PROSPECTUS Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1)
For Registration Nos. 333-83921
and 333-83921-01
$20,000,000
[LOGO]
First United Capital Trust
First United Corporation
9.375% Preferred Securities
Guaranteed by First United Corporation.
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Consider carefully the "Risk First United Corporation--
Factors" beginning on Page 7 of o We are a bank holding company that offers, through our
this Prospectus. bank subsidiary, a full range of community banking and
related financial services to customers in Maryland and
Neither the Securities and West Virginia.
Exchange Commission nor any o We will purchase all of the common securities of the Trust.
State Securities Commission has o We have irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed the Trust's
approved or disapproved of obligations under the preferred securities.
these securities passed upon
the adequacy or accuracy of this The Trust--
Prospectus. Any representation o First United Capital Trust is a Delaware business trust.
to the contrary is a criminal o We created the Trust for the limited purposes of issuing the
offense. common and preferred securities, investing in the junior
subordinated debentures, and engaging in incidental
Neither the preferred securities activities.
nor the junior subordinated The Preferred Securities--
debentures are deposit accounts o The preferred securities represent beneficial interests
of any bank, and neither are in the assets of the Trust, which will include the
insured to any extent by the junior subordinated debentures and payments on the
Federal Deposit Insurance junior subordinated debentures.
Corporation or any other o Holders of the preferred securities are entitled to cumulative
governmental agency. distributions at the annual rate of 9.375%.
o The preferred securities have been approved
The underwriters are offering for quotation under the proposed Nasdaq National Market
the preferred securities subject symbol "FUNCP."
to prior sale, when, as and if o The public offering price is $10.00 per preferred security.
delivered to and accepted by the o The Trust may redeem the preferred securities for cash or
underwriters. The underwriters in exchange for the junior subordinated debentures.
have the right to reject orders in o If we defer interest payments on the junior subordinated
whole or in part. The debentures, the Trust will defer distributions on the
underwriters expect that the preferred securities.
Trust will deliver the preferred The Junior Subordinated Debentures--
securities on or about August 24, o We will sell up to $23,711,350 of our 9.375% junior
1999. subordinated debentures to the Trust, an amount equal to
the proceeds to the Trust from the sale of the common
and preferred securities.
o The junior subordinated debentures are scheduled to
mature on September 30, 2029, but we may shorten this
date.
o We may defer interest payments on the junior subordinated
debentures from time to time.
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Price Underwriting Proceeds to the
to Discounts or Commissions Issuer Trust
Public
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Preferred Security.............. $10.00 * $10.00
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................... $20,000,000 * $20,000,000
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* In the table above, the price to the public includes accrued distributions,
if any, from August 24, 1999. We, along with the Trust, have agreed to
indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including certain
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. See "Underwriting." Because
all of the proceeds from the sale of the preferred securities will be used
to purchase the junior subordinated debentures, we have agreed to pay the
underwriters, as compensation, $.35 per preferred security or $700,000 in
the aggregate ($805,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full).
See "Underwriting." We have also agreed to pay the expenses of this
offering, estimated to be $256,644. We have also granted the underwriters a
30-day option to purchase up to a maximum of 300,000 additional preferred
securities to cover over-allotments, if any. If the over-allotment option
is exercised in full, the total price to the public will be $23,000,000,
the total underwriting commission will be $805,000 and the total proceeds
to the Trust will be $23,000,000. See "Underwriting."
Ferris, Baker Watts Advest, Inc.
Incorporated
The date of this Prospectus is August 18, 1999
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[FIRST UNITED MAP]
Certain persons participating in this offering may engage in transactions that
stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the preferred
securities being offered, including over-allotting shares of the preferred
securities and bidding for and purchasing these shares at a level above that
which otherwise might prevail in the open market. For a description of these
activities, see "Underwriting." These stabilizing transactions, once begun, may
be discontinued at any time. In connection with this offering, certain
underwriters (and selling group members) may engage in passive market making
transactions in the preferred securities on the Nasdaq National Market in
accordance with Rule 103 of SEC Regulation M. See "Underwriting."
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
First United Corporation
Overview
First United Corporation is a bank holding company whose principal
business is conducted by its wholly-owned subsidiary, First United Bank & Trust,
which is headquartered in Oakland, Maryland. We are the largest bank in Garrett
County, Maryland, where we have more than 50% of that county's deposits, and we
are among the leaders in deposit market share in five of the eight counties we
serve.
We provide a full range of commercial, retail banking, trust, and
related financial services from 22 branches and 26 ATMs in towns and rural areas
of western Maryland and West Virginia. In addition to our banking business, we
own a reinsurance company, Oakfirst Life Insurance Corporation, that reinsures
credit life, credit accident, and health insurance written on consumer loans
made by First United Bank & Trust. We also own an auto leasing company, First
United Auto Finance, LLC, and an insurance agency, Gonder Insurance Agency,
Inc., which sells business and personal insurance policies as agent and broker.
Since our formation in 1985, our return on assets has exceeded 1%. In
1998, our return on assets was 1.24%, and our return on equity was 12.92%. Our
net income for that period was $7.4 million, an 11.77% increase over 1997. As of
June 30, 1999, we had total assets of $689.9 million, gross loans of $551.0
million, deposits of $539.2 million, and shareholders' equity of $57.2 million.
For the six months ended June 30, 1999, our return on assets was 1.13% and our
return on equity was 12.98%.
Our Strategy
Our goal is to continue to build a responsive, high performance
community bank. We intend to achieve this goal by:
o Broadening our products and services to meet our customers'
changing needs;
o Retaining our most profitable and potentially profitable
customers;
o Expanding our geographic market area to attract profitable
customers; and
o Expanding the lines of business in which we can compete
profitably.
We believe that we will achieve these goals. In the past two years, we
have begun several strategic initiatives to make us more profitable and
competitive. We employed several nationally recognized industry consultants,
together with our management, to examine almost every area of our operations.
These consultants, with management, reviewed our core businesses, operating
structure, management, personnel, staffing, technology, products, services,
policies, credit scoring, and loan and investment practices. We then changed our
organization and the way we conduct our businesses to enhance our relationships
with less profitable customers, provide better service to our most profitable
customers, and identify profitable opportunities in new markets and service
areas. In addition, to reduce the cost and investment of management time in
regulatory issues, we converted from a national banking association to a
Maryland-chartered bank.
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Services
We provide a complete range of retail and commercial banking, trust,
brokerage and insurance services to customers from Maryland, West Virginia, and
western Pennsylvania. Our customers include individuals, businesses, and
municipalities. Our services include checking, savings, NOW, money market
accounts, business loans, personal loans, mortgage loans, lines of credit, IRA
and KEOGH accounts, safe deposit and night depository facilities, and a complete
line of trust services. We respond to our customers' needs and are willing to
customize the products we offer based on the needs of individual customers.
Although traditionally a residential mortgage lender, we recently
expanded our efforts in indirect consumer lending, commercial lending, and home
equity lines to improve our asset mix, increase earnings and establish a broader
relationship with our customers. We are a certified Small Business
Administration lender. Commercial loans include lines of credit, term and demand
loans for the purchase of equipment and inventory, and accounts receivable
financing. We rely principally upon conventional deposits, Federal Home Loan
Bank borrowings, and a limited amount of wholesale deposits as funding sources.
We provide brokerage services through an arrangement with PrimeVest
Financial Services, Inc., a full service broker-dealer.
First United Capital Trust
First United Capital Trust is a Delaware statutory business trust that
we created for the limited purposes of:
o issuing the preferred securities and the common securities;
o investing the proceeds it receives from issuing the preferred
securities and the common securities in equivalent amount of
junior subordinated debentures issued by us; and
o engaging in activities related to the activities described
above.
The Trust will issue all of the preferred securities to the purchasers
in this offering. We will purchase all of the Trust's common securities. The
Trust's common securities will represent an aggregate liquidation amount equal
to at least 3% of the total capital of the Trust.
The junior subordinated debentures will be the only assets of the
Trust, and payments under the junior subordinated debentures will be the only
revenue of the Trust.
The Trust will be governed by the trust agreement among us, as
depositor, Bankers Trust (Delaware), as Delaware trustee, and Bankers Trust
Company, as property trustee.
The principal executive office of the Trust is c/o First United
Corporation at 19 South Second Street, Oakland, Maryland 21550, and its
telephone number is (301) 334-9471.
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The Offering
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The Issuer.............................. First United Capital Trust, a Delaware statutory business trust.
The Securities Being Offered............ 2,000,000 preferred securities having a liquidation amount of
$10.00 per preferred security. The preferred securities represent
preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust,
which will consist solely of junior subordinated debentures. We
will guarantee payments on the preferred securities to the extent
of funds in the Trust. We have granted the underwriters an
option, exercisable within 30 days after the date of the offering,
to purchase up to an additional 300,000 preferred securities at
the initial offering price, solely to cover over-allotments, if any.
The Offering Price...................... $10.00 per preferred security.
The Payment of
Distributions........................... The Trust will pay distributions to you on each preferred
security at an annual rate of 9.375%. The distributions will be
cumulative, will accumulate from the date of issue, and will be
payable in arrears with additional distributions, compounded
quarterly, beginning September 30, 1999.
Our Option to Extend the
Interest Payment Period ................ At any time that we are not in default under the junior
subordinated debentures, we may defer payments of interest on
the junior subordinated debentures for up to 20 consecutive
quarters, but not beyond their stated maturity date. The Trust
would defer quarterly distributions on the preferred securities
while we are deferring payment on the junior subordinated
debentures. Deferred quarterly distributions will accumulate
additional distributions at an annual rate of 9.375% compounded
quarterly.
During any period that we are deferring interest payments, we
may not declare or pay any cash distributions on our capital
stock or debt securities that are of equal or lower rank than the
junior subordinated debentures. After the end of any period in
which we are deferring interest payments, if we have paid all
deferred and current interest under the junior subordinated
debentures, we may defer interest payments again. If we defer
interest payments, you will be required to include deferred
interest income in your gross income for United States federal
income tax purposes even if you have not received distributions.
Junior Subordinated
Debentures.............................. The Trust will invest the proceeds from the issuance of the
preferred securities and common securities in an equivalent
amount of our 9.375% junior subordinated debentures.
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Maturity of Debentures.................. The junior subordinated debentures are scheduled to mature on
September 30, 2029 unless we shorten the maturity date. We
will not shorten the maturity date unless we have received prior
approval, from our regulator, if it is required. The Trust must
redeem the preferred securities when the junior subordinated
debentures are paid on the maturity date, or following any
earlier redemption of the junior subordinated debentures.
Redemption of the
Preferred Securities
is Possible ............................ The Trust may redeem the preferred securities in whole or in
part, if we repay the junior subordinated debentures. Subject to
any regulatory approval that may then be required, we may
redeem the junior subordinated debentures before their scheduled
maturity either (1) on or after September 30, 2004, in whole at
any time or in part, from time to time, or (2) at any time, in
whole, but not in part, within 90 days after:
o certain tax events occur or become likely to occur;
o the Trust is or becomes likely to be deemed to be an
investment company; or
o there is a change in the regulatory capital treatment of the
preferred securities.
We will use the cash proceeds of any redemption to pay you the
liquidation amount for the preferred securities. The liquidation
amount you will receive will be $10.00 per preferred security
plus any accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of
redemption.
How the Securities will
Rank in Right of Payment................ The preferred securities will rank equally with the common
securities. The Trust will pay distributions on the preferred
securities and the common securities pro rata. If we default by
failing to pay interest payments on the junior subordinated
debentures, no distributions on the common securities will be
paid until all accumulated and unpaid distributions on the
preferred securities have been paid.
Our obligation under the junior subordinated debentures is
unsecured and generally will rank junior in priority to any of our
senior and other subordinated indebtedness. If we create any
other trusts similar to this Trust, then the subordinated
debentures will rank equally with any other junior subordinated
debentures we issue to the trusts.
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Our obligation under the guarantee is unsecured and will rank
junior to our senior and other subordinated indebtedness. If we
issue any other guarantees in the future relating to preferred
securities issued by the other trusts, then the guarantee issued in
this transaction will rank equally with the other guarantees.
Because we are a holding company, the junior subordinated
debentures and the guarantee will effectively be subordinated to
all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries.
The Junior Subordinated
Debentures may be
Distributed to You...................... Under certain circumstances and after we obtain any necessary
regulatory approvals, we may dissolve the Trust. If we dissolve
the Trust, after satisfaction of any of the Trust's liabilities to
creditors, the Trust will distribute your pro rata share of the
junior subordinated debentures to you in liquidation of the Trust.
Our Obligations to Guarantee
Payments................................ We provide an irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of
payments of distributions and other amounts due on the
preferred securities. Our obligations to guarantee the payments
and other amounts are found under the junior subordinated
debentures, the indenture, the trust agreement and the guarantee,
taken together.
If we do not make payments on the junior subordinated
debentures, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to make
distributions on the preferred securities. The guarantee does not
cover distributions when the Trust does not have sufficient
funds.
Limited Voting Rights................... You will have no voting rights except in limited circumstances.
The Use of Proceeds..................... The Trust will invest all of the proceeds from the sale of the
preferred and the common securities in our junior subordinated
debentures. We intend to contribute a large portion of the net
proceeds from our sale of the junior subordinated debentures to
our subsidiary bank to support internal growth opportunities, and
to use the remainder to finance growth, including future
acquisitions if and when suitable opportunities arise, and for
general corporate purposes.
The preferred securities may qualify in whole or in part, as our
"Tier 1" capital or core capital, with certain limitations, in
accordance with capital guidelines provided by The Federal
Reserve. The remaining amount of preferred securities that does
not qualify as our "Tier 1" capital will qualify as "Tier 2," or
supplementary capital.
Nasdaq National Market
Symbol.................................. The proposed Nasdaq National Market symbol is "FUNCP."
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Book-entry.............................. The preferred securities will be represented by a global security
that will be deposited with and registered in the name of The
Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or its
nominee. You will not receive a certificate for your preferred
securities.
No Rating .............................. We do not expect that the preferred securities will be rated by
any rating service. Our other securities are not rated by any
rating service.
ERISA Considerations.................... You must consider carefully the information described under
"Certain ERISA Considerations."
For additional information regarding the preferred securities, see: "Description of Preferred
Securities," "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures," "Description of Guarantee,"
"Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee,"
and "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences."
RISK FACTORS
Before purchasing the preferred securities offered by this prospectus
you should carefully consider the "Risk Factors" beginning on page 7.
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RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the following risk factors before
purchasing the preferred securities. This prospectus contains forward-looking
statements that involve risk and uncertainties. You can identify these
forward-looking statements because they may include terms such as "believes,"
"anticipates," "intends," "expects," or similar expressions, and may include
discussions of future strategy. We caution you not to rely unduly on any
forward-looking statements in this prospectus. Our actual results could differ
materially from the forward-looking statements. The risk factors described below
could cause or contribute to these differences and apply to all forward-looking
statements wherever they appear in this prospectus.
Risk Factors Relating to the Preferred Securities
If we default on our obligations to pay our other creditors, then we
may be prohibited from paying you. Our obligations to you under the guarantee
and the junior subordinated debentures are subordinate to our obligations to
most of our other creditors. If we do not pay our other creditors amounts we owe
them, we may be prohibited from paying you. If we go into bankruptcy or
insolvency, our other creditors must be paid in full before you may be paid.
If we extend the interest payment period, you will not receive
distributions, but you will recognize ordinary income, and incur a related
federal income tax liability, and you will recognize a capital loss that may be
used only to offset a capital gain. So long as we are not in default, we may
defer the payment of interest on the junior subordinated debentures from time to
time for up to 20 consecutive quarters. If we defer interest payments, the Trust
will defer quarterly distributions to you on the preferred securities. During a
deferral period you will continue to accrue income (in the form of original
issue discount) for federal income tax purposes on the preferred securities, but
you will not receive your cash distributions. In addition, your tax basis in the
preferred securities will increase by the amount of accrued but unpaid
distributions. If you sell the preferred securities during a deferral period,
your increased tax basis will decrease the amount of any capital gain or
increase the amount of any capital loss that you may have otherwise realized on
the sale. A capital loss, except in certain limited circumstances, cannot be
applied to offset ordinary income.
