced by a duly adopted resolution thereof, and (ii) in each such case, after giving effect thereto, the Company and any one or more Intermediate Subsidiaries will own at least 80% of the Voting Stock of the Principal Subsidiary Bank then issued and outstanding free and clear of any security interest or (B) in compliance with an order of a court or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Principal Subsidiary Bank may be merged into or consolidated with another banking institution organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, if after giving effect to such merger or consolidation the Company and any one or more Intermediate Subsidiaries own at least 80% of the Voting Stock of such other banking institution and immediately after giving effect thereto and treating any such resulting bank thereafter as a Principal Subsidiary Bank for purposes of this Indenture, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing. For purposes of this Section, an “Intermediate Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary (i) that is organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and (ii) of which all the shares of each class of Voting Stock issued and outstanding, and all securities convertible into and options, warrants and rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, such Voting Stock, are owned directly by the Company or by another Intermediate Subsidiary, free and clear of any security interest.

The provisions of this Section 10.08 shall not prohibit the Company from consolidating with or merging into any other Person or from conveying, transferring or leasing the Company’s properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person as otherwise permitted pursuant to Article Eight.

SECTION 10.09 Waiver of Certain Covenants.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 3.01(18), 9.01(2) or 9.01(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such series or in Sections 10.05 to 10.07 inclusive if before the time for such compliance the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10.10 Calculation of Original Issue Discount.

The Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 11.01 Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article.

SECTION 11.02 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

SECTION 11.03 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of a specified tenor are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (but subject to compliance with the rules of any securities exchange on which the securities of such series may be listed) and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series, provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

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

SECTION 11.04 Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register.

All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP number) and shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price,

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

(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

(5) the place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, and

(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

SECTION 11.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

Prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

SECTION 11.06 Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

SECTION 11.07 Securities Redeemed in Part.

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

ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 12.01 Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any Securities is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment”, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of any Securities, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.02.

Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

SECTION 12.02 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

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

SECTION 12.03 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 12.02 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 45 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.03 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the

expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.04. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.06 and 11.07.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 13.01 Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, designated pursuant to Section 3.01 as being defeasible pursuant to such Section 13.02 or 13.03, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 3.01 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities.

SECTION 13.02 Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.04 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 10.02 and 10.03, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article, the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 13.03 applied to such Securities.

SECTION 13.03 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 10.07 (and any other Sections applicable to such Securities that are determined pursuant to Section 3.01 to be subject to this provision), and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 5.01(4) (with respect to Section 10.07 or any other Section applicable to such Securities that are determined pursuant to Section 3.01 to be subject to this provision) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may omit to comply with (and no Event of Default shall arise out of such non-compliance) and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

SECTION 13.04 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 to any securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be:

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 6.09 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities, (A) in the case of Securities denominated in a foreign currency, money in such foreign currency or Foreign Government Obligations of the foreign government or governments issuing such foreign currency which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, such foreign currency in an amount or (B) in the case of Securities denominated in U.S. dollars, U.S. dollars or U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, U.S. dollars in an amount, or (C) a combination of money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations (as applicable), in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities. As used herein, “U.S. Government Obligation” means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in Clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt. As used herein, “Foreign Government Obligation” means any security denominated in a foreign currency which is (i) a direct obligation of a foreign government or governments for the payment of which the full faith and credit of such foreign government or governments is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of such foreign government or governments the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such foreign government, which, in either case (i) or (ii) is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

(2) In the event of an election to have Section 13.02 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (y) since the date of this instrument, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (x) or (y) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

(3) In the event of an election to have Section 13.03 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

(4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

(5) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing (A) at the time of such deposit or, (B) with regard to any such event specified in Sections 5.01(5) and (6), at any time during the period ending on the 123rd day after the date of such deposit or, if longer, ending on the day following the expiration of the longest preference period applicable to the Company in respect of such deposit (it being understood that the condition in this clause (B) is a condition subsequent and shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

(6) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act).

