Contract

Exhibit 1.1

PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.
2,800,000 Shares of Common Stock, Par Value $1.00 per Share

Underwriting Agreement

January 23, 2017

X. X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC

As Representative of the

several Underwriters listed

in Schedule 1 hereto

c/o X. X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC

000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx

Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc., a Tennessee corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the "Underwriters"), for whom you are acting as representative (the "Representative"), an aggregate of 2,800,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the "Underwritten Shares") and, at the option of the Underwriter, up to an additional 420,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the "Option Shares").  The Underwritten Shares and the Option Shares are herein referred to as the "Shares".  The shares of common stock of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sale of the Shares are referred to herein as the "Stock". To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule 1 other than you, the term "Representatives" as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and to the extent there is only a single Underwriter listed on Schedule 1, the terms "Representatives" and "Underwriters" shall mean you as the sole Underwriter.

Pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated January 22, 2017 (the "Merger Agreement"), by and among the Company, Blue Merger Sub, Inc., a North Carolina corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company ("Merger Sub"), and BNC Bancorp, a North Carolina corporation ("BNC"), BNC will merge with and into Merger Sub, with BNC surviving the merger and promptly thereafter merging with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity (the "HoldCo Merger"). Pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated January 22, 2017 (the "Bank Merger Agreement") by and among Pinnacle Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the "Bank"), and the Bank of North Carolina, a wholly owned subsidiary of BNC  ("BNC Bank"), BNC Bank will merge with and into the Bank, with the Bank continuing as the surviving entity (the "Bank Merger" and, together with the HoldCo Merger, the "Merger"). Each holder of BNC common stock issued and outstanding, subject to certain exceptions, as of the effective time of the HoldCo Merger will be eligible to receive 0.5235 shares of the Company's common stock for each share of BNC common stock owned by such holder at the effective time of the Merger.

The Company and the Representative of the several Underwriters hereby confirm their agreement concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares, as follows:

1. Registration Statement.  The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the "Securities Act"), a registration statement (File No. 333-215654), including a prospectus, relating to the Shares.  Such registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness ("Rule 430 Information"), is referred to herein as the "Registration Statement"; and as used herein, the term "Preliminary Prospectus" means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before effectiveness, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430 Information, and the term "Prospectus" means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Shares.  If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the "Rule 462 Registration Statement"), then any reference herein to the term "Registration Statement" shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.  Any reference in this underwriting agreement (this "Agreement") to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to "amend", "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the "Exchange Act") that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively with the pricing information set forth on Annex A, the "Pricing Disclosure Package"):  a Preliminary Prospectus dated January 23, 2017 and each "free-writing prospectus" (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex A hereto.

"Applicable Time" means 6:15 P.M., New York City time, on January 23, 2017.

2. Purchase of the Shares.

(a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Underwritten Shares to the Underwriters as provided in this "Agreement", and each of the Underwriters, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly,  to purchase from the Company the respective number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite such Underwriter's name in Schedule 1 hereto at a price per share (the "Purchase Price") of $59.6875.   In addition, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Option Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and the Underwriters, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, shall have the option to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Company the Option Shares at the Purchase Price less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Shares but not payable on the Option Shares.   If any Option Shares are to be purchased, the number of Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the number of Option Shares which bears the same ratio to the aggregate number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule 1 hereto (or such number increased as set forth in Section 10 hereof) bears to the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares being purchased from the Company by the several Underwriters, subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate any fractional Shares as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make. The Underwriters may exercise the option to purchase Option Shares at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Prospectus, by written notice from the Representative to the Company.  Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when the Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for, which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor later than the tenth full business day (as hereinafter defined) after the date of such notice (unless such time and date are postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 hereof).  Any such notice shall be given at least two business days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein.

(b) The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Shares as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representative is advisable, and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.