The Trust may return your principal to you early, which would require
you to reinvest your principal at a time when you may not be able to earn a
return that is as high as you were earning on the preferred securities. Under
the following circumstances we may return your principal before the stated
maturity of the junior subordinated debentures:
o We may redeem all of the junior subordinated debentures in
whole, but not in part, prior to maturity within 90 days after
certain occurrences at any time during the life of the Trust.
If we redeem the junior subordinated debentures due to the
occurrence of one of these events, the Trust will redeem the
preferred securities. You would receive the redemption price.
o We may also at any time shorten the maturity of the junior
subordinated debentures to a date not earlier than September
30, 2004. We may be required to obtain regulatory approval
before shortening the maturity of the junior subordinated
debentures.
o You should be aware that Congress may enact legislation that
would adversely affect our ability to deduct the interest we
pay on the junior subordinated debentures or that otherwise
results in unfavorable tax consequences for us or the Trust.
This legislation may cause us to redeem the junior
subordinated debentures and cause the Trust to redeem the
preferred securities.
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If we redeem the junior subordinated debentures we would redeem the
preferred securities, and you may be required to reinvest your principal.
We can distribute the junior subordinated debentures to you, which may
have adverse tax consequences for you and which may adversely affect the market
price of your investment. The Trust may be dissolved at any time before maturity
of the junior subordinated debentures on September 30, 2029. Then, the trustees
would distribute the junior subordinated debentures to the holders of the
preferred securities. The junior subordinated debentures that you receive upon a
distribution, or the preferred securities you hold pending this type of
distribution, may trade at a price that is less than you paid to purchase the
preferred securities.
Under current United States federal income tax laws, a distribution of
the junior subordinated debentures to you upon the dissolution of the Trust
would not be a taxable event to you. However, if the Trust were classified for
United States federal income tax purposes as an association taxable as a
corporation at the time it is dissolved, the distribution of the junior
subordinated debentures would be a taxable event to you. In addition, if there
is a change in law, a distribution of junior subordinated debentures upon the
dissolution of the Trust could be a taxable event to you.
Our guarantee covers payments to you only if the Trust has cash
available to make payments. If we do not make payments on the junior
subordinated debentures, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to pay
distributions or the liquidation amount. Because our guarantee does not cover
payments when the Trust does not have sufficient funds, you will not be able to
rely on our guarantee for payment of these amounts. Instead, you or the property
trustee may enforce the rights of the Trust under the junior subordinated
debentures against us directly.
You will have only limited voting rights as a holder of the preferred
securities, and we can amend the trust agreement without your consent. Your
voting rights will relate only to the modification of the preferred securities
and the exercise of the Trust's rights as holder of the junior subordinated
debentures. You will not usually be able to appoint, remove or replace the
property trustee or the Delaware trustee because these rights generally reside
with us as the holder of the common securities. Even if it would adversely
affect your rights, we, together with the property trustee and the trust
administrators, may amend the trust agreement without your consent to ensure
that the Trust will be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal
income tax purposes.
The market price for the preferred securities may decline during any
period that we are deferring interest payments on the junior subordinated
debentures. If this were the case, the preferred securities would not trade at a
price that accurately reflects the value of accrued but unpaid interest on the
underlying junior subordinated debentures.
There is no current public market for the preferred securities and one
may not develop. We plan to list the preferred securities on the Nasdaq National
Market. There is no guarantee that an active or liquid public trading market
will develop for the preferred securities or whether there will be continued
listing of the preferred securities on the Nasdaq National Market. Although the
underwriters have informed the Trust and us that they intend to make a market in
the preferred securities, they are not obligated to do so and any market making
activity may be terminated at any time without notice. Even if an active public
market does develop, there is no guarantee that the market price for the
preferred securities will equal or exceed the price you pay for the preferred
securities.
The indenture and the trust agreement do not restrict our business
operations for your benefit. Neither the indenture, which sets forth the terms
of the junior subordinated debentures, nor the trust agreement, which sets forth
the terms of the preferred securities and the common securities, protects
holders of junior subordinated debentures or the preferred securities if we
experience adverse changes in our financial condition or results of operations.
In addition, neither the indenture nor the trust agreement limit our ability or
the ability of any subsidiary to incur additional indebtedness.
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The preferred securities are not insured. Neither the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation nor any other governmental agency or private company has
insured the preferred securities.
Risk Factors Relating to the Company
The Trust will depend solely on our payments on the junior subordinated
debentures to pay amounts due to you on the preferred securities. Our ability to
make payments on the junior subordinated debentures is subject to the following
risks:
We depend primarily on dividends from our subsidiaries to pay you and
those dividends are restricted by regulation. We are a separate legal entity
from our subsidiaries and do not have significant operations of our own. We will
depend primarily on dividends we receive from our subsidiaries to make payments
on the junior subordinated debentures. Federal and state law and regulations
restrict the dividends our subsidiaries may pay us. If our subsidiaries are
prohibited from issuing dividends to us, we may not be able to make payments on
the junior subordinated debentures and the Trust will not be able to make
payments to you on the preferred securities.
The creditors of our subsidiaries have priority over us and you in any
distribution of our subsidiaries' assets in a liquidation or reorganization. We
are a holding company and our assets are primarily comprised of our investment
in the stock of our subsidiaries. The creditors of our subsidiaries will have
priority over us and you in any distribution of the subsidiaries' assets in a
liquidation, reorganization or otherwise, except to the extent that we are
recognized as a creditor of our subsidiaries. We will depend on dividends and
other amounts we receive from our subsidiaries to make payments on the junior
subordinated debentures. If our subsidiaries make no distributions to us, we may
not be able to make payments on the junior subordinated debentures and the Trust
will not be able to make payments to you on the preferred securities.
The Bank's reserve for possible credit losses may not be adequate to
cover actual loan losses and if we are required to increase our reserve, current
earnings may be reduced. When borrowers default and do not repay the loans that
we make to them, we may lose money. Our experience shows that some borrowers
either will not pay on time or will not pay at all, which will require us to
cancel or "charge off" the defaulted loan or loans. We provide for losses by
reserving what we believe to be an adequate amount to absorb any probable
inherent losses. A "charge off" reduces our reserve for possible credit losses.
If our reserve is not sufficient, we would have to record a larger reserve which
would reduce current period earnings.
Changes in the real estate market could result in "charge offs." The
Bank's loan portfolio includes many real estate secured loans. Real estate loans
are in demand when interest rates are low and economic conditions are favorable.
Even when economic conditions are favorable and interest rates are low, these
conditions may not continue. If the borrower does not pay a real estate loan, we
may have to "charge off" the loan. If real estate values decrease, then we may
not recover the full amount of the loan when we foreclose on the real estate.
The Bank's increased emphasis on indirect automobile lending could
result in increased "charge offs." Our indirect automobile lending grew 120.76%
in 1998 and comprised 25.81% of our loan portfolio on June 30, 1999. While we
have established credit and other controls, indirect lending can be subject to
greater credit risk, and possibly higher charge offs than direct lending.
The geographic concentration of the Bank's loans could result in
"charge offs." Most of our loans are made to borrowers located in Maryland, West
Virginia and Pennsylvania, in counties or surrounding counties in which our Bank
and its branches are located. A decline in local economic conditions could cause
more borrowers to default on their loans.
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The Bank may be unable to manage interest rate risks that could reduce
our net interest income. Our earnings depend greatly on our net interest income,
the difference between the interest earned on loans and investments and the
interest paid on deposits. If the interest rate paid on deposits is high and the
interest rate earned on loans and investments is low, we earn less or may lose
money. Because interest rates are established by competition, we have limited
control over our net interest income.
Risk Factors Relating to the Company's Industry
The banking industry is subject to extensive regulation which may
change the conditions of doing business without warning and increase the cost of
doing business. The banking industry is subject to many laws and regulations
which generally protect depositors, not shareholders. These regulations and laws
increase our operating expenses, affect our earnings, and put us at a
disadvantage relative to less regulated competitors, such as finance companies,
mortgage banking companies, and leasing companies.
The banking industry is heavily dependent on developments in
technology. Financial services use technology, including telecommunications,
data processing, computers, automation, telebanking, Internet-based banking,
debit cards, and "smart" cards. Technology changes rapidly. Our ability to
compete successfully with other banks and non-banks may depend on whether we can
exploit technological changes. We may not be able to exploit technological
changes and expensive new technology may not make us more profitable.
Our operations may be adversely affected if we, or certain persons with
whom we do business, fail to adequately address the Year 2000 issue. The "Year
2000 Issue" describes the problems that may result from the improper processing
of dates and date-sensitive calculations beginning in the Year 2000. Many
existing computer programs use only two digits to identify the year in the date
field of a program. These programs could experience serious malfunctions when
the last two digits of the year change to "00" as a result of identifying a year
designated "00" as the Year 1900 rather than the Year 2000. A system failure or
other disruptions of operations could occur if our computer programs and other
equipment identify a year designated "00" as the Year 1900 rather than the Year
2000. We cannot be certain that our computer programs and other equipment, and
the computer programs and other equipment of our customers, vendors, suppliers
and even the government will be Year 2000 compliant. Any systems failure,
disruption, or other losses could reduce our earnings.
For a more detailed discussion of our Year 2000 initiatives, see the
disclosure under "Impact of Year 2000" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1998, which has been incorporated by reference into this
prospectus.
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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected financial data for the five years ended December
31, 1998 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The
financial data for the six-month periods ended June 30, 1999 and 1998 are
derived from our unaudited financial statements. The unaudited financial
statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals,
which we consider necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position
and the results of operations for these periods. Our operating results for the
six months ended June 30, 1999 are not necessarily indicative of the results
that may be expected for the entire year ending December 31, 1999. You should
read the selected consolidated financial data with our consolidated financial
statements, related notes, and other financial information incorporated into
this prospectus by reference. See "Where You Can Find More Information."
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As of and For the Six
Months Ended June 30, As of and for the Years Ended December 31,
--------------------- ------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
-------- -------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(In thousands, except per share data and ratios)
Balance Sheet Data
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Total Assets $ 689,888 $ 595,471 $ 641,114 $ 569,030 $ 523,621 $ 487,169 $ 459,040
Total Deposits 539,161 493,183 511,500 500,060 452,539 424,294 391,650
Net Loans 547,253 463,957 505,668 438,738 380,594 358,464 333,375
Total Shareholders' Equity 57,157 57,454 58,474 56,714 56,815 55,504 51,131
Statements of Income Data
Interest Income $ 25,526 $ 22,856 $ 47,242 $ 43,348 $ 39,273 $ 37,274 $ 33,059
Interest Expense 11,919 10,499 21,915 18,978 16,376 14,721 11,265
Net Interest Income 13,607 12,357 25,327 24,370 22,897 22,553 21,794
Provision for Possible
Credit Losses 836 475 1,176 935 749 - 165
Other Operating Income 3,074 3,069 6,316 6,037 4,869 4,290 3,832
Other Operating Expense 10,122 9,697 19,058 19,530 17,394 18,390 16,220
Income Before Income Taxes 5,723 5,254 11,409 9,942 9,623 8,453 9,241
Income Taxes 1,960 1,830 3,982 3,297 3,144 2,849 3,014
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net Income $ 3,763 $ 3,424 $ 7,427 $ 6,645 $ 6,479 $ 5,604 $ 6,227
===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Per Share Data
Net Income $ 0.61 $ 0.55 $ 1.20 $ 1.05 $ 1.00 $ 0.86 $ 0.96
Dividends Paid 0.31 0.30 .60 .56 .51 .46 .43
Book Value 9.39 9.23 9.50 9.05 8.82 8.96 8.25
Performance Ratios
Return on Average Assets 1.13% 1.18% 1.24% 1.21% 1.29% 1.18% 1.40 %
Return on Average Equity 12.98 12.01 12.92 11.70 11.48 10.44 12.45
Efficiency Ratio 59.34 61.62 58.98 62.98 61.48 67.33 62.46
Net Interest Margin 4.43 4.62 4.56 4.83 4.97 5.15 5.21
Net Interest Spread 3.96 4.24 4.33 4.60 4.73 4.89 5.18
Dividend Payout 50.82 54.55 50.00 53.33 51.00 53.49 44.79
Asset Quality Ratios
Reserve for Possible Credit Losses
to Total Loans 0.68% 0.63% 0.65% 0.60% 0.57% 0.59% 0.70 %
Net Charge-Offs to Average Loans 0.07 0.04 0.11 0.11 0.19 0.07 0.04
Reserve for Possible Credit Losses
to Non-Performing Loans 198.89 187.51 329.08 235.91 133.70 104.02 155.01
Capital Ratios
Tier 1 Risk-Based
Capital Ratio 11.06% 14.02% 12.68% 14.16% 17.26% 17.94% 15.49 %
Total Risk-Based
Capital Ratio 11.78 14.74 13.40 14.82 17.92 18.63 16.18
Leverage Ratio 8.60 10.02 9.71 10.33 11.31 11.48 11.52
</TABLE>
11
<PAGE>
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Six Months Ended Year Ended December 31,
June 30, 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Earnings to Fixed Charges:
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Including Interest on Deposits 1.48 1.52 1.52 1.59 1.57 1.82
Excluding Interest on Deposits 4.36 7.25 26.43 58.62 39.78 27.18
</TABLE>
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing income
before income taxes and fixed charges less interest capitalized during the
period, net of amortization of previously capitalized interest, by fixed
charges. Fixed charges consist of interest, expended or capitalized, on
borrowings (including or excluding deposits, as applicable), and the portion of
rental expense which is deemed representative of interest.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Results of Operations
Our net income for the quarter ended June 30, 1999 was $1.95 million,
an increase of $200,000 or 11.43% over the $1.75 million earned during the
second quarter in 1998. This increase translates into $.31 earnings per share
for the current period, compared to $.28 earnings per share earned during the
second quarter of 1998. Our net income for the six months ended June 30, 1999
was $3.76 million as compared to $3.42 million for the same period in 1998, an
increase of $340,000, or 9.94%.
We have generated significant loan growth during the second quarter of
1999. Our loans increased by $25.52 million or 4.86% to $551.00 million. Our
loan growth during the second quarter of 1998 was $16.54 million. Our year to
date loan growth, through June 30, 1999, is $42.03 million, or 8.25%. Over the
past twelve months, our loan portfolio grew by $84.09 million, or 18.00%. The
majority of our loan growth has been in our commercial and indirect auto loan
portfolios.
Our loan quality continues to be strong as demonstrated by the over
30-day delinquency ratio of .94% of gross loans, a number which compares very
favorably with our peers. Non performing loans were .34% of total loans as of
June 30, 1999, and our loan loss reserve of .68% of total loans represents
198.89% of nonperforming loans. Our core deposits grew $14.47 million for the
year to date through June 30, 1999. Since the core deposit growth was not
sufficient to support the strong loan demand that we experienced during the
first half of 1999, we drew upon supplementary funds from the Federal Home Loan
Bank System and from non-core brokered deposits.
Our fee income from other lines of businesses within our organization,
including income from our purchase of accounts receivables from commercial
customers, from our arrangement with PrimeVest, a full service broker-dealer,
and our trust department, continues to grow. During the second quarter of 1999,
our fee income increased $80,000 or 17.13% over the same time period in 1998.
Our year to date fee income increased $160,000, or 16.80%, over the same time
period in 1998.
12
<PAGE>
Year 2000 Issue
We are diligently preparing our computer systems, facilities, and
hardware for the upcoming century change. We are following the FFIEC guidelines
for Year 2000 readiness and have recently met important deadlines. As of June
30, 1999, all mission-critical systems have been thoroughly tested and are in
place, ready to transact business on January 1, 2000. We have significantly
completed testing of all non-mission critical systems in our test lab.
Additionally, we are testing the interfaces that connect us to the rest of the
financial services industry. As an added precaution, we are re-testing
mission-critical systems and any changed systems during the fourth quarter.
Contingency plans, a standard procedure in all financial institutions, have been
modified and expanded to include any possible Year 2000 issues. We also are
completing for the end of 1999 our development of a "command center" for the
century change period.