(7) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

(8) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be registered under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder.

(9) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

SECTION 13.05 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money, U.S. Government Obligations and Foreign Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.06, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.04 in respect of any Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations or the Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.

Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations or the Foreign Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.04 with respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

SECTION 13.06 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 13.02 or 13.03 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 13.05 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

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

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




		META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

		By:
		Name:
		Title:

		___________________________________,
		as Trustee

		By:
		Name:
		Title:

Exhibit 4.5

META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

_____________________________________, Trustee

Form of Indenture

Dated as of ___, 20___

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE RELATING
TO SECTIONS 3.10 THROUGH 3.18, INCLUSIVE,
OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939:



TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION		INDENTURE SECTION
ss. 3.10	(a)(1)	6.09
	(a) (2)	6.09
	(a) (3)	Not Applicable
	(a) (4)	Not Applicable
	(b)	6.08
		6.10
ss. 3.11	(a)	6.13
	(b)	6.13
ss. 3.12	(a)	7.01
		7.02
	(b)	7.02
	(c)	7.02
ss. 3.13	(a)	7.03
	(b)	7.03
	(c)	7.03
	(d)	7.04
ss. 3.14	(a)	1.01
	(a)(4)	10.04
	(b)	Not Applicable
	(c)(1)	1.02
	(c)(2)	1.02
	(c)(3)	Not Applicable
	(d)	Not Applicable
	(e)	1.02
ss. 3.15	(a)	6.01



	(b)	6.02
	(c)	6.01
	(d)	6.01
	(e)	5.14
ss. 3.16	(a)	1.01
	(a)(1)(A)	5.02
		5.12
	(a)(1)(B)	5.13
	(a)(2)	Not Applicable
	(b)	5.08
	(c)	1.04
ss. 3.17	(a)(1)	5.03
	(a)(2)	5.04
	(b)	10.03
ss. 3.18	(a)	1.07

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS




RECITALS OF THE COMPANY	1

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION	1
Section 1.01. Definitions	1
Section 1.02. Compliance Certificates and Opinions	7
Section 1.03. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee	7
Section 1.04. Acts of Holders; Record Dates	8
Section 1.05. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company	9
Section 1.06. Notice to Holders; Waiver	9
Section 1.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act	10
Section 1.08. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents	10
Section 1.09. Successors and Assigns	10
Section 1.10. Separability Clause	10
Section 1.11. Benefits of Indenture	10
Section 1.12. Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury	10
Section 1.13. Legal Holidays	11

ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS	11
Section 2.01. Forms Generally	11
Section 2.02. Form of Face of Security	11
Section 2.03. Form of Reverse of Security	13
Section 2.04. Form of Legend for Global Securities	16
Section 2.05. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication	17
Section 2.06. Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security	17

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES	20
Section 3.01. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series	20
Section 3.02. Denominations	22
Section 3.03. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating	22
Section 3.04. Temporary Securities	23
Section 3.05. Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange	23
Section 3.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities	24
Section 3.07. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved	25
Section 3.08. Persons Deemed Owners	26
Section 3.09. Cancellation	27
Section 3.10. Computation of Interest	27
Section 3.11. CUSIP Numbers	27
Section 3.12. Further Issuances	27

ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE	27
Section 4.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture	27
Section 4.02. Application of Trust Money	28



ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES	29
Section 5.01. Events of Default	29
Section 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment	29
Section 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee	30
Section 5.04. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim	31
Section 5.05. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities	31
Section 5.06. Application of Money Collected	31
Section 5.07. Limitation on Suits	32
Section 5.08. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest or to Convert	32
Section 5.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies	32
Section 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative	33
Section 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver	33
Section 5.12. Control by Holders	33
Section 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults	33
Section 5.14. Undertaking for Costs	34
Section 5.15. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws	34