(c) Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representative in the case of the Underwritten Shares, at the offices of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on January 27, 2017, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representative and the Company may agree upon in writing or, in the case of the Option Shares, on the date and at the time and place specified by the Underwriter in the written notice of the Underwriters' election to purchase such Option Shares.  The time and date of such payment for the Underwritten Shares is referred to herein as the "Closing Date", and the time and date for such payment for the Option Shares, if other than the Closing Date, is herein referred to as the "Additional Closing Date". Payment for the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be made against delivery to the Representative for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Shares to be purchased on such date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Shares duly paid by the Company.  Delivery of the Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") unless the Representative shall otherwise instruct. If the Shares are to be issued in certificated form, certificates for the Shares will be made available for inspection and packaging by the Representative at the office of DTC or its designated custodian not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

(d) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm's length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person.  Additionally, neither the Representative nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment,  accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction.  The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto.  Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

(a) Preliminary Prospectus.  No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and no Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(b) Pricing Disclosure Package.  The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof. No statement of material fact included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package and no statement of material fact included in the Pricing Disclosure Package that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.

(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.  Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any "written communication" (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an "Issuer Free Writing Prospectus") other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex A hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representative.  Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus.  The Registration Statement is an "automatic shelf registration statement" as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Shares has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(e) Incorporated Documents.  The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, when they were filed with the Commission conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act, and, when read together with the other information in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time the Registration Statement became effective, at the Applicable Time and at the Closing Date (and if any Option Shares are purchased, at the applicable Additional Closing Date), did not, do not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(f) Financial Statements of the Company.  The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and any supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby; and the pro forma financial information and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus have been prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the assumptions underlying such pro forma financial information are reasonable and are set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(g) Financial Statements of BNC. To the knowledge of the Company, (i) the financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of BNC and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of BNC and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; (ii) such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and any supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein; and (iii) the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of BNC and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby.

(h) No Material Adverse Change.  Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company, any of the Company's subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC or any of BNC's subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company or, to the Company's knowledge, BNC on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change or any development involving a material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders' equity, or results of operations or prospects of (A) the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (B) the Company and its subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of the Company, BNC and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole after giving pro forma effect to the Merger; (ii) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor to the knowledge of the Company, BNC or its subsidiaries, has entered into any transaction or agreement other than in the ordinary course of business, or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that (A) in the case of the Company and its subsidiaries, is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (B) in the case of BNC and its subsidiaries, is material to the Company, BNC and their respective subsidiaries taken as a whole after giving pro forma effect to the Merger; and (iii) none of the Company, any of the Company's subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC or any of BNC's subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, and that (A) in the case of the Company and its subsidiaries, is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (B) in the case of BNC and its subsidiaries, is material to the Company, BNC and their respective subsidiaries taken as a whole after giving pro forma effect to the Merger, except in the case of (i), (ii) and (iii) as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(i) Organization and Good Standing.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC and each of its subsidiaries, have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on (A) with respect to matters relating to the Company and its subsidiaries, the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders' equity, or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents (as defined below), or (B) with respect to matters relating to BNC and its subsidiaries, the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders' equity, or results of operations of the Company, BNC and their respective subsidiaries taken as a whole after giving pro forma effect to the Merger, or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents (a "Material Adverse Effect"). Other than Merger Sub, the Company does not control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement.

(j) Bank Regulatory Compliance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in compliance in all respects with all applicable laws administered by, and all applicable rules and regulations of, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC"), the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and any other federal or state bank regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Company or its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Bank Regulatory Authorities"), except where the failure to be in compliance with such laws and regulations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus, or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to or otherwise subject to any consent decree, memorandum of understanding, cease and desist order, order of prohibition or suspension, written commitment, supervisory agreement, or written agreement or other written statement as described under 12 U.S.C. 1818(u) or under 12 U.S.C. 5563 and 12 U.S.C. 5565 (collectively, "Regulatory Orders") with any of the Bank Regulatory Authorities (whether or not such Bank Regulatory Authority has determined that publication  would be contrary to the public interest). None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has been advised in writing by any Bank Regulatory Authority that such Bank Regulatory Authority is contemplating issuing or requesting any Regulatory Order, nor, to the Company's knowledge, has the Company or any of its subsidiaries been advised other than in writing by any Bank Regulatory Authority that such Bank Regulatory Authority is contemplating issuing or requesting any Regulatory Order.