USE OF PROCEEDS
All the proceeds to the Trust from the sale of the preferred securities
will be invested by the Trust in the junior subordinated debentures. The net
proceeds we receive from the sale of the junior subordinated debentures, which
we estimate to be approximately $20,000,000 ($23,000,000 if the over-allotment
option is exercised in full), will be used:
o to make an equity contribution to our subsidiary, First United
Bank & Trust, to support internal growth opportunities;
o to finance growth, which may include one or more branch
acquisitions, acquisitions of other financial institutions, or
acquisitions of other financial services companies;
o to increase our capital; and
o for general corporate purposes.
The precise amounts and timing of the application of proceeds, and the type of
investment, will depend upon our and our subsidiaries' funding requirements and
the availability of other funds. We do not have any specific plans at this time
to make any particular acquisition.
Under the risk-based capital adequacy guidelines established by the
Board of Governors of The Federal Reserve System, the preferred securities
cannot constitute more than 25% of our total Tier 1 capital. Amounts in excess
of this 25% capital limitation will be Tier 2, or supplemental, capital, and
therefore will be included in total risk-based capital. We estimate that 95% of
the net proceeds of the sale of the preferred securities of the Trust will
initially be included in our Tier 1 capital, and the full amount will be
included in our total risk-based capital.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth: (1) our consolidated capitalization at
June 30, 1999; (2) our consolidated capitalization giving effect to the issuance
of the preferred securities; and (3) actual and pro forma capital ratios. The
"As Adjusted" column assumes application of the net proceeds from the
corresponding sale of the junior subordinated debentures to the Trust as if the
sale of the preferred securities had been consummated on June 30, 1999, and as
if the underwriters' over-allotment was not exercised. The table assumes that
the offering occurs on the last day of the period and that any resulting change
to average assets is considered immaterial.
13
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At June 30, 1999
Actual As Adjusted
------ -----------
(Unaudited)
(Dollars In thousands)
Guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in our
<S> <C> <C> <C>
subordinated debt(1) $ 0 $20,000
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred stock no par value, 2,000,000
shares authorized, none issued 0 0
Capital stock .01 par value, 25,000,000
shares authorized; 6,085,192 shares
issued and outstanding 61 61
Surplus 20,397 20,397
Retained earnings 37,903 37,903
Accumulated other comprehensive income (1,204) (1,204)
------ ------
Total shareholders' equity $57,157 $57,157
------ ------
Total capitalization $57,157 $77,157
====== ======
Capital Ratios(2):
Equity to total assets 8.28% 8.05%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio(3)(4) 11.06 14.63
Total risk-based capital ratio(3)(4) 11.78 15.51
Leverage ratio 8.60 11.46
</TABLE>
(1) Reflects the Trust's preferred securities representing beneficial
interests in an aggregate principal amount of $20,000,000 of our 9.375%
junior subordinated debentures (not including the $3,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of junior subordinated debentures to be purchased in
the event the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option) that
will mature on September 30, 2029.
(2) The capital ratios, as adjusted, are computed including the total
estimated proceeds from the sale of the preferred securities in a
manner consistent with The Federal Reserve guidelines.
(3) The Federal Reserve guidelines for calculation of Tier 1 capital limit
the amount of preferred securities of the type offered by this
prospectus, together with other cumulative preferred stock, which can
be included in Tier 1 capital, to 25% of total Tier 1 capital.
(4) Assumes net proceeds of the offering of the preferred securities are
invested in assets with a 20% risk weighing under the risk-based
capital rules of The Federal Reserve.
14
<PAGE>
FIRST UNITED CAPITAL TRUST
The Trust is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law
pursuant to the filing of a Certificate of Trust with the Delaware Secretary of
State on July 19, 1999. The Trust will be governed by the trust agreement among
us, as depositor, Bankers Trust (Delaware), as Delaware trustee, and Bankers
Trust Company, as property trustee. We will select two individuals who are our
employees or officers to act as administrators of the Trust. See "Description of
Preferred Securities--Miscellaneous." The Trust exists for the exclusive
purposes of:
o issuing and selling the preferred securities and the common
securities;
o using the proceeds from the sale of the preferred securities
and the common securities to acquire the junior subordinated
debentures; and
o engaging in incidental activities (such as registering the
transfer of the preferred securities and the common
securities).
The junior subordinated debentures will be the sole assets of the Trust, and
payments under the junior subordinated debentures will be the sole source of
revenue of the Trust.
We will own all of the common securities. The common securities will
rank equally, and payments on them will be made pro rata, with the preferred
securities, except that upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an
event of default under the junior subordinated debentures, our rights as the
holder of the common securities to all payments will be subordinated to the
rights of the holders of the preferred securities. See "Description of Preferred
Securities--Subordination of Common Securities." We will acquire common
securities in an aggregate liquidation amount equal to 3% of the total capital
of the Trust. The Trust has a term of 30 years, but may terminate earlier as
provided in the trust agreement.
The address of the Delaware trustee is Bankers Trust (Delaware), 1101
Centre Road, Suite 200, Trust Department, Wilmington, Delaware 19805, and the
telephone number is (302) 636-3301.
The address of the property trustee, the guarantee trustee and the
debenture trustee is Bankers Trust Company, Four Albany Street, 4th Floor, New
York, New York 10006, and the telephone number is (212) 250-2500.
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
For financial reporting purposes, the Trust will be treated as our
subsidiary and the accounts of the Trust will be included in our consolidated
financial statements. The preferred securities will be reflected as debt in the
consolidated balance sheet and appropriate disclosures about the preferred
securities, the guarantee and the junior subordinated debentures will be
included in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. For financial
reporting purposes, we will record distributions on the preferred securities as
an expense in our consolidated statement of income.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
The Trust will issue the preferred securities and the common securities
under the trust agreement. The preferred securities will represent preferred
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. You will be entitled
a preference with respect to distributions and amounts payable on redemption or
liquidation over the common securities in certain circumstances, as well as
other benefits as described in the trust agreement.
15
<PAGE>
This summary of certain provisions of the preferred securities and the
trust agreement is not complete. You should read the form of the trust
agreement, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which
this prospectus is a part. Wherever particular defined terms of the trust
agreement are referred to in this prospectus, the defined terms are incorporated
in this prospectus by reference. A copy of the form of the trust agreement is
also available upon request from the trustees.
General
The preferred securities will be limited to $20,000,000 aggregate
liquidation amount (as defined in the trust agreement) outstanding (which amount
may be increased to up to $23,000,000 aggregate liquidation amount of preferred
securities for exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, if any). See
"Underwriting." The preferred securities will rank equally, and payments will be
made pro rata, with the common securities except as described under
"Subordination of Common Securities." The junior subordinated debentures will be
registered in the name of the Trust and held by the property trustee in trust
for your benefit, as a holder of preferred securities, and for our benefit, as
the holders of the common securities. The guarantee we will execute for the
benefit of the holders of the preferred securities will be a guarantee on a
subordinated basis with respect to the preferred securities but will not
guarantee payments when the Trust does not have funds on hand available to make
these payments. See "Description of Guarantee."
Distributions
You will receive distributions on each preferred security at the annual
rate of 9.375% of the stated liquidation amount of $10.00, payable quarterly in
arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, to
record holders at the close of business on the 15th day of March, June,
September and December (whether or not a business day) next preceding the
relevant distribution date. Distributions on the preferred securities will be
cumulative. Distributions will accumulate from the date of issue. The first
distribution date for the preferred securities will be September 30, 1999. The
amount of distributions payable for any period less than a full distribution
period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months
and the actual days elapsed in a partial month in the period. Distributions
payable for each full distribution period will be computed by dividing the
annual rate by four. If any date on which distributions are payable is not a
business day, then payment will be made on the next succeeding day that is a
business day (without any additional distributions or other payment because of
the delay), except that, if the business day falls in the next calendar year,
the payment will be made on the immediately preceding business day.
So long as no debenture event of default has occurred and is
continuing, we have the right to defer the payment of interest on the junior
subordinated debentures at any time or from time to time for an "extension
period" not exceeding 20 consecutive quarterly periods, but not beyond the
maturity date of the junior subordinated debentures. Quarterly distributions on
the preferred securities will be deferred during the extension period.
Distributions to which you are entitled will accumulate additional distributions
at the annual rate of 9.375%, compounded quarterly from the relevant payment
date, computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the
actual days elapsed in a partial month in the period. Additional distributions
payable for each full distribution period will be computed by dividing the
annual rate by four.
During any extension period, we may not: (1) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of our capital stock; or (2) make any
payment of principal (or any premium on the principal) or interest, or repay,
repurchase or redeem any of our debt securities that rank equally in all
respects with or junior in interest to the junior subordinated debentures.
16
<PAGE>
These prohibitions, however, do not apply to:
o repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of our capital
stock, in connection with any employment contract, benefit
plan or other similar arrangement, a dividend reinvestment or
shareholder stock purchase plan or the issuance of our capital
stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for the
capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition or merger
transaction entered into prior to the applicable extension
period;
o a reclassification, exchange or conversion of any class or
series of our capital stock (or any capital stock of our
subsidiaries) for any class or series of our capital stock or
of any class or series of any indebtedness for any class or
series of our capital stock;
o the purchase of fractional interests in shares of our capital
stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of the
capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged;
o any declaration of a dividend in connection with any
shareholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or
other property under any shareholders' rights plan, or the
redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant to any
shareholders' rights plan; or
o any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other
rights, where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon
exercise of the warrants, options or other rights is the same
stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks
equally with or junior to the stock.
Upon the termination of an extension period and the payment of all
amounts then due, we may begin a new extension period. We must give the trustees
notice of our election to defer the payment of interest at least one business
day before the earlier of: (1) the date the distributions on the preferred
securities would have been payable but for the election to begin the extension
period; or (2) the date the property trustee is required to give you notice of
the record date or the date the distributions are payable, but in any event not
less than one business day prior to the record date. The property trustee will
give you notice of our election to begin a new extension period. Subject to the
foregoing, there is no limitation on the number of times that we may elect to
begin an extension period. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Option To Extend Interest Payment Period" and "Certain Federal
Income Tax Consequences--Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
We currently do not intend to exercise our right to defer payments of
interest.
The revenue of the Trust available for distribution to you will be
limited to payments under the junior subordinated debentures. See "Description
of Junior Subordinated Debentures." If we do not make payments on the junior
subordinated debentures, the Trust may not have funds available to pay
distributions or other amounts payable on the preferred securities. The payment
of distributions and other amounts payable on the preferred securities (if and
to the extent the Trust has funds legally available for and cash sufficient to
make these payments) is guaranteed by us on a limited basis as described below
under "Description of Guarantee."
Redemption
If we repay or redeem the junior subordinated debentures, we must give
the property trustee not less than 30, nor more than 60 days notice so that it
can redeem a proportionate amount of the preferred and common securities.
17
<PAGE>
The redemption price for each preferred security shall equal $10.00
plus accumulated but unpaid distributions on the redemption date and the related
amount of the premium, if any, paid by us upon the concurrent redemption of the
junior subordinated debentures. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Redemption." If less than all the junior subordinated debentures are
to be repaid or redeemed on a redemption date, then the proceeds from the
repayment or redemption shall be allocated to the redemption pro rata of the
preferred securities and the common securities.
We may redeem the junior subordinated debentures: (1) on or after
September 30, 2004 in whole at any time or in part from time to time; or (2) in
whole, but not in part, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence and
during the continuation of a Tax Event, Investment Company Event or Capital
Treatment Event (each as defined below), in each case subject to possible
regulatory approval. See "Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution." A
redemption of the junior subordinated debentures would cause a mandatory
redemption of a proportionate amount of the preferred securities and common
securities at the redemption price.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an opinion of an
experienced counsel matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to,
or change (including an announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any
regulations thereunder) of the United States or any of its political
subdivisions or taxing authorities, or as a result of any official or
administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision interpreting or
applying these laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of issuance of
the preferred securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk that:
o the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of the
opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with
respect to income received or accrued on the junior
subordinated debentures;
o interest payable by us on the junior subordinated debentures
is not, or within 90 days of the delivery of the opinion will
not be, deductible by us, in whole or in part, for United
States federal income tax purposes; or
o the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of the
opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other
taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Pending Tax Litigation Affecting
the Preferred Securities" for a discussion of pending United States Tax Court
litigation that, if decided adversely to the taxpayer, could give rise to a Tax
Event, that may permit us to redeem the junior subordinated debentures before
September 30, 2004.
If a Tax Event described in the first or third circumstances above has
occurred and is continuing and the Trust holds all of the junior subordinated
debentures, we will pay on the junior subordinated debentures any additional
amounts necessary so that the amount of distributions then due and payable by
the Trust on the outstanding preferred securities and common securities of the
Trust will not be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties and other
governmental charges to which the Trust has become subject as a result of a Tax
Event.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an opinion
of an experienced counsel to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a
change in law or regulation or a written change (including any announced
prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any
legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is
more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be considered an
"investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment
Company Act, which change or prospective change
18
<PAGE>
becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the
date of the issuance of the preferred securities.
"Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by us
that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change (including
any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any rules or regulations
thereunder) of the United States or its political subdivisions, or as a result
of any official or administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision
interpreting or applying their laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date
of issuance of the preferred securities, there is more than an insubstantial
risk that we will not be entitled to treat an amount equal to the liquidation
amount of the preferred securities, as Tier 1 Capital (or any equivalent
amount), except as otherwise restricted by The Federal Reserve, for purposes of
the capital adequacy guidelines of The Federal Reserve, as then in effect and
applicable to us. The Federal Reserve has determined that the proceeds of
certain qualifying securities like the preferred securities will qualify as Tier
1 capital for us only up to an amount not to exceed, when taken together with
all of our cumulative preferred stock, if any, 25% of our Tier 1 capital.
Redemption Procedures
Preferred securities redeemed on each redemption date shall be redeemed
at a price equal to $10.00 plus accumulated but unpaid distributions, with the
applicable proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption of the junior
subordinated debentures. Redemptions of the preferred securities will be made
and the redemption price will be payable on each redemption date only to the
extent that the Trust has funds on hand available for the payment of the
redemption price. See also "Subordination of Common Securities."
If the Trust gives you notice of redemption of the preferred
securities, then, by 12:00 noon, eastern time, on the redemption date, to the
extent funds are available, in the case of preferred securities held in
book-entry form, the property trustee will deposit irrevocably with The
Depository Trust Company funds sufficient to pay the redemption price and will
give DTC irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the redemption price to
you. With respect to preferred securities not held in book-entry form, the
property trustee, to the extent funds are available, will irrevocably deposit
with the paying agent for the preferred securities funds sufficient to pay the
redemption price and will give the paying agent irrevocable instructions and
authority to pay the redemption price to you once you surrender your
certificates evidencing the preferred securities. However, distributions payable
on or before the redemption date for any preferred securities called for
redemption will be payable to you on the relevant record dates for the related
distribution dates.
If notice of redemption is given and funds are deposited as required,
then upon the date of the deposit all of your rights with respect to your
preferred securities so called for redemption will cease, except your right to
receive the redemption price and any distributions payable in respect of the
preferred securities on or prior to the redemption date, but without interest,
and preferred securities that are redeemed will no longer be outstanding. If any
date fixed for redemption of preferred securities is not a business day, then
payment of the redemption price payable on that date will be made on the next
succeeding day which is a business day (without any interest or other payment in
respect of any delay), except that, if the business day falls in the next
calendar year, the payment will be made on the immediately preceding business
day. In the event that payment of the redemption price for the preferred
securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid
either by the Trust or by us pursuant to the guarantee as described under
"Description of Guarantee," distributions on the preferred securities will
continue to accumulate at the then applicable rate, from the redemption date
originally established by the Trust for the preferred securities to the date the
19
<PAGE>
redemption price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will be
the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the redemption price.
Subject to applicable law (including United States federal securities
laws), we or our affiliates may at any time and from time to time purchase
outstanding preferred securities by tender, in the open market or by private
agreement, and may resell the securities.