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE	34
Section 6.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities	34
Section 6.02. Notice of Defaults	35
Section 6.03. Certain Rights of Trustee	35
Section 6.04. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities	37
Section 6.05. May Hold Securities	37
Section 6.06. Money Held in Trust	37
Section 6.07. Compensation and Reimbursement	37
Section 6.08. Conflicting Interests	38
Section 6.09. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility	38
Section 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor	38
Section 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor	39
Section 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business	40
Section 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company	40
Section 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent	41

ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY	43
Section 7.01. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders	43
Section 7.02. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders	43
Section 7.03. Reports by Trustee	43
Section 7.04. Reports by Company	43

ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE	44
Section 8.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms	44
Section 8.02. Successor Substituted	44

ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES	44
Section 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders	44



Section 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders	45
Section 9.03. Execution of Supplemental Indentures	46
Section 9.04. Effect of Supplemental Indentures	46
Section 9.05. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act	46
Section 9.06. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures	47
Section 9.07. Notice to Holders	47

ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS	47
Section 10.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest	47
Section 10.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency	47
Section 10.03. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust	47
Section 10.04. Statement by Officers as to Default	48
Section 10.05. Existence	49
Section 10.06. Maintenance of Properties	49
Section 10.07. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims	49
Section 10.08. Waiver of Certain Covenants	49
Section 10.09. Calculation of Original Issue Discount	49

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES	50
Section 11.01. Applicability of Article	50
Section 11.02. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee	50
Section 11.03. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed	50
Section 11.04. Notice of Redemption	50
Section 11.05. Deposit of Redemption Price	51
Section 11.06. Securities Payable on Redemption Date	51
Section 11.07. Securities Redeemed in Part	52

ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS	52
Section 12.01. Applicability of Article	52
Section 12.02. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities	52
Section 12.03. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund	52

ARTICLE THIRTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE	53
Section 13.01. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance	53
Section 13.02. Defeasance and Discharge	53
Section 13.03. Covenant Defeasance	53
Section 13.04. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance	53
Section 13.05. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions	55
Section 13.06. Reinstatement	56

ARTICLE FOURTEEN SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES	56
Section 14.01. Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness	56
Section 14.02. Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.	56
Section 14.03. Prior Payment to Senior Indebtedness Upon Acceleration of Securities	57
Section 14.04. No Payment When Senior Indebtedness in Default	57

iii



Section 14.05. Payment Permitted in Certain Situations	58
Section 14.06. Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness	58
Section 14.07. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights	58
Section 14.08. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination	59
Section 14.09. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions	59
Section 14.10. Notice to Trustee	59
Section 14.11. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent	60
Section 14.12. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness or Entitled Persons	60
Section 14.13. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness or Entitled Person; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights	60
Section 14.14. Article Applicable to Paying Agents	61
Section 14.15. Securities to Rank Pari Passu with All Other Securities; Payment of Proceeds in Certain Cases	61
Section 14.16. Certain Conversions Deemed Payment	62

ARTICLE FIFTEEN CONVERSION OF SECURITIES	62
Section 15.01. Applicability of Article	62
Section 15.02. Conversion Privilege and Conversion Price	63
Section 15.03. Exercise of Conversion Privilege	63
Section 15.04. Fractions of Shares	64
Section 15.05. Adjustment of Conversion Price	64
Section 15.06. Notice of Adjustments of Conversion Price	65
Section 15.07. Notice of Certain Corporate Action	66
Section 15.08. Company to Reserve Common Stock	66
Section 15.09. Taxes on Conversions	66
Section 15.10. Covenant as to Common Stock	67
Section 15.11. Cancellation of Converted Securities	67
Section 15.12. Provisions in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets	67
Section 15.13. Responsibility of Trustee	67

INDENTURE, dated as of ___, 20___between Meta Financial Group, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 5501 South Broadband Lane, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57108, and ______________________________, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.01. Definitions.