(k) Bank Regulatory Compliance, BNC. To the Company's knowledge, each of BNC and its subsidiaries is in compliance in all respects with all applicable laws administered by, and all applicable rules and regulations of, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the FDIC, the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and any other federal or state bank regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Company or its subsidiaries (collectively, the "BNC Bank Regulatory Authorities"), except where the failure to be in compliance with such laws and regulations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the Company's knowledge and except as described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus, or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither BNC nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to or otherwise subject to any Regulatory Orders with any of the BNC Bank Regulatory Authorities (whether or not such BNC Bank Regulatory Authority has determined that publication would be contrary to the public interest). To the knowledge of the Company, none of BNC or any of its subsidiaries has been advised in writing by any BNC Bank Regulatory Authority that such BNC Bank Regulatory Authority is contemplating issuing or requesting any Regulatory Order, nor, to the Company's knowledge, has BNC or any of its subsidiaries been advised other than in writing by any BNC Bank Regulatory Authority that such BNC Bank Regulatory Authority is contemplating issuing or requesting any Regulatory Order.

(l) Bank Holding Company Status. Each of the Company and, to the Company's knowledge, BNC is a duly registered bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

(m) Bank Status. The Bank is a Tennessee state chartered bank and its charter is in full force and effect.  The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC, all premiums and assessments required to be paid in connection therewith have been paid when due, and no proceedings for the termination or revocation of such insurance are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Bank, threatened.  The Bank is "well-capitalized" (as that term is defined at 12 C.F.R. 325.103(b)(1)) and has not been informed in writing by any Bank Regulatory Authority that its status as "well-capitalized" will change within one year, nor, to the Company's knowledge, has the Bank been informed other than in writing by any Bank Regulatory Authority that its status as "well-capitalized" will change within one year.  The Bank has received an overall Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA") rating of at least "satisfactory" and has not been informed in writing by any Bank Regulatory Authority that it may receive a less than "satisfactory" rating for CRA purposes within one year, nor, to the Company's knowledge, has the Bank been informed other than in writing by any Bank Regulatory Authority that it may receive a less than "satisfactory" rating for CRA purposes within one year.

(n) BNC Bank Status.  To the knowledge of the Company, BNC Bank is a North Carolina state chartered bank and its charter is in full force and effect.  To the knowledge of the Company, the deposit accounts of BNC Bank are insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC, all premiums and assessments required to be paid in connection therewith have been paid when due, and no proceedings for the termination or revocation of such insurance are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened. To the knowledge of the Company, BNC Bank is "well-capitalized" (as that term is defined at 12 C.F.R. 325.103(b)(1)) and has not been informed in writing by any BNC Bank Regulatory Authority that its status as "well-capitalized" will change within one year, nor, to the Company's knowledge, has the BNC Bank been informed other than in writing by any BNC Bank Regulatory Authority that its status as "well-capitalized" will change within one year.  To the Company's knowledge, BNC Bank has received an overall CRA rating of at least "satisfactory" and has not been informed in writing by any BNC Bank Regulatory Authority that it may receive a less than "satisfactory" rating for CRA purposes within one year.

(o) Capitalization.  The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading "Capitalization"; all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

(p) Stock Options.  With respect to the stock options (the "Stock Options") granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the "Company Stock Plans") outstanding as of the date hereof, (i) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an "incentive stock option" under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the "Grant Date") by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and, if required, was disclosed in the Company's filings with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company of granting, Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinating the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects.

(q) Due Authorization.  The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Merger Agreement (collectively, the "Transaction Documents") and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder; and all action required to be taken under the corporate laws of the State of Tennessee for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby has been duly and validly taken, other than with respect to the approval of the shareholders of the Company of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and approval by the Company, in its capacity as the sole shareholder of the Bank, of the Bank Merger and the Bank Merger Agreement.

(r) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(s) The Shares.  The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(t) Pending Merger. The Company has no reason to believe as of the date hereof that the respective transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will not be consummated in all material respects on substantially the same terms as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and the Merger Agreement conforms in all material respects to the description thereof set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. 