If less than all the preferred securities and common securities are to
be redeemed on a redemption date, then the aggregate liquidation amount of the
preferred securities and common securities to be redeemed will be allocated pro
rata to the preferred securities and the common securities based upon the
relative liquidation amounts of the classes. The particular preferred securities
to be redeemed will be selected on a pro rata basis not more than 60 days before
the redemption date by the property trustee from the outstanding preferred
securities not previously called for redemption, or in accordance with DTC's
customary procedures if the preferred securities are then held in the form of a
global preferred security. The property trustee must promptly notify the
securities registrar for the preferred securities in writing of the preferred
securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any preferred securities
selected for partial redemption, the liquidation amount of the preferred
securities to be redeemed. For all purposes of the trust agreement, unless the
context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of
preferred securities will relate, in the case of any preferred securities
redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the aggregate
liquidation amount of preferred securities which has been or is to be redeemed.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed to you at your address as it
appears on the securities register for the Trust at least 30 days but not more
than 60 days before the redemption date if your preferred securities will be
redeemed. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price on the junior
subordinated debentures, on and after the redemption date, interest will no
longer accrue on the junior subordinated debentures or any portions called for
redemption.
Unless payment of the redemption price in respect of the preferred
securities is withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or us
pursuant to the guarantee, distributions will no longer accumulate on the
preferred securities or any portions called for redemption.
Subordination of Common Securities
Payment of distributions on, the redemption price of, and the
liquidation distribution in respect of, the preferred securities and common
securities, as applicable, will be made pro rata based on the liquidation amount
of the preferred securities and common securities. However, if on any
distribution date or redemption date a debenture event of default has occurred
and is continuing as a result of our failure by us to pay any amounts in respect
of the junior subordinated debentures when due, no payment of any distribution
on, or redemption price of, or liquidation distribution in respect of, any of
the common securities, and no other payment on account of the redemption,
liquidation or other acquisition of the common securities, may be made unless
payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid distributions on all the
outstanding preferred securities for all distribution periods terminating on or
prior to our failure to pay, or in the case of payment of the redemption price,
the full amount of the redemption price on all the outstanding preferred
securities then called for redemption, shall have been made or provided for, and
all funds immediately available to the property trustee must first be applied to
the payment in full in cash of all distributions on, or redemption price of, the
preferred securities then due and payable.
In the case of any event of default with respect to the preferred
securities (as described below under "Events of Default; Notice") resulting from
an event of default with respect to junior subordinated debentures (as described
below under "Description of Junior Subordinated
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Debentures--Debenture Events of Default"), the holders of the common securities
will have no right to act with respect to any event of default under the trust
agreement until the effects of these events of default with respect to the
preferred securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. See
"Events of Default; Notice" and "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Debenture Events of Default." Until all events of default under the
trust agreement with respect to the preferred securities have been so cured,
waived or otherwise eliminated, the property trustee will act solely on your
behalf and not on our behalf, as the holders of the common securities, and only
you will have the right to direct the property trustee to act on your behalf.
Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution
The amount payable on the preferred securities in the event of any
liquidation of the Trust is $10.00 per preferred security plus accumulated and
unpaid distributions, subject to certain exceptions which may be in the form of
a distribution of this amount in junior subordinated debentures.
The holders of all the outstanding common securities have the right at
any time to dissolve the Trust and, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, cause the junior
subordinated debentures to be distributed to you and the holders of the common
securities in liquidation of the Trust.
The Federal Reserve's risk-based capital guidelines currently provide
that redemptions of permanent equity or other capital instruments before stated
maturity could have a significant impact on a bank holding company's overall
capital structure and that any organization considering a redemption should
consult with The Federal Reserve before redeeming any equity or capital
instrument prior to maturity if the redemption could have a material effect on
the level or composition of the organization's capital base (this consultation
may not be necessary if the equity or capital instrument is redeemed with the
proceeds of, or replaced by, a like amount of a similar or higher quality
capital instrument and The Federal Reserve considers the organization's capital
position to be fully adequate after the redemption).
In the event we, while a holder of common securities, dissolve the
Trust before the maturity date of the preferred securities and the dissolution
of the Trust is deemed to constitute the redemption of capital instruments by
The Federal Reserve under its risk-based capital guidelines or policies, our
dissolution of the Trust may be subject to the prior approval of The Federal
Reserve. Moreover, any changes in applicable law or changes in The Federal
Reserve's risk-based capital guidelines or policies could impose a requirement
on us to obtain the prior approval of The Federal Reserve to dissolve the Trust.
Pursuant to the trust agreement, the Trust will automatically dissolve
upon expiration of its term or, if earlier, will dissolve on the first to occur
of:
o certain events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of us
or another holder of the common securities;
o the distribution of a proportionate amount of the junior
subordinated debentures to you and the holders of the common
securities, if the holders of common securities have given
written direction to the property trustee to dissolve the
Trust (which direction, subject to the foregoing restrictions,
is optional and wholly within the discretion of the holders of
common securities);
o the redemption of all the preferred securities in connection
with the redemption of all the preferred securities and common
securities as described under "Redemption"; and
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o the entry of an order for the dissolution of the Trust by a
court of competent
jurisdiction.
If dissolution of the Trust occurs as described in any of the first three
circumstances described above, the Trust will be liquidated by the property
trustee as expeditiously as the property trustee determines to be possible by
distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as
provided by applicable law, to you and the holders of the common securities a
proportionate amount of the junior subordinated debentures, unless the
distribution is not practical.
If distribution of the junior subordinated debentures is not practical,
you and the holders of preferred securities and common securities will be
entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to
holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided
by applicable law, an amount equal to, in the case of your distribution, the
aggregate of the liquidation amount plus accumulated and unpaid distributions
thereon to the date of payment. If the liquidation distribution can be paid only
in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the
aggregate liquidation distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the
Trust on its preferred securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis.
The holders of the common securities will be entitled to receive
distributions upon any liquidation pro rata with you, except that if an event of
default under the junior subordinated debentures has occurred and is continuing
as a result of our failure to pay any amounts in respect of the junior
subordinated debentures when due, the preferred securities shall have a priority
over the common securities. See "Subordination of Common Securities."
After the liquidation date is fixed for any distribution of junior
subordinated debentures:
o the preferred securities will no longer be deemed to be
outstanding;
o DTC or its nominee, as the registered holder of preferred
securities, will receive a registered global certificate or
certificates (which are not the registered global
certificates) representing the junior subordinated debentures
to be delivered upon the distribution with respect to
preferred securities held by DTC or its nominee; and
o any certificates representing the preferred securities not
held by DTC or its nominee will be deemed to represent the
junior subordinated debentures having a principal amount equal
to the stated liquidation amount of the preferred securities
and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to
the accumulated and unpaid distributions on the preferred
securities until the certificates are presented to the
security registrar for the preferred securities and common
securities for transfer or reissuance.
If we do not redeem the junior subordinated debentures before maturity,
the Trust is not liquidated, and the junior subordinated debentures are not
distributed to you, then the preferred securities will remain outstanding until
the repayment of the junior subordinated debentures and the distribution of the
liquidation distribution to you.
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the preferred
securities or the junior subordinated debentures that may be distributed in
exchange for preferred securities if a dissolution and liquidation of the Trust
were to occur. Accordingly, the preferred securities that you may purchase, or
the junior subordinated debentures that you may receive on dissolution and
liquidation of the Trust, may trade at a discount to the price that you paid to
purchase the preferred securities offered by this prospectus.
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Events of Default; Notice
Any one of the following events is an event of default under the trust
agreement with respect to the preferred securities (whatever the reason for the
event of default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or effected by
operation of law or pursuant to a judgment, decree or order of any court or any
order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
o the occurrence of a event of default with respect to the
junior subordinated debentures (see "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures--Debenture Events of Default");
o default by the Trust in the payment of any distribution when
it becomes due and payable, and continuation of the default
for a period of 30 days;
o default by the Trust in the payment of any redemption price of
any preferred security and common security when it becomes due
and payable;
o default in the performance, or breach, in any material
respect, of any covenant or warranty of the trustees in the
trust agreement (other than a covenant or warranty a default
in the performance of which or the breach of which is
addressed in either of the second or third circumstances
above), and continuation of the default or breach for a period
of 60 days after the holders of at least 25% in aggregate
liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities
give, by registered or certified mail, to the trustees and us,
a written notice specifying the default or breach and
requiring it to be remedied and stating that the notice is a
"Notice of Default" under the trust agreement; or
o the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency
with respect to the property trustee if a successor property
trustee has not been appointed within 90 days of the event.
Within five business days after the occurrence of any event of default
actually known to the property trustee, the property trustee will transmit
notice of the event of default to you and the holders of the common securities
and the preferred securities and the administrators, unless the event of default
has been cured or waived. We, as depositor, and the administrators are required
to file annually with the property trustee a certificate as to whether or not we
are in compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to us under
the trust agreement.
If an event of default with respect to the junior subordinated
debentures has occurred and is continuing as a result of any failure by us to
pay any amounts in respect of the junior subordinated debentures when due, the
preferred securities will have a preference over the common securities with
respect to payments of any amounts as described above. See "Subordination of
Common Securities," "Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution" and "Description
of Junior Subordinated Debentures--Debenture Events of Default."
Removal of Trustees; Appointment of Successors
The holders of at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of
the outstanding preferred securities may remove any trustee for cause, or if an
event of default with respect to the junior subordinated debentures has occurred
and is continuing, with or without cause. If a trustee is removed by the holders
of the outstanding preferred securities, the successor may be appointed by the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate liquidation amount of preferred securities.
If a trustee resigns, the trustee will appoint its successor. If a trustee fails
to appoint a successor, the holders of at least 25% in
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aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities may appoint
a successor. If a successor has not been appointed by you or the holders, any
holder of preferred securities or common securities or the other trustee may
petition a court in the State of Delaware to appoint a successor. Any Delaware
trustee must meet the applicable requirements of Delaware law. Any property
trustee must be a national or state-chartered bank, and at the time of
appointment have securities rated in one of the three highest rating categories
by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization and have capital and
surplus of at least $50,000,000. No resignation or removal of a trustee and no
appointment of a successor trustee shall be effective until the acceptance of
appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the
trust agreement.
Merger or Consolidation of Trustees
Any entity into which the property trustee or the Delaware trustee may
be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity
resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the trustee is a
party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust
business of the trustee, will be the successor of the trustee under the trust
agreement, provided the entity is otherwise qualified and eligible.
Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of the Trust
The Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be
replaced by, convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially
as an entirety to, any entity, except as described below or as otherwise
provided in the trust agreement. The Trust may, at the request of the holders of
the common securities and with the consent of the holders of at least a majority
aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities, merge with
or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease
its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized
under the laws of any state, so long as:
o the successor entity: (1) expressly assumes all the
obligations of the Trust with respect to the preferred
securities; or (2) substitutes for the preferred securities
other securities having substantially the same terms as the
preferred securities so long as the substitute preferred
securities have the same priority as the preferred securities
with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation,
redemption and otherwise;
o a trustee of the successor entity, possessing the same powers
and duties as the property trustee, is appointed to hold the
junior subordinated debentures;
o the merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the preferred
securities (including any substitute preferred securities) to
be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating
organization, if then rated;
o the merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the
rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the
preferred securities (including any substitute preferred
securities) in any material respect;
o the successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to
that of the Trust;
o before the merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease, the Trust has received an
opinion from independent and experienced counsel to
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the effect that: (1) the merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely
affect your rights, preference and privileges as a holder of
preferred securities (including any substitute preferred
securities) in any material respect; and (2) following the
merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor the successor entity
will be required to register as an investment company under
the Investment Company Act; and
o we or any permitted successor or assignee own all the common
securities of the successor entity and guarantee the
obligations of the successor entity under the successor
securities at least to the extent provided by the guarantee.
However, the Trust may not, except with the consent of all the holders of the
preferred securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be
replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially
as an entirety to, any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into or replace it if the consolidation, amalgamation,
merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Trust or the
successor entity to be taxable as a corporation for United States federal income
tax purposes.
Voting Rights; Amendment of Trust Agreement
Except as provided above and under "Removal of Trustees; Appointment of
Successors" and "Description of Guarantee--Amendments and Assignment" and as
otherwise required by law and the trust agreement, you will have no voting
rights.
The trust agreement may be amended from time to time by the holders of
a majority of the common securities and the property trustee, without your
consent to:
o cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provisions in
the trust agreement that may be inconsistent with any other
provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to
matters or questions arising under the trust agreement,
provided that the amendment does not adversely affect in any
material respect your interests; or
o modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the trust
agreement to the extent as may be necessary to ensure that the
Trust will not be taxable as a corporation for United States
federal income tax purposes at any time that any preferred or
common securities are outstanding or to ensure that the Trust
will not be required to register as an "investment company"
under the Investment Company Act.
Any amendments of the trust agreement will become effective when notice of the
amendment is given to the holders of preferred securities and common securities.
The trust agreement may be amended by the holders of a majority of the
common securities and the property trustee with:
o the consent of holders representing not less than a majority
in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred
securities; and
o receipt by the trustees of an opinion of counsel to the effect
that the amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the
trustees in accordance with the amendment will
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not affect the Trust's not being taxable as a corporation for
United States federal income tax purposes or the Trust's
exemption from status as an "investment company" under the
Investment Company Act.
However, without the consent of every holder of preferred securities or common
securities affected, the trust agreement may not be amended to:
o change the amount or timing of any distribution on the
preferred securities and common securities or otherwise
adversely affect the amount of any distribution required to be
made in respect of the preferred securities and common
securities as of a specified date; or
o restrict your right and the right of a holder of common
securities to institute suit for the enforcement of the
payment on or after the specified date.
So long as any junior subordinated debentures are held by the Trust,
the property trustee will not:
o direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the debenture trustee, or execute
any trust or power conferred on the property trustee with
respect to the junior subordinated debentures;
o waive any past default that is waivable under Section 5.13 of
the indenture;
o exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the
principal of all the junior subordinated debentures shall be
due and payable; or
o consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the
indenture or the junior subordinated debentures, where the
consent shall be required, without, in each case, obtaining
the prior approval of the holders of at least a majority in
aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred
securities, or, if a consent under the indenture would require
the consent of every holder of junior subordinated debentures
affected, no consent will be given by the property trustee
without the prior consent of each holder of the preferred
securities.
The property trustee may not revoke any action previously authorized or
approved by a vote of the holders of the preferred securities except by
subsequent vote of the holders of the preferred securities. The property trustee
will notify you of any notice of default with respect to the junior subordinated
debentures. In addition to obtaining your approval as described above, before
taking any of the actions listed above, the property trustee will obtain an
opinion of experienced counsel to the effect that the Trust will not be taxable
as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes on account of the
action.
Any required approval of holders of preferred securities may be given
at a meeting of holders of preferred securities convened for the purpose or
pursuant to written consent. The property trustee will cause a notice of any
meeting at which you are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by
your written consent is to be taken, to be given to you in the manner provided
in the trust agreement.
Your vote or consent will not be required to redeem and cancel
preferred securities in accordance with the trust agreement.
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Notwithstanding that you are entitled to vote or consent under any of
the circumstances described above, any of the preferred securities that are
owned by us, the trustees or any of our affiliates or any trustees, will, for
purposes of the vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
Expenses and Taxes
In the indenture, we have agreed to pay all debts and other obligations
(other than distributions on the preferred securities) and all costs and
expenses of the Trust (including costs and expenses relating to the organization
of the Trust, the fees and expenses of the trustees and the costs and expenses
relating to the operation of the Trust) and to pay any and all taxes and all
costs and expenses with respect to any taxes (other than United States
withholding taxes) to which the Trust might become subject. Our obligations
under the indenture are for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, any
creditor of the Trust to whom any of these debts, obligations, costs, expenses
and taxes are owed whether or not the creditor has received notice. The creditor
may enforce these obligations directly against us, and we have irrevocably
waived any right or remedy to require that any creditor take any action against
the Trust or any other person before proceeding against us. We have also agreed
in the indenture to execute the additional agreements as may be necessary or
desirable to give full effect to these payment obligations.
Book Entry, Delivery and Form
The preferred securities will be issued in the form of one or more
fully registered global securities, which will be deposited with, or on behalf
of, DTC and registered in the name of a DTC nominee. Unless and until it is
exchangeable in whole or in part for the preferred securities in definitive
form, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC to a
nominee of DTC or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or to another nominee of DTC or by
DTC or the nominee to a successor of DTC or to a nominee of the successor.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited
to participants that have accounts with DTC or its nominee or persons that may
hold interests through the participants. We expect that, upon the issuance of a
global security, DTC will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer
system, the participants' accounts with their respective principal amounts of
preferred securities represented by the global security. Ownership of beneficial
interests in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer of the
ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC
(with respect to your interests of participants) and on the records of
participants (with respect to your interests). You will not receive written
confirmation from DTC of your purchase, but are expected to receive written
confirmations from participants through which you entered into the transaction.