(u) Descriptions of this Agreement.  This Agreement conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and any description contained in the Prospectus.

(v) No Violation or Default.  None of the Company, any of the Company's subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC or any of BNC's subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company, any of the Company's subsidiaries, BNC or any of BNC's subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company, any of the Company's subsidiaries, BNC or any of BNC's subsidiaries is bound or to which any property or asset of the Company, any of the Company's subsidiaries, BNC or any of BNC's subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) No Conflicts.  The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, result in the termination, modification or acceleration of, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule  or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(x) No Consents Required.  No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA") and under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters.

(y) Legal Proceedings.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings ("Actions") pending to which the Company, any of the Company's subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC or any of BNC's subsidiaries is a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company, any of the Company's subsidiaries, BNC or any of BNC's subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; to the knowledge of the Company no such Actions are threatened by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others; and (i) there are no current or pending Actions that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(z) Independent Accountants.

(i) Xxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act; and Xxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP has not resigned or been dismissed as independent registered public accountants of the Company as a result of or in connection with any disagreement with the Company or any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure.

(ii) KPMG US LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and Prospectus, was, at all times during its engagement with the Company, an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act; and KPMG US LLP was not dismissed as independent registered public accountants of the Company as a result of or in connection with any disagreement with the Company or any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure.

(aa) Title to Real and Personal Property.  The Company, the Company's subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC and BNC's subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, or BNC and its subsidiaries, respectively, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries, or  BNC and its subsidiaries, respectively, or (ii) could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(bb) Intellectual Property.  (i) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries own or have the right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service xxxx registrations, domain names and other source indicators, copyrights and copyrightable works, know-how, trade secrets, systems, procedures, proprietary or confidential information and all other worldwide intellectual property, industrial property and proprietary rights (collectively, "Intellectual Property") used in the conduct of their respective businesses; (ii) the conduct of the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property of any person; (iii) the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any written notice of any claim relating to Intellectual Property; and (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property of the Company and its subsidiaries is not being infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated by any person.

(cc) No Undisclosed Relationships.  No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers, suppliers or other affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

(dd) Investment Company Act.  The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the "Investment Company Act").

(ee) Taxes.  The Company and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, and material state, local and foreign taxes required to be paid and filed all tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof; and except as otherwise disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no material tax deficiency that has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets or, to the knowledge of the Company, against BNC or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets.

(ff) Licenses and Permits.  The Company and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, sub-licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, sub-license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, sub-license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except where the revocation, modification or failure to be renewed of the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(gg) No Labor Disputes.  No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC or any of its subsidiaries exists and, to the knowledge of the Company, no such labor dispute or disturbance is contemplated or threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of its, BNC's or their respective subsidiaries' principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.  None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC or any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of cancellation or termination with respect to any collective bargaining agreement to which it is a party.

(hh) Certain Environmental Matters.  (i) The Company and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC and its subsidiaries (x) are in compliance with all, and have not violated any, applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws (including common law), rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, judgments, decrees, orders and other legally enforceable requirements relating to pollution or the protection of human health or safety, the environment, natural resources, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, "Environmental Laws"); (y) have received and are in compliance with all, and have not violated any, permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under any Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (z) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability or obligation under or relating to, or any actual or potential violation of, any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice, and (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC or its subsidiaries, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such matter as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) except as described in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (x) there is no proceeding that is pending against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceeding regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (y) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any facts or issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (z) none of the Company or its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures in the next twelve months relating to any Environmental Laws.