Transfers of ownership interests will be accomplished by entries on the
books of participants acting on your behalf. So long as DTC, or its nominee, is
the registered owner of a global security, DTC or the nominee, as the case may
be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the preferred securities
represented by the global security for all purposes under the trust agreement.
Except as provided below, you are the owner of beneficial interests in a global
security and will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of the preferred
securities in definitive form.
You will not be considered an owner or holder under the trust
agreement. Accordingly, you must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if you are
not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which you own
your interest, to exercise any rights as a holder of preferred securities under
the trust agreement. We understand that, under DTC's existing practices, in the
event that we request any action you, or if you desire to take any action which
a holder is entitled to take
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under the trust agreement, DTC would authorize the participants holding your
interests to take the action, and the participants would authorize you to take
the action or would otherwise act upon your instructions. Redemption notices
will also be sent to DTC. If less than all of the preferred securities are being
redeemed, we understand that it is DTC's existing practice to determine by lot
the amount of the interest of each participant to be redeemed.
Distributions on the preferred securities registered in the name of DTC
or its nominee will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the
registered owner of the global security representing the preferred securities.
Neither the trustees, nor the administrators, any paying agent or any other
agent of ours or the trustees will have any responsibility or liability for any
aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial
ownership interests in the global security for the preferred securities or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial
ownership interests. Disbursements of distributions to participants will be
DTC's responsibility. DTC's practice is to credit participants' accounts on a
payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records
unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on the payable
date. Payments by participants to you will be governed by standing instructions
and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of
customers in bearer form or registered in "street name," and will be the
responsibility of the participant and not of DTC, us, the trustees, the paying
agent or any other agent of ours, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository
with respect to the preferred securities at any time by giving reasonable notice
to us or the trustees. If DTC notifies us that it is unwilling to continue as
depository, or if it is unable to continue or ceases to be a clearing agency
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and a successor depository
is not appointed by us within 90 days after receiving the notice or becoming
aware that DTC is no longer a registered clearing agency, we will issue the
preferred securities in definitive form upon registration of transfer of, or in
exchange for, the global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our
sole discretion determine not to have the preferred securities represented by
one or more global securities and, in this event, will issue preferred
securities in definitive form in exchange for all of the global securities
representing the preferred securities.
DTC has advised the Trust and us as follows:
o DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the
laws of the State of New York, a member of The Federal
Reserve, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the
Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered
pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act;
o DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and to
facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities
transactions between participants through electronic book
entry changes to accounts of its participants, thereby
eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates;
o participants include securities brokers and dealers (such as
the underwriters), banks, trust companies and clearing
corporations and may include certain other organizations;
o certain of the participants (or their representatives),
together with other entities, own DTC; and
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o indirect access to the DTC system is available to others such
as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear
through, or maintain a custodial relationship with, a
participant, either directly or indirectly.
Same-Day Settlement and Payment
Settlement for the preferred securities will be made by the
underwriters in immediately available funds.
Secondary trading in preferred securities of corporate issuers is
generally settled in clearinghouse or next-day funds. In contrast, the preferred
securities will trade in DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and secondary
market trading activity in the preferred securities will therefore be required
by DTC to settle in immediately available funds. No assurance can be given as to
the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading
activity in the preferred securities.
Payment and Paying Agency
Payments in respect of the preferred securities will be made to DTC,
which will credit the relevant accounts at DTC on the applicable distribution
dates or, if the preferred securities are not held by DTC, the payments will be
made by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled to it at the address
that appears on the securities register for the preferred securities and common
securities. The paying agent will initially be the property trustee and any
co-paying agent chosen by the property trustee and acceptable to the
administrators. The paying agent will be permitted to resign as paying agent
upon 30 days written notice to the property trustee and the administrators. If
the property trustee is no longer the paying agent, the property trustee will
appoint a successor (which must be a bank or trust company reasonably acceptable
to the administrators) to act as paying agent.
Registrar and Transfer Agent
The property trustee will act as registrar and transfer agent for the
preferred securities.
Registration of transfers of preferred securities will be effected
without charge by or on behalf of the Trust, but only upon payment of any tax or
other governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with any transfer
or exchange. The Trust will not be required to register or cause to be
registered the transfer of the preferred securities after the preferred
securities have been called for redemption.
Obligations and Duties of the Property Trustee
The property trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance
of an event of default undertakes to perform only the duties that are
specifically provided in the trust agreement and, after any event of default,
must exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would
exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this
provision, the property trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the
powers vested in it by the trust agreement at your request unless it is offered
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred.
For information concerning the relationships between Bankers Trust
Company, the property trustee, and us, see "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Information Concerning the Debenture Trustee."
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Miscellaneous
The administrators and the property trustee are authorized and directed
to conduct the affairs of and to operate the Trust in such a way that: (1) the
Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered
under the Investment Company Act or taxable as a corporation for United States
federal income tax purposes; and (2) the junior subordinated debentures will be
treated as our indebtedness for United States federal income tax purposes. In
this connection, the property trustee and the holders of common securities are
authorized to take any action not inconsistent with applicable law, the
certificate of trust of the Trust or the trust agreement that the property
trustee and the holders of common securities determine in their discretion to be
necessary or desirable for these purposes, as long as the action does not
materially adversely affect your interests.
You will not have preemptive or similar rights.
The Trust may not borrow money, issue debt or mortgage or pledge any of
its assets.
Governing Law
The trust agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware.
DESCRIPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The junior subordinated debentures are to be issued under the indenture
between Bankers Trust Company, the debenture trustee, and us. This summary of
certain terms and provisions of the junior subordinated debentures and the
indenture is not complete. You should read the form of the indenture that is
filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a
part. Whenever particular defined terms of the indenture (in effect from time to
time) are referred to in this prospectus, the defined terms are incorporated in
this prospectus by reference. A copy of the form of indenture is available from
the debenture trustee upon request.
General
Concurrently with the issuance of the preferred securities, the Trust
will invest the proceeds, together with the consideration paid by us for the
common securities, in the junior subordinated debentures issued by us. The
junior subordinated debentures will bear interest, accruing from the date of
issue, at the annual rate of 9.375% of the principal amount, payable quarterly
in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year,
beginning September 30, 1999, to the person in whose name each junior
subordinated debenture is registered at the close of business on the 15th day of
March, June, September or December (whether or not a business day) next
preceding the interest payment date. It is anticipated that, until the
liquidation, if any, of the Trust, each junior subordinated debenture will be
registered in the name of the Trust and held by the property trustee in trust
for you and the holders of the common securities.
The amount of interest payable for any period less than a full interest
period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months
and the actual days elapsed in a partial month in the period. The amount of
interest payable for any full interest period will be computed by dividing the
annual rate by four. If any date on which interest is payable to the junior
subordinated debentures is not a business day, then payment of the interest
payable on the date will be made on the next business day (without any interest
or other payment in respect of the delay), or, if the business day falls in the
next calendar year, the payment will be made on the immediately preceding
business day in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date
the payment was originally payable.
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Accrued interest that is not paid on the applicable interest payment
date will bear additional interest on the amount (to the extent permitted by
law) at the annual rate of 9.375%, compounded quarterly and computed on the
basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual days elapsed in a
partial month in the period. The amount of additional interest payable for any
full interest period will be computed by dividing the annual rate by four.
The term "interest" as used in this prospectus includes quarterly
interest payments, interest on quarterly interest payments not paid on the
applicable interest payment date and, if applicable, any additional sums we pay
on the junior subordinated debentures following a Tax Event (as defined under
"Description of Preferred Securities--Redemption") that may be required so that
distributions payable by the Trust will not be reduced by any additional taxes,
duties or other governmental changes resulting from the Tax Event.
The junior subordinated debentures will mature on September 30, 2029,
subject to our right to shorten the maturity date at any time to any date not
earlier than September 30, 2004, if we have received prior approval of The
Federal Reserve if the approval is then required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies of The Federal Reserve. If we elect to shorten the
maturity of the junior subordinated debentures, we will give notice to the
registered holders of the junior subordinated debentures, the debenture trustee
and the Trust no less than 90 days before the effectiveness of the maturity
date. The property trustee must give you and the holders of the common
securities notice of the shortened stated maturity at least 30 but not more than
60 days before the applicable date.
The junior subordinated debentures will be unsecured and will rank
junior and be subordinate in right of payment to any senior indebtedness. The
junior subordinated debentures will not be subject to a sinking fund. The
indenture does not limit our ability to incur or issue other secured or
unsecured debt, including senior indebtedness, whether under the junior
subordinated debentures or any existing or other indenture that we may enter
into in the future or otherwise. See "Subordination."
Option to Extend Interest Payment Period
So long as no event of default under the junior subordinated debentures
has occurred and is continuing, we have the right at any time during the term of
the junior subordinated debentures to defer the payment of interest at any time
or from time to time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarterly periods
with respect to each extension period, provided that no extension period may
extend beyond the stated maturity of the junior subordinated debentures. During
any extension period we have the right to make partial payments of interest on
any interest payment date. At the end of an extension period, we must pay all
interest then accrued and unpaid (together with interest thereon at the annual
rate of ___%, compounded quarterly and computed on the basis of a 360-day year
of twelve 30-day months and the actual days elapsed in a partial month in the
period, to the extent permitted by applicable law). The amount of additional
interest payable for any full interest period will be computed by dividing the
annual rate by four. During an extension period, interest will continue to
accrue and holders of junior subordinated debentures (or holders of preferred
securities while outstanding) will be required to accrue interest income for
United States federal income tax purposes. See "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences--Interest Income and Original Issue Discount. "
During any extension period, we may not:
o make any payment of principal (or any premium on the
principal) or interest, or repay, repurchase or redeem any of
our debt securities that rank equally in all respects with or
junior in interest to the junior subordinated debentures; or
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o declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem,
purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect
to, any of our capital stock, except that we may:
(a) repurchase, redeem or make other acquisitions of
shares of our capital stock in connection with any
employment contract benefit plan or other similar
arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or
more employees, officers directors or consultants, in
connection with a dividend reinvestment or
shareholder stock purchase plan or in connection with
the issuance of our capital stock (or securities
convertible into or exercisable for the capital
stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction
entered into prior to the applicable extension
period;
(b) take any necessary action in connection with any
reclassification, exchange or conversion of any class
or series of our capital stock (or any capital stock
of any of our subsidiaries) for any class or series
of our capital stock or of any class or series of our
indebtedness for any class or series of our capital
stock;
(c) purchase fractional interests in shares of our
capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange
provisions of the capital stock or the security being
converted or exchanged;
(d) declare a dividend in connection with any
shareholders' rights plan, or issue rights, stock or
other property under any shareholders' rights plan,
or redeem or repurchase rights pursuant to any
shareholders' rights plan; or
(e) declare a dividend in the form of stock warrants,
options or other rights where the dividend stock or
the stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants,
options or other rights is the same stock as that on
which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally
with or junior to the stock.
Before the termination of any extension period, we may further defer
the payment of interest, provided that no extension period may exceed 20
consecutive quarterly periods or extend beyond the stated maturity of the junior
subordinated debentures. Upon the termination of any extension period and the
payment of all amounts then due, we may elect to begin a new extension period
subject to the above conditions. No interest shall be due and payable during an
extension period, except at its end. We must give the trustees notice of our
election of the extension period at least one business day prior to the earlier
of: (1) the date the distribution on the preferred securities would have been
payable but for the election to begin an extension period; and (2) the date the
property trustee is required to give you notice of the record date or the date
the distribution is payable, but in any event not less than one business day
prior to the record date. The property trustee will give you notice of our
election to begin a new extension period. There is no limitation on the number
of times that we may elect to begin an extension period.
Redemption
We may redeem the junior subordinated debentures prior to maturity at
our option: (1) on or after September 30, 2004, in whole at any time or in part
from time to time; or (2) in whole, but not in part, at any time within 90 days
following the occurrence and during the continuation of a Tax Event, Investment
Company Event or Capital Treatment Event (each as defined under "Description of
Preferred Securities--Redemption"), in each case at a redemption price equal to
the outstanding principal amount of the junior subordinated debentures plus
accrued interest (including any additional
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interest on any additional sums we pay following a Tax Event as described below
under "Additional Sums"). The proceeds of the redemption will be used by the
Trust to redeem the preferred securities.
The Federal Reserve's risk-based capital guidelines, which are subject
to change, currently provide that redemptions of permanent equity or other
capital instruments before stated maturity could have a significant impact on a
bank holding company's overall capital structure and that any organization
considering a redemption should consult with The Federal Reserve before
redeeming any equity or capital instrument prior to maturity if the redemption
could have a material effect on the level or composition of the organization's
capital base.
Consultation may not be necessary if the equity or capital instrument
was redeemed with the proceeds of, or replaced by, a like amount of a similar or
higher quality capital instrument and The Federal Reserve considers the
organization's capital position to be fully adequate after the redemption.
If we redeem the junior subordinated debentures prior to their stated
maturity, that would constitute the redemption of capital instruments under The
Federal Reserve's current risk-based capital guidelines and may be subject to
the prior approval of The Federal Reserve. The redemption of the junior
subordinated debentures also could be subject to the additional prior approval
of The Federal Reserve under its current risk-based capital guidelines.
Additional Sums
We have covenanted in the indenture that, if and for so long as the
Trust is the holder of all junior subordinated debentures and the Trust is
required to pay any additional taxes, duties or other governmental charges as a
result of a Tax Event, we will pay as additional sums on the junior subordinated
debentures the amounts as may be required so that the distributions payable by
the Trust will not be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties or
other governmental charges. See "Description of Preferred
Securities--Redemption."
Registration, Denomination and Transfer
The junior subordinated debentures will initially be registered in the
name of the Trust. If the junior subordinated debentures are distributed to you,
it is anticipated that the depositary arrangements for the junior subordinated
debentures will be substantially identical to those in effect for the preferred
securities. See "Description of Preferred Securities--Book Entry, Delivery and
Form."
Although DTC has agreed to the procedures described above, it is under
no obligation to perform or continue to perform the procedures, and the
procedures may be discontinued at any time. If DTC is at any time unwilling or
unable to continue as depositary and we do not appoint a successor depositary
within 90 days of receipt of notice from DTC to the effect, we will cause the
junior subordinated debentures to be issued in definitive form.
Payments on junior subordinated debentures represented by a global
security will be made to Cede & Co., the nominee for DTC, as the registered
holder of the junior subordinated debentures, described under "Description of
Preferred Securities--Book Entry, Delivery and Form." If junior subordinated
debentures are issued in certificated form, principal and interest will be
payable, the transfer of the junior subordinated debentures will be
registerable, and junior subordinated debentures will be exchangeable for junior
subordinated debentures of other authorized denominations of a like aggregate
principal amount, at the corporate trust office of the debenture trustee in New
York, New York, or at the offices of any paying agent or transfer agent we
appoint, provided that payment of interest may be made at our option by check
mailed to the address of the persons entitled to the payment. However, a holder
of $1 million or more in aggregate principal amount of junior
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subordinated debentures may receive payments of interest (other than interest
payable at the stated maturity) by wire transfer of immediately available funds
upon written request to the debenture trustee not later than 15 calendar days
prior to the date on which the interest is payable.
Junior subordinated debentures are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in integral multiples of $10.00. Junior subordinated debentures
will be exchangeable for other junior subordinated debentures of like tenor, of
any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount.
Junior subordinated debentures may be presented for exchange as
provided above, and may be presented for registration of transfer (with the form
of transfer endorsed thereon, or a satisfactory written instrument of transfer,
duly executed), at the office of the securities registrar appointed under the
indenture or at the office of any transfer agent we designate for that purpose
without service charge and upon payment of any taxes and other governmental
charges as described in the indenture. We will appoint the debenture trustee as
securities registrar under the indenture. We may at any time designate
additional transfer agents with respect to the junior subordinated debentures.
In the event of any redemption, we will not, nor will the debenture
trustee be required to:
o issue, register the transfer of, or exchange junior
subordinated debentures during a period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of selection for
redemption of the junior subordinated debentures to be
redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of
mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; or
o transfer or exchange any junior subordinated debentures
selected for redemption, except, in the case of any junior
subordinated debentures being redeemed in part, any portion of
the debenture not to be redeemed.
Any monies deposited with the debenture trustee or any paying agent, or
then held by us in trust, for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if
any) or interest on any junior subordinated debenture and remaining unclaimed
for two years after this principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become
due and payable shall, at our request, be repaid to us, and the holder of the
junior subordinated debenture shall thereafter look, as a general unsecured
creditor, only to us for payment.
Restrictions on Certain Payments; Certain Covenants of the Company
We have covenanted that at any time: (1) there has occurred any event
(a) of which we have actual knowledge that with the giving of notice or the
lapse of time, or both, would constitute an event of default under the junior
subordinated debentures and that we have not taken reasonable steps to cure; (2)
if the junior subordinated debentures are held by the Trust, we are in default
with respect to our payment of any obligations under the guarantee; or (3) we
have given notice of our election of an extension period as provided in the
indenture and have not rescinded the notice, or any extension period, is
continuing, then we will not:
o make any payment of principal (or any premium on the
principal) or interest, or repay, repurchase or redeem any of
our debt securities that rank equally in all respects with, or
junior in interest to, the junior subordinated debentures; or
o declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem,
purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect
to, any of our capital stock, except that we may:
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(a) repurchase, redeem or make other acquisitions of
shares of our capital stock in connection with any
employment contract, benefit plan or other similar
arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or
more employees, officers, directors or consultants,
in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
shareholder stock purchase plan or in connection with
the issuance of our capital stock (or securities
convertible into or exercisable for the capital
stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction
entered into prior to the applicable extension period
or other event referred to below;
(b) take any necessary action in connection with any
reclassification, exchange or conversion of any class
or series of our capital stock (or any capital stock
of any of our subsidiaries) for any class or series
of our capital stock or of any class or series of our
indebtedness for any class or series of our capital
stock;
(c) purchase fractional interests in shares of our
capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange
provisions of the capital stock or the security being
converted or exchanged;
(d) declare a dividend in connection with any
shareholders' rights plan, or issue rights, stock or
other property under any shareholders' rights plan,
or redeem or repurchase rights pursuant to any
shareholders' rights plan; or
(e) declare a dividend in the form of stock, warrants,
options or other rights where the dividend stock or
the stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants,
options or other rights is the same stock as that on
which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally
with or junior to the stock.
We have covenanted in the indenture:
o to continue to hold, directly or indirectly, all of the common
securities, provided that certain successors that are
permitted pursuant to the indenture may succeed to our
ownership of the common securities;
o as holder of the common securities, not to voluntarily
terminate, wind up or liquidate the Trust, other than:
(a) in connection with a distribution of junior
subordinated debentures to the holders of the
preferred securities in liquidation of the Trust; or
(b) in connection with certain mergers, consolidations or
amalgamations permitted by the trust agreement; and
o to use reasonable efforts, consistent with the terms and
provisions of the trust agreement, to cause the Trust to
continue not to be taxable as a corporation for United States
federal income tax purposes.
Modification of Indenture
From time to time, we as well as the debenture trustee may, without the
consent of any of the holders of the outstanding junior subordinated debentures,
amend, waive or supplement the provisions of the indenture to:
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o evidence our succession to another corporation or association
and the assumption by the person of our obligations under the
junior subordinated debentures;
o add further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the
protection of holders of the junior subordinated debentures;
o cure ambiguities or correct the junior subordinated debentures
in the case of defects or inconsistencies in the provisions of
the debentures, so long as any cure or correction does not
adversely affect the interest of the holders of the junior
subordinated debentures in any material respect;
o change the terms of the junior subordinated debentures to
facilitate the issuance of the junior subordinated debentures
in certificated or other definitive form;
o evidence or provide for the appointment of a successor
debenture trustee; or
o qualify, or maintain the qualification of, the indenture under
the Trust Indenture Act.
The indenture contains provisions permitting the debenture trustee and
us, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal
amount of the junior subordinated debentures, to modify the indenture in a
manner affecting the rights of the holders of the junior subordinated
debentures. However, none of these modifications may be made, without the
consent of the holder of each outstanding junior subordinated debenture so
affected that would:
o change the stated maturity of, or any installment of interest
on, the junior subordinated debentures, or reduce the
principal amount, their rate of interest or any premium
payable upon any redemption, or change the place of payment
where, or the currency in which, the amount is payable, or
impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment on junior subordinated debentures; or
o reduce the percentage of principal amount of junior
subordinated debentures, the holders of which are required to
consent to any modification of, or waiver of rights under, the
indenture.
Furthermore, so long as any of the preferred securities remain
outstanding, no modification may be made that adversely affects you in any
material respect, and no termination of the indenture may occur, and no waiver
of any event of default or compliance with any covenant under the indenture may
be effective, without the prior consent of the holders of at least a majority of
the aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities unless
and until the principal of (and premium, if any, on) the junior subordinated
debentures and all accrued and unpaid interest have been paid in full and
certain other conditions are satisfied.
Debenture Events of Default
The indenture provides that any one or more of the following described
events with respect to the junior subordinated debentures that has occurred and
is continuing constitute an "event of default" with respect to the junior
subordinated debentures:
o failure to pay any interest on the junior subordinated
debentures when due and continuance of this default for a
period of 30 days (subject to the deferral of any due date in
the case of an extension period); or
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o failure to pay any principal (or any premium on the principal)
on the junior subordinated debentures when due whether at the
stated maturity; or
o failure to observe or perform certain other covenants
contained in the indenture for 90 days after written notice of
the failure to us from the debenture trustee or the holders of
at least 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
outstanding junior subordinated debentures; or
o the occurrence of the appointment of a receiver or other
similar official in any liquidation, insolvency or similar
proceeding with respect to us or all or substantially all of
our property; or a court or other governmental agency shall
enter a decree or order appointing a receiver or similar
official and the decree or order shall remain unstayed and
undischarged for a period of 60 days.
As described in "Description of Preferred Securities--Events of
Default; Notice," the occurrence of an event of default in respect of the junior
subordinated debentures will also be an event of default in respect of the
preferred securities and common securities.
The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of
outstanding junior subordinated debentures have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
debenture trustee. The debenture trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of outstanding junior subordinated debentures may
declare the principal due and payable immediately upon an event of default, and,
should the debenture trustee or the holders of junior subordinated debentures
fail to make the declaration, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate
liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities shall have the right.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding junior
subordinated debentures may annul the declaration and waive the default if all
defaults (other than the non-payment of the principal of junior subordinated
debentures which has become due solely by the acceleration) have been cured and
a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due
otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the debenture trustee.
Should the holders of junior subordinated debentures fail to annul the
declaration and waive the default, the holders of a majority in aggregate
liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities shall have the right.
The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding junior subordinated debentures affected may, on behalf of the
holders of all the junior subordinated debentures, waive any past default,
except a default in the payment of principal (or any premium) or interest
(unless this default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured
installments of interest and principal (and premium on, if any) due otherwise
than by acceleration has been deposited with the debenture trustee) or a default
in respect of a covenant or provision which under the indenture cannot be
modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding junior
subordinated debenture affected by the default. See "Modification of Junior
Subordinated Indenture." We are required to certify annually to the debenture
trustee as to whether or not we are in compliance with all the conditions and
covenants applicable to us under the indenture.
If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the property trustee
will have the right to declare the principal of and the interest on the junior
subordinated debentures, and any other amounts payable under the indenture, to
be due and payable and to enforce its other rights as a creditor with respect to
the junior subordinated debentures.
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Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Preferred Securities
If an event of default has occurred and is continuing and the event is
attributable to our failure to pay any amounts payable in respect of the junior
subordinated debentures on the date the amounts are otherwise payable, you may
institute a legal action against us to enforce the payment to you of an amount
equal to the amount payable in respect of junior subordinated debentures having
a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred
securities you hold. We may not amend the indenture to remove the foregoing
right to bring legal action without your prior written consent. We will have the
right under the indenture to set off any payment we make to you in connection
with a legal action.
You are not able to exercise directly any remedies available to the
holders of the junior subordinated debentures except under the circumstances
described in the preceding paragraph. See "Description of Preferred
Securities--Events of Default; Notice."
Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions
The indenture provides that we may not consolidate with or merge into
any other entity or sell, convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets
substantially as an entirety, or sell, convey, transfer or distribute the
capital stock or all or substantially all of the assets of any principal
subsidiary bank to any entity, and no entity may consolidate with or merge into
us or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to us, unless:
o in the event we consolidate with or merge into another entity
or convey or transfer our properties and assets substantially
as an entirety to any entity, the successor entity is
organized under the laws of the United States or any state or
the District of Columbia, and the successor entity expressly
assumes our obligations in respect of the junior subordinated
debentures; provided, however, that nothing in the indenture
shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit, and no supplemental
indenture shall be required in the case of the merger of a
bank (as defined below) with and into a bank or us, the
consolidation of banks into a bank or us, or the sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any
bank to another bank or us, if, in any case in which we are
not the surviving, resulting or acquiring entity, we would
own, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the voting
securities of the bank (and of any other bank any voting
securities of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by the
bank) surviving the merger, resulting from the consolidation
or acquiring the assets;
o immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event
of default with respect to the junior subordinated debentures,
and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both,
would constitute an event of default with respect to the
junior subordinated debentures, has occurred and is
continuing; and
o certain other conditions as prescribed in the indenture are
satisfied.
For purposes of the first bullet point above, the term "bank" means
each of:
o any banking subsidiary of ours the consolidated assets of
which constitute 20% or more of our consolidated assets and
our consolidated subsidiaries;
o any other banking subsidiary designated as a bank pursuant to
a board resolution and provided in an officers' certificate
delivered to the trustee; and
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o any of our subsidiaries that owns, directly or indirectly, any
voting securities, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe
for or purchase voting securities, of any bank under the first
and second bullet points above and in the case of all three
bullet points above their respective successors (whether by
consolidation, merger, conversion, transfer of substantially
all their assets and business or otherwise) so long as the
successor is a banking subsidiary (in the case of the first
and second bullet point) or a subsidiary (in the case of the
third bullet point) of ours.
The provisions of the indenture do not afford holders of the junior
subordinated debentures protection in the event we are involved in a highly
leveraged or other transaction that may adversely affect holders of the junior
subordinated debentures.
Satisfaction and Discharge
The indenture will no longer be in effect and we will deemed to have
satisfied and discharged the indenture when:
o all junior subordinated debentures not previously delivered to
the debenture trustee for cancellation: (1) have become due
and payable; or (2) will become due and payable at the stated
maturity within one year;
o we deposit or cause to be deposited with the debenture trustee
funds, in trust, for the purpose and in an amount sufficient
to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the junior
subordinated debentures not previously delivered to the
debenture trustee for cancellation, for the principal (and
premium, if any) and interest to the date of the deposit or to
the stated maturity or redemption date; and
o we have paid all other sums payable by us under the indenture
and we have delivered applicable certificates and opinions
that indicate we have complied with all of our obligations.
Subordination
The junior subordinated debentures will be subordinate and junior in
right of payment, to the extent provided in the indenture, to all our senior
indebtedness (as defined below) of and equally with our obligations associated
with any future issuances of preferred securities. If we default in the payment
of any principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, or any other amount
payable on any senior indebtedness when the payment becomes due and payable
whether at maturity or at a date fixed for redemption or by declaration of
acceleration or otherwise, then unless and until the default has been cured or
waived or has ceased to exist or all senior indebtedness has been paid, no
direct or indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off or
otherwise) may be made or agreed to be made on the junior subordinated
debentures, or in respect of any redemption repayment, retirement, purchase or
other acquisition of any of the junior subordinated debentures.
As used in this prospectus, "senior indebtedness" means, whether
recourse is to all or a portion of our assets and whether or not contingent:
o every obligation of ours for money borrowed;
o every obligation of ours evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes
or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred
in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or
businesses;
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o every reimbursement obligation of ours with respect to letters
of credit, bankers' acceptance or similar facilities issued
for our account;
o every obligation of ours issued or assumed as the deferred
purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade
accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the
ordinary course of business);
o every capital lease obligation of ours;
o every obligation of ours for claims (as defined in Section
101(4) of the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978 and in any
amendments to the Bankruptcy Code) in respect of derivative
products such as interest foreign exchange rate contracts,
commodity contracts and similar arrangements; and
o every obligation of the type referred to above of another
person and all dividends of another person the payment of
which, in either case, we have guaranteed or are responsible
or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise.
However, senior indebtedness does not include any of the following:
o any obligations which, by their terms, are expressly stated to
rank equally in right of payment with or, to not be superior
in right of payment to, the junior subordinated debentures;
o any of our senior indebtedness which when incurred and without
respect to any election under Section 1111(b) of the United
States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, and in any amendments to the
Bankruptcy Code, was without recourse to us;
o any indebtedness of ours to any of our subsidiaries;
o any indebtedness to our executive officers or directors; or
o any indebtedness in respect of debt securities issued to any
trust, or a trustee of the trust, partnership or other entity
affiliated with us that is our financing entity in connection
with the issuance by the financing entity of securities that
are similar to the preferred securities.
As of July 28, 1999, we had no senior indebtedness. Any future senior
indebtedness (including any interest on the indebtedness accruing after the
commencement of any proceedings) shall first be paid in full before any payment
or distribution whether in cash, securities or other property is made on account
of the junior subordinated debentures in the event of:
o certain events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of us
or another holder of the common securities;
o any proceeding for our liquidation, dissolution or other
winding up, voluntary or involuntary, whether or not involving
insolvency or bankrupt proceedings;
o any assignment by us for the benefit of creditors; or
o any other marshaling of our assets.
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In this event, any payment or distribution on account of the junior subordinated
debentures, whether in cash, securities or other property, that would otherwise
(but for the subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of
the junior subordinated debentures will be paid as described above, directly to
the holders of senior indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then
existing among the holders until all senior indebtedness (including any interest
on the indebtedness accruing after the commencement of the proceedings) has been
paid in full.
In the event of any proceeding described above, after payment in full
of all sums owing with respect to our senior indebtedness, if any, the holders
of junior subordinated debentures, together with the holders of our obligations
ranking on a parity with the junior subordinated debentures, will be entitled to
be paid from our remaining assets the amounts at the time due and owing on the
junior subordinated debentures and other obligations. This payment will be made
before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property or
otherwise, will be made on account of any capital stock or obligations ranking
junior to the junior subordinated debentures and other obligations. If payment
or distribution on account of the junior subordinated debentures of any
character or security, whether in cash, securities or other property, is
received by any holder of any junior subordinated debentures in contravention of
any of these terms and before all our senior indebtedness, if any, has been paid
in full, the payment or distribution or security will be received in trust for
the benefit of, and must be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the
holders of our senior indebtedness at the time outstanding in accordance with
the priorities then existing among the holders for application to the payment of
all senior indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all
senior indebtedness in full.
By reason of the subordination, in the event of our insolvency, holders
of senior indebtedness may receive more, ratably, and holders of the junior
subordinated debentures may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors. The
subordination will not prevent the occurrence of any event of default in respect
of the junior subordinated debentures.
The indenture places no limitation on the amount of additional senior
indebtedness that we may incur. We expect from time to time to incur additional
senior indebtedness.
Information Concerning the Debenture Trustee
The debenture trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance
of a default in the performance of our obligations under the junior subordinated
debentures, is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by
the indenture at the request of any holder of junior subordinated debentures,
unless offered reasonable indemnity by the holder against the costs, expenses
and liabilities that might be incurred by the exercise of these powers. The
debenture trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise
incur personal financial liability in the performance of its duties if the
debenture trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is
not reasonably assured to it.
Bankers Trust Company, the debenture trustee, may serve from time to
time as trustee under other indentures or trust agreements with us or our
subsidiaries relating to other issues of our securities. In addition, we as well
as certain of our affiliates may have other banking relationships with Bankers
Trust Company and its affiliates.
Governing Law
The indenture and the junior subordinated debentures will be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
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DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEE
We will execute and deliver the guarantee concurrently with the
issuance of preferred securities by the Trust for your benefit. Bankers Trust
Company will act as guarantee trustee under the guarantee. The guarantee trustee
will hold the guarantee for your benefit. This summary of certain provisions of
the guarantee is not complete. You should read the form of the guarantee, which
is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is
a part. A copy of the form of guarantee is available upon request from the
guarantee trustee.
General
We will irrevocably agree to pay in full on a subordinated basis, to
the extent provided in the guarantee and described in this prospectus, the
guarantee payments described below to you, as and when due, regardless of any
defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the Trust may have or assert
other than the defense of payment. The following payments with respect to the
preferred securities, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the Trust, will
be subject to the guarantee:
o any accrued and unpaid distributions required to be paid on
the preferred securities, to the extent that the Trust has
funds on hand available therefor at that time;
o the redemption price with respect to any preferred securities
called for redemption, to the extent that the Trust has funds
on hand available for its payment at that time; and
o upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, termination,
winding up or liquidation of the Trust (unless the junior
subordinated debentures are distributed to you), the lessor
of:
(a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all
accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of
payment, to the extent that the Trust has funds on
hand available for their payment; and
(b) the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available
for distribution to you on liquidation of the Trust.
Our obligation to make a guarantee payment may be satisfied by our
direct payment to you or by causing the Trust to pay these amounts to you.
The guarantee will be an irrevocable guarantee of payment on a
subordinated basis of the Trust's obligations under the preferred securities,
but will apply only to the extent that the Trust has funds sufficient to make
the payments, and is not a guarantee of collection.
If we do not make payments on the junior subordinated debentures held
by the Trust, the Trust will not be able to pay any amounts payable in respect
of the preferred securities and will not have funds legally available for these
payments. The guarantee will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to
all of our senior indebtedness. See "Status of the Guarantee." The guarantee
does not limit our ability to incur or issue other secured or unsecured debt,
including senior indebtedness, whether under the indenture or any other
indenture that we may enter into in the future or otherwise.
We have through the guarantee, the trust agreement, the junior
subordinated debentures and the indenture, taken together, fully, irrevocably
and unconditionally guaranteed all the Trust's obligations under the preferred
securities on a subordinated basis. No single document standing alone
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or operating in conjunction with fewer than all the other documents constitutes
the guarantee. Only the combined operation of these documents that has the
effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the
Trust's obligations in respect of the preferred securities. See "Relationship
Among the Preferred Securities, the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the
Guarantee."
Status of the Guarantee
The guarantee will constitute our unsecured obligation and will rank
subordinate and junior in right of payment to our senior indebtedness, if any,
and equally with any additional obligations associated with any future issuances
of preferred securities.
The guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of
collection. This means that the guarantee trustee may institute a legal
proceeding directly against us as the guarantor to enforce its rights under the
guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against any other person
or entity. The guarantee will be held by the guarantee trustee for your benefit.
The guarantee will not be discharged except by payment of the guarantee payments
in full to the extent not paid by the Trust or distribution to the holders of
the preferred securities or the junior subordinated debentures.
Amendments and Assignment
Except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely
affect your rights (in which case no consent will be required), the guarantee
may not be amended without the prior approval of the holders of not less than a
majority of the aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred
securities. The manner of obtaining the approval is described under "Description
of Preferred Securities--Voting Rights; Amendment of Trust Agreement." All
guarantees and agreements contained in the guarantee shall bind our successors,
assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives and shall inure to your benefit
and the benefit of all of the holders of the preferred securities then
outstanding.
Events of Default
An event of default under the guarantee will occur if we fail to
perform any of our payment or other obligations under the guarantee, or to
perform any non-payment obligation if the non-payment default remains unremedied
for 30 days. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate liquidation
amount of the outstanding preferred securities have the right to direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the guarantee trustee in respect of the guarantee or to direct the exercise of
any trust or power conferred upon the guarantee trustee under the guarantee.
You may institute a legal proceeding directly against us to enforce
your rights under the guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding
against the Trust, the guarantee trustee or any other person or entity.
We are required, as guarantor, to certify annually to the guarantee
trustee whether or not we are in compliance with all the conditions and
covenants applicable to us under the guarantee.
Information Concerning the Guarantee Trustee
The guarantee trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance
of a default by us in performance of the guarantee, undertakes to perform only
the duties as are specifically provided in the guarantee and, after the
occurrence of an event of default with respect to the guarantee, must exercise
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the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in
the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the guarantee
trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the
guarantee at your request unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the
costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur in the exercise of these
powers.
For information concerning our relationship with Bankers Trust Company,
as guarantee trustee, see "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Information Concerning the Debenture Trustee."
Termination of the Guarantee
The guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and effect upon
full payment of the redemption price of the preferred securities, upon full
payment of the amounts payable with respect to the preferred securities upon
liquidation of the Trust, or upon distribution of junior subordinated debentures
to you and the other holders of the preferred securities in exchange for all of
the preferred securities. The guarantee will continue to be effective or will be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time you must restore payment of any
sums paid to you under the preferred securities or the guarantee.
Governing Law
The guarantee will be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.
RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES,
THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES, AND THE GUARANTEE
Full and Unconditional Guarantee
We have irrevocably guaranteed, on a subordinate basis, payments of
distributions and other amounts due on the preferred securities (to the extent
that Trust has funds available for the payment) and to the extent described
under "Description of Guarantee." Taken together, our obligations under the
junior subordinated debentures, the indenture, the trust agreement and the
guarantee provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional
guarantee of payments of distributions and other amounts due on the preferred
securities. No single document standing alone or operating in conjunction with
fewer than all the other documents constitutes the guarantee. It is only the
combined operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a full,
irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the Trust's obligations in respect of
the preferred securities.
If and to the extent that we do not make payments on the junior
subordinated debentures, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to pay
distributions or other amounts due on the preferred securities. The guarantee
does not cover payment of amounts payable with respect to the preferred
securities when the Trust does not have sufficient funds to pay the amounts. In
this event, your remedy is to institute a legal proceeding directly against us
for enforcement of our payment obligations under the junior subordinated
debentures having a principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of the
preferred securities you hold.
Our obligations under the junior subordinated debentures and the
guarantee are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all senior
indebtedness, if any, and rank equally with any additional obligations
associated with any future issuances of preferred securities.
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Sufficiency of Payments
As long as we make the payments on the junior subordinated debentures
when they are due, the payments will be sufficient to cover distributions and
other payments distributable on the preferred securities, primarily because:
o the aggregate principal amount of the junior subordinated
debentures will be equal to the sum of the aggregate stated
liquidation amount of the preferred securities and common
securities;
o the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the
junior subordinated debentures will match the distribution
rate, distribution dates and other payment dates for the
preferred securities;
o we will pay for any and all costs, expenses and liabilities of
the Trust except the Trust's obligations to you and the
holders of the common securities; and
o the trust agreement further provides that the Trust will not
engage in any activity that is not consistent with the limited
purposes of the Trust.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the indenture, we have the
right to set off any payment we are otherwise required to make thereunder
against and to the extent we have previously made, or are concurrently on the
date of the payment making, a payment under the guarantee.
Enforcement Rights of Holders of Preferred Securities
You may institute a legal proceeding directly against us to enforce
your rights under the guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding
against the guarantee trustee, the Trust or any other person or entity. See
"Description of Guarantee."
A default or event of default under any of our senior indebtedness
would not constitute a default or event of default in respect of the preferred
securities. However, in the event of payment defaults under, or acceleration of
our senior indebtedness, the subordination provisions of the indenture provide
that no payments may be made in respect of the junior subordinated debentures
until the senior indebtedness has been paid in full or any payment default on
senior indebtedness has been cured or waived. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures--Subordination."
Limited Purpose of Trust
The preferred securities represent preferred undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Trust, and the Trust exists for the sole purpose
of issuing the preferred securities and common securities and investing the
proceeds from their issuance in the junior subordinated debentures. A principal
difference between your rights as a holder of preferred securities and a holder
of a junior subordinated debenture is that a holder of a junior subordinated
debenture is entitled to receive from us payments on junior subordinated
debentures held, while you are entitled to receive distributions or other
amounts distributable with respect to the preferred securities from the Trust
(or from us under the Guarantee) only if and to the extent the Trust has funds
available for the payment of the distributions.
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Rights Upon Dissolution
Upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Trust, other than
the dissolution involving the distribution of the junior subordinated debentures
and after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as required by
applicable law, you will be entitled to receive, out of assets held by the
Trust, the liquidation distribution in cash. See "Description of Preferred
Securities--Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution." If we are voluntarily or
involuntarily liquidated or declare bankruptcy, the Trust, as registered holder
of the junior subordinated debentures, will be our subordinated creditor,
subordinated and junior in right of payment to all our senior indebtedness, if
any, as provided in the indenture, but entitled to receive payment in full of
all amounts payable with respect to the junior subordinated debentures before
any of our shareholders receive payments or distributions. Since we are the
guarantor under the guarantee and have agreed under the indenture to pay for all
costs, expenses and liabilities of the Trust (other than the Trust's obligations
to you and the holders of the common securities), your position as a holder of
the preferred securities and the position of a holder of the junior subordinated
debentures relative to other creditors and to our shareholders in the event of
our liquidation or bankruptcy are expected to be substantially the same.
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
General
The preferred securities and payments on the preferred securities
generally are subject to taxation. Therefore, you should consider the tax
consequences of owning and receiving payments on the preferred securities before
acquiring them.
We have engaged Gordon, Feinblatt, Rothman, Hoffberger & Hollander,
LLC, Baltimore, Maryland as special tax counsel to review the following
discussion. They have given us their written legal opinion that the discussion
correctly describes the principal aspects of the U.S. federal tax treatment of
beneficial owners of preferred securities.
The following discussion is general and may not apply to your
particular circumstances for any of the following (or other) reasons:
o This summary is based on federal tax laws in effect as of the
date of this prospectus. Changes to any of these laws after
this date may affect the tax consequences described below.
o This summary discusses only preferred securities you acquire
at original issuance at the original offering price and hold
as capital assets (within the meaning of federal tax law). It
does not discuss all of the tax consequences that may be
relevant to the owners of preferred securities who are subject
to special rules, such as banks, thrift institutions, real
estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies,
insurance companies, brokers and dealers in securities or
currencies, certain securities traders, tax-exempt
organizations and certain other financial institutions.
This discussion also does not discuss tax consequences that may be relevant to
an owner of preferred securities in light of the owner's particular
circumstances, such as an owner holding a preferred security as a position in a
straddle, hedging, conversion or other integrated investment.
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o This summary does not address:
(a) The income tax consequences to shareholders in, or
partners or beneficiaries of, a holder of preferred
securities;
(b) the United States alternative minimum tax
consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of
preferred securities; or
(c) any state, local or foreign tax consequences of
purchasing, owning and disposing of preferred
securities.
The authorities on which this summary is based are subject to various
interpretations, and the opinions of Gordon, Feinblatt, as tax counsel, are not
binding on the Internal Revenue Service or the courts, either of which could
take a contrary position. Moreover, no rulings have been or will be sought from
the IRS with respect to the transaction described in this prospectus.
Accordingly, we cannot assure you that the IRS will not challenge the opinion
expressed in this prospectus or that a court would not sustain a challenge.
We advise you to consult your own tax advisors regarding the tax
consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of the preferred securities
because the following discussion may not apply to you.
U.S. Holders
In General. For purposes of the following discussion, a "U.S. Holder"
means:
o a citizen or individual resident of the United States;
o a corporation or partnership created or organized in or under
the laws of the United States or any of its political
subdivisions;
o an estate the income of which is includible in its gross
income for U.S. federal income tax purposes without regard to
its source; or
o a trust if a court within the United States is able to
exercise primary supervision over its administration and at
least one United States person has the authority to control
all substantial decisions of the trust.
Characterization of the Trust. Prior to the time that the preferred
securities are issued, Gordon, Feinblatt will give its opinion that: (1) under
then current law and based on the representations, facts and assumptions
provided in this prospectus; (2) assuming full compliance with the terms of the
trust agreement (and other relevant documents); and (3) based on certain
assumptions and qualifications referred to in the opinion, the Trust will be
characterized for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust.
Accordingly, for United States federal income tax purposes, if you, as a U.S.
Holder, purchase a preferred security you will be considered the owner of an
undivided interest in the junior subordinated debentures owned by the Trust, and
you will be required to include all income or gain recognized for United States
federal income tax purposes with respect to your share of the junior
subordinated debentures on your income tax return.
Characterization of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. We intend to
take the position that, under current law, the junior subordinated debentures
are our debt for United States federal income tax purposes. We, along with the
Trust and you (by acceptance of a beneficial interest in a preferred
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security) agree to treat the junior subordinated debentures as our debt and the
preferred securities as evidence of a beneficial ownership interest in the
Trust. We cannot assure you, however, that the position will not be challenged
by the IRS or, if challenged, that a challenge will not be successful. The
remainder of this discussion assumes that the junior subordinated debentures
will be classified as our debt for United States federal income tax purposes.
Interest Income and Original Issue Discount. Under the terms of the
junior subordinated debentures, we have the ability to defer payments of
interest from time to time by extending the interest payment period for a period
not exceeding 20 consecutive quarterly periods, but not beyond the maturity of
the junior subordinated debentures. Treasury regulations provide that debt
instruments like the junior subordinated debentures will not be considered
issued with original issue discount ("OID") even if their issuer can defer
payments of interest if the likelihood of any deferral is "remote."
We have concluded, and this discussion assumes, that, as of the date of
this prospectus, the likelihood of our deferring payments of interest is
"remote" within the meaning of the applicable Treasury regulations. This
conclusion is based in part on the fact that exercising that option would
prevent us from declaring dividends on our common stock and would prevent us
from making any payments with respect to debt securities that rank equally with
or junior to the junior subordinated debentures. Therefore, the junior
subordinated debentures should not be treated as issued with OID by reason of
our deferral option. Rather, you will be taxed on stated interest on the junior
subordinated debentures when it is paid or accrued in accordance with your
method of accounting for income tax purposes. You should note, however, that no
published rulings or any other published authorities of the IRS have addressed
this issue. Accordingly, it is possible that the IRS could take a position
contrary to the interpretation described in this prospectus.
If we exercise our option to defer payments of interest, the junior
subordinated debentures would be treated as redeemed and reissued for OID
purposes. The sum of the remaining interest payments (and any de minimis OID) on
the junior subordinated debentures would thereafter be treated as OID. The OID
would accrue, and be includible in your taxable income, on an economic accrual
basis (regardless of your method of accounting for income tax purposes) over the
remaining term of the junior subordinated debentures (including any period of
interest deferral), without regard to the timing of payments under the junior
subordinated debentures. Subsequent distributions of interest on the junior
subordinated debentures generally would not be taxable. The amount of OID that
would accrue in any period would generally equal the amount of interest that
accrued on the junior subordinated debentures in that period at the stated
interest rate. Consequently, during any period of interest deferral, you will
include OID in gross income in advance of the receipt of cash, and if you
dispose of a preferred security prior to the record date for payment of
distributions on the junior subordinated debentures following that period, you
will be subject to income tax on OID accrued through the date of disposition
(and not previously included in income), but you will not receive cash from the
Trust with respect to the OID.
If the possibility of our exercising our option to defer payments of
interest is not remote, the junior subordinated debentures would be treated as
initially issued with OID in an amount equal to the aggregate stated interest
(plus any de minimis OID) over the term of the junior subordinated debentures.
You would include that OID in your taxable income, over the term of the junior
subordinated debentures, on an economic accrual basis.
Characterization of Income. Because the income underlying the preferred
securities will not be characterized as dividends for income tax purposes, if
you are a corporate holder of the preferred securities you will not be entitled
to a dividends-received deduction for any income you recognize with respect to
the preferred securities.
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Market Discount and Bond Premium. Under certain circumstances, you may
be considered to have acquired your undivided interests in the junior
subordinated debentures with market discount or bond premium (as each phrase is
defined for United States federal income tax purposes).
Receipt of Junior Subordinated Debentures or Cash Upon Liquidation of
the Trust. Under certain circumstances described above (See "Description of the
Preferred Securities--Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution"), the Trust may
distribute the junior subordinated debentures to you in exchange for your
preferred securities and in liquidation of the Trust. Except as discussed below,
a distribution would not be a taxable event for United States federal income tax
purposes, and you would have an aggregate adjusted basis in the junior
subordinated debentures you receive for United States federal income tax
purposes equal to your aggregate adjusted basis in your preferred securities.
For United States federal income tax purposes, your holding period in the junior
subordinated debentures you receive in a liquidation of the Trust would include
the period during which you held the preferred securities. If, however, the
relevant event is a Tax Event that results in the Trust being treated as an
association taxable as a corporation, the distribution would likely constitute a
taxable event to the Trust and to you for United States federal income tax
purposes, and in that event, your holding period for the junior subordinated
debentures would begin on the date that you received the debentures.
Under certain circumstances described in this prospectus (see
"Description of the Preferred Securities"), we may redeem junior subordinated
debentures for cash and distribute the proceeds of the redemption to you in
redemption of your preferred securities. A redemption would be taxable for
United States federal income tax purposes, and you would recognize gain or loss
as if you had sold the preferred securities for cash. See "Sales of Preferred
Securities" below.
Sales of Preferred Securities. If you sell preferred securities, you
will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between your adjusted basis
in the preferred securities and the amount realized on the sale of the preferred
securities. Your adjusted basis in the preferred securities generally will be
the initial purchase price, increased by OID previously included (or currently
includible) in your gross income to the date of disposition, and decreased by
payments received on the preferred securities (other than any interest received
with respect to the period prior to the effective date we first exercise our
option to defer payments of interest). A gain or loss generally will be capital
gain or loss, and generally will be a long-term capital gain or loss if you have
held the preferred securities for more than one year prior to the date of
disposition.
If you dispose of your preferred securities between record dates for
payments of distributions thereon, you will be required to include accrued but
unpaid interest (or OID) on the junior subordinated debentures through the date
of disposition in your taxable income for United States federal income tax
purposes (notwithstanding that you may receive a separate payment from the
purchaser with respect to accrued interest). You may deduct that amount from the
sales proceeds received (including the separate payment, if any, with respect to
accrued interest) for the preferred securities (or as to OID only, to add the
amount to your adjusted tax basis in the preferred securities). To the extent
the selling price is less than your adjusted tax basis (which will include
accrued but unpaid OID if any), you will recognize a capital loss. Subject to
certain limited exceptions, capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary
income for United States federal income tax purposes.
Pending Tax Litigation Affecting the Preferred Securities
Last year, a taxpayer filed a petition in the United States Tax Court
contesting the IRS's disallowance of interest deductions that taxpayer claimed
in respect of securities issued in 1993 and 1994 that are, in some respects,
similar to the preferred securities. (Enron Corp. v. Commissioner, Docket No.
6149-98, filed April 1, 1998). Recently the IRS issued a private letter ruling
(PLR
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199910046) concluding that instruments similar in some respects to the preferred
securities were debt securities rather than equity securities. While a private
letter ruling may not be used as a legal precedent, it does provide insight as
to the views of the IRS on the issues in the ruling. An adverse decision by the
Tax Court in Enron Corp. concerning the deductibility of the interest may cause
a Tax Event. A Tax Event would give us the right to redeem the junior
subordinated debentures. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Redemption" and "Description of Preferred Securities--Liquidation
Distribution Upon Dissolution."
Non-U.S. Holders
The following discussion applies to you if you are not a U.S. Holder as
described above.
Payments to you, as a non-U.S. Holder, on a preferred security will
generally not be subject to withholding of income tax, provided that:
o you did not (directly or indirectly, actually or
constructively) own 10% or more of the total combined voting
power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;
o you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is related
to us through stock ownership; and
o either (a) you certify to the Trust or its agent under
penalties of perjury, that you are not a U.S. Holder and
provide your name and address, or (b) a securities clearing
organization, bank or other financial institution that holds
customers' securities in the ordinary course of its trade or
business, and holds the preferred security in that capacity,
certifies to the Trust or its agent, under penalties of
perjury, that it requires and has received a statement from
you or another financial institution between it and you in the
chain of ownership, and furnishes a copy of the statement to
the Trust or its agent.
As discussed above, it is possible that changes in the law affecting
the income tax consequences of the junior subordinated debentures could
adversely affect our ability to deduct interest payable on the junior
subordinated debentures. These changes could also cause the junior subordinated
debentures to be classified as our equity (rather than our debt) for United
States federal income tax purposes. This might cause the income derived from the
junior subordinated debentures to be characterized as dividends, generally
subject to a 30% income tax (on a withholding basis) when paid to you if you are
not a U.S. Holder, rather than as interest which, as discussed above, generally
is exempt from income tax in the hands of a person who is not a U.S. Holder.
You, as a non-U.S. Holder, will generally not be subject to withholding
of income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of a
preferred security.
If you hold the preferred securities in connection with the active
conduct of a United States trade or business, you will be subject to income tax
on all income and gains recognized with respect to your proportionate share of
the junior subordinated debentures.
Information Reporting
In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments
made on, and proceeds from the sale of, the preferred securities held by a
noncorporate U.S. Holder within the United States. In addition, payments made
on, and payments of the proceeds from the sale of, the preferred securities to
or through the United States office of a broker are subject to information
reporting unless you
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certify as to your non-U.S. Holder status or otherwise establish an exemption
from information reporting and backup withholding. See "Backup Withholding."
Taxable income on the preferred securities for a calendar year should be
reported to U.S. Holders on the appropriate forms by the following January 31st.
Backup Withholding
Payments made on, and proceeds from the sale of, the preferred
securities may be subject to a "backup" withholding tax of 31% unless you comply
with certain identification or exemption requirements. Any amounts so withheld
will be allowed as a credit against your income tax liability, or refunded,
provided the required information is provided to the IRS.
The preceding discussion is only a summary and does not address the
consequences to a particular person of the purchase, ownership and disposition
of the preferred securities. You are urged to contact your own tax advisor to
determine your particular tax consequences.
CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
We and certain of our affiliates may each be considered a "party in
interest" within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974 ("ERISA"), and any amendments to ERISA, or a "disqualified person" within
the meaning of Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to many
employee benefit plans that are subject to ERISA and individual retirement
accounts ("IRAs"). The purchase of the preferred securities by an employee
benefit plan or IRA that is subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions
of ERISA or the prohibited transaction provisions of Section 4975(e)(1) of the
Internal Revenue Code and with respect to which we, or any of our affiliates are
service providers (or otherwise a party in interest or a disqualified person),
may constitute or result in a prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975
of the Internal Revenue Code, unless the preferred securities are acquired
pursuant to and in accordance with an applicable exemption. Any pension or other
employee benefit plan, fiduciary or IRA holder, proposing to acquire any
preferred securities for this type of plan or IRA should consult with legal
counsel.
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement,
dated August 18, 1999, among us, the Trust, and Ferris, Baker Watts Incorporated
and Advest, Inc., as representatives of the underwriters, the Trust has agreed
to sell to the underwriters, and the underwriters have severally agreed to
purchase from the Trust, the following respective aggregate liquidation amounts
of preferred securities at the public offering price less the underwriting
discounts and commissions provided on the cover page of this prospectus:
Liquidation Amount of
Underwriter Preferred Securities
Ferris, Baker Watts Incorporated $10,000,000
Advest, Inc. $10,000,000
Total $20,000,000
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the
underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the
underwriters will purchase all of the preferred securities offered if any of the
preferred securities are purchased.
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The underwriters have advised us that they propose to offer the
preferred securities to the public at the public offering price provided on the
cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers at the price less a
concession not in excess of $.20 per preferred security. The underwriters may
allow, and the dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of $.10 per
preferred security to certain other dealers. After the public offering, the
offering price and other selling terms may be changed by the underwriters. In
addition, we have agreed to pay a financial advisory fee to Ferris, Baker Watts
Incorporated of up to $75,000 in connection with the offering.
We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable not later
than 30 days after the date of the underwriting agreement, to purchase up to an
additional $3,000,000 aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities
at the public offering price. To the extent that the underwriters exercise the
option, we will be obligated, pursuant to the option, to sell the preferred
securities to the underwriters. The underwriters may exercise the option only to
cover over-allotments made in connection with the sale of the preferred
securities offered in this prospectus. If purchased, the underwriters will offer
these additional preferred securities on the same terms as those on which the
$20,000,000 aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities are being
offered.
In connection with this offering, the underwriters and any selling
group members and their respective affiliates may engage in transactions
effected in accordance with Rule 104 of SEC Regulation M that are intended to
stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the preferred
securities. The transactions may include over-allotment transactions in which
the underwriters create a short position for their own account by selling more
preferred securities than they are committed to purchase from the Trust. In this
case, to cover all or part of the short position, the underwriters may exercise
the over-allotment option described above or may purchase preferred securities
in the open market following the initial offering of the preferred securities.
In connection with this offering, certain underwriters (and selling group
members) may engage in passive market making transactions in the preferred
securities on the Nasdaq National Market in accordance with Rule 103 of SEC
Regulation M. The underwriters also may engage in stabilizing transactions in
which they bid for, and purchase, shares of the preferred securities at a level
above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market for the purpose of
preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the preferred
securities. The underwriters also may reclaim any selling concessions allowed to
an underwriter or dealer if the underwriters repurchase shares distributed by
that underwriter or dealer. Any of these transactions may result in the
maintenance of a price for the preferred securities at a level above that which
might otherwise prevail in the open market. We do not, nor do any of the
underwriters, make any representation or prediction as to the direction or
magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the
price of the preferred securities. The underwriters are not required to engage
in at any of the transactions and, once begun, the transactions may be
discontinued at any time without notice.
In view of the fact that the proceeds from the sale of the preferred
securities will be used to purchase our junior subordinated debentures, the
underwriting agreement provides that we will pay as compensation for the
underwriters' arranging the investment of the proceeds an amount of $.35 per
preferred security (or $700,000 ($805,000 if the over-allotment option is
exercised in full) in the aggregate).
Because the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. is
expected to view the preferred securities as interests in a direct participation
program, this offering is being made in compliance with the applicable
provisions of Rule 2810 of the NASD's Conduct Rules.
The preferred securities are a new issue of securities with no
established trading market. The representatives have advised the Trust and us
that they intend to make a market in the preferred securities. However, the
underwriters are not obligated to do so and the market making may be
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interrupted or discontinued at any time without notice at the sole discretion of
each of the underwriters. The preferred securities were approved for quotation
on the Nasdaq National Market. However, no assurance can be given as to the
development or liquidity of any market for the preferred securities.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
The representatives and certain of the other underwriters have in the
past, and may in the future perform various services for us, including
investment banking services, for which they have and may receive customary fees.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
The validity of the guarantee and the junior subordinated debentures
and certain tax matters will be passed upon for us by Gordon, Feinblatt,
Rothman, Hoffberger & Hollander, LLC, Baltimore, Maryland, our counsel, and
certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Shapiro and
Olander, Baltimore, Maryland. Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the
validity of the preferred securities, the enforceability of the trust agreement
and the creation of the Trust will be passed upon by Richards, Layton & Finger,
as special Delaware counsel to us and the Trust. Gordon, Feinblatt, Rothman,
Hoffberger & Hollander, LLC and Shapiro and Olander will rely as to certain
matters of Delaware law on the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger.
EXPERTS
Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited our consolidated
financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1998, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. Our financial statements are incorporated by
reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's report, given on their authority as
experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, and any amendments to the Exchange Act, and in accordance
with the Exchange Act, we file reports, proxy statements, information statements
and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and other
information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities of
the SEC at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the
regional offices of the SEC located at 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, Suite
1300, New York, New York 10048 and Suite 1400, Citicorp Center, 14th Floor, 50
West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661. You may obtain information on the
operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
Copies of this material can also be obtained at prescribed rates by writing to
the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549. This material also may be accessed electronically by means of the
SEC's home page on the Internet at www.sec.gov.
Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"FUNC." Documents filed by us with the SEC also can be inspected at the offices
of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., 1735 K Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20006.
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We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC under
the Securities Act in connection with the offering. This prospectus does not
contain all of the information provided in the registration statement, certain
parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
SEC. The registration statement, including any amendments, schedules and
exhibits, is available for inspection and copying as provided above.
Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any
contract or other document referred to in this document include all material
terms of the contract or other documents but are not necessarily complete, and
in each instance reference is made to the copy of the contract or other document
which may have been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each
statement being qualified in all respects by the reference.
No separate financial statements of the Trust have been included or
incorporated by reference in this document. We do not, nor does the Trust,
consider that the financial statements would be material to holders of the
preferred securities because the Trust is a newly formed special purpose entity,
has no operating history or independent operations and is not engaged in and
does not propose to engage in any activity other than holding as trust assets
the junior subordinated debentures and issuing the preferred securities and
common securities. See "First United Capital Trust," "Description of Preferred
Securities," "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures" and "Description of
Guarantee." In addition, we do not expect that the Trust will be filing reports
under the Exchange Act with the SEC.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1998, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999
and June 30, 1999, and our Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 20, 1999, are
incorporated into this prospectus by reference.
In addition, all subsequent documents filed with the SEC by us pursuant
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus
and to be a part of this prospectus from the date of filing the documents. Any
statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any other document shall
be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or any other document or in
any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this prospectus modified or supersedes the statement. Any statement
so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
This prospectus incorporates documents by reference which are not
presented here or delivered with this document. These documents (excluding
exhibits unless specifically incorporated in these documents) are available
without charge upon written or oral request to First United Corporation, 19
South Second Street, Oakland, Maryland 21550, attention: Corporate Secretary,
telephone: (301) 334- 9471.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This prospectus (including information included or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus) contains forward-looking statements with respect
to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future
performance and business, including statements preceded by, followed by or that
include the words, "believes," "expects," "anticipates" or similar expressions.
These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties and may
relate to our future operating results.
Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those
contemplated by these forward-looking statements include, among others, the
following possibilities:
o earnings following acquisitions being lower than expected;
o a significant increase in competitive pressure among
depository and other financial
institutions;
o costs or difficulties related to the integration of the
acquired businesses being greater
than expected;
o changes in the interest rate environment resulting in reduced
margins;
o general economic or business conditions, either nationally or
in Maryland or West Virginia, being less favorable than
expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in
credit quality or a reduced demand for credit;
o legislative or regulatory changes adversely affecting the
businesses in which we will be engaged;
o changes in the securities markets; and
o changes in the banking industry, including, the effects of
consolidation resulting from possible mergers of financial
institutions.
For other matters that may affect operating results you should
carefully consider the "Risk Factors" beginning on page 7.
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<S> <C>
====================================================== =========================================================
We have not authorized any person to give any
information or to make any representations
other than those contained in this Prospectus in
connection with the offer made by this [Logo]
Prospectus and, if given or made, the
information or representations must not be
relied upon as having been authorized by us or $20,000,000
any underwriter. The delivery of this Aggregate Liquidation Amount
Prospectus shall not create an implication that
the information in this Prospectus is correct
after the date of this Prospectus. This
Prospectus is not an offer to, or solicitation by,
anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or First United Capital Trust
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 9.375% Preferred Securities
unlawful to make the offer or solicitation.
_______________ Guaranteed by
First United Corporation
---------------
Prospectus
---------------
FERRIS, BAKER WATTS
Incorporated
ADVEST, INC.
August 18, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Prospectus Summary............................... 1
Risk Factors..................................... 7
Selected Consolidated Financial Data............. 11
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges............... 12
Recent Developments ............................. 12
Use of Proceeds.................................. 13
Capitalization .................................. 13
First United Capital Trust....................... 15
Accounting Treatment............................. 15
Description of Preferred Securities.............. 15
Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures.................................... 30
Description of Guarantee......................... 42
Relationship among the Preferred Securities,
the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
and the Guarantee.............................. 44
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences.......... 46
Certain ERISA Considerations..................... 51
Underwriting...................................... 51
Validity of Securities........................... 53
Experts ......................................... 53
Where You Can Find More Information.............. 53
Incorporation of Certain Documents
by Reference.................................... 54
Cautionary Statement Concerning
Forward-Looking Information................... 55
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