(ii) Compliance with ERISA.  (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), for which the Company or any member of its "Controlled Group" (defined as any entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control with the Company within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA or any entity that would be regarded as a single employer with the Company under Section 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")) would have any liability (each, a "Plan") has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no Plan has failed (whether or not waived), or is reasonably expected to fail, to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code) applicable to such Plan; (iv) no Plan is, or is reasonably expected to be, in "at risk status" (within the meaning of Section 303(i) of ERISA) and no Plan that is a "multiemployer plan" within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA is in "endangered status" or "critical status" (within the meaning of Sections 304 and 305 of ERISA) (v) the fair market value of the assets of each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (vi) no "reportable event" (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations promulgated thereunder) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (vii) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification; (viii) neither the Company nor any member of its Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a "multiemployer plan" within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA); and (ix) none of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (A) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans by the Company or its Controlled Group affiliates in the current fiscal year of the Company and its Controlled Group affiliates compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company's and its Controlled Group affiliates' most recently completed fiscal year; or (B) a material increase in the Company and its subsidiaries' "accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations" (within the meaning of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715-60) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company and its subsidiaries' most recently completed fiscal year, except in each case with respect to the events or conditions set forth in (i) through (ix) hereof, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and in the case of the events or conditions set forth in (ix) as a result of the consummation of the Merger.

(jj) Intentionally omitted.

(kk) Disclosure Controls.  The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of "disclosure controls and procedures" (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, as applicable, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(ll) Accounting Controls.  The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of "internal control over financial reporting" (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.  The Company and its subsidiaries maintain internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (v) interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines applicable thereto.  Based on the Company's most recent evaluation of its internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Rule 13a-15(c) of the Exchange Act, there are no material weaknesses in the Company's internal controls.  The Company's auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of:  (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting.

(mm) eXtensible Business Reporting Language. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information required by the Commission's rules in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(nn) Insurance.  The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are believed to be adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries, as applicable, and their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

(oo) No Unlawful Payments.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company,  any director, officer or employee, agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC, its subsidiaries, their directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates or other person associated with or acting on behalf of BNC or any of its subsdiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Xxxxxxx Xxx 0000 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit.  The Company and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC and its subsidiaries,  have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

(pp) Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws.  The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance  with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Company or any of its subsidiaries conduct business (in each case of the Company and its subsidiaries), or where BNC or any of its subsidiaries conducts business (in the case of BNC and its subsidiaries), the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the "Anti-Money Laundering Laws") and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC or its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(qq) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company,  any director, officer or employee, agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC, BNC's subsidiaries, their directors, officers, or employees, agents, affiliates or other person associated with or acting on behalf of BNC or any of BNC's subsdiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury ("OFAC") or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a "specially designated national" or "blocked person"), the United Nations Security Council ("UNSC"), the European Union, Her Majesty's Treasury ("HMT") or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, "Sanctions"), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC or any of its subsidiaries, located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and Crimea (each, a "Sanctioned Country"); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and the Company's subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, BNC and BNC's subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.

(rr) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries.  No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary's capital stock or similar ownership interest, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary's properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.

(ss) No Broker's Fees.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder's fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.

(tt) No Registration Rights.  No person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Shares.

(uu) No Stabilization.  The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares.

(vv) Margin Rules.  Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

(ww) Forward-Looking Statements.  No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included or incorporated by reference in any of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(xx) Statistical and Market Data.  Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(yy) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.  There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company's directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the "Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act"), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

(zz) Status under the Securities Act.  At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Shares and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an "ineligible issuer," and is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.  The Company has paid the registration fee for this offering pursuant to Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act or will pay such fee within the time period required by such rule (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.

4. Further Agreements of the Company.  The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:

(a) Required Filings.  The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and the Company will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representative may reasonably request.  The Company will pay the registration fee for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.

(b) Delivery of Copies.  The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representative, two signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith and documents incorporated by reference therein; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representative may reasonably request.  As used herein, the term "Prospectus Delivery Period" means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.

(c) Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.  Before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, whether before or after the time that the Registration Statement becomes effective, the Company will furnish to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably objects.

(d) Notice to the Representative.  The Company will advise the Representative promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective if not, as of the date hereof, effective; (ii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (iii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed or distributed; (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (v) of the issuance by the Commission or any other governmental or regulatory authority of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (vi) of the occurrence of any event or development within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and (viii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Shares and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(e) Ongoing Compliance.  (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law.

(f) Blue Sky Compliance.  The Company will qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

(g) Earning Statement.  The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representative as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the "effective date" (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement, as may be required.

(h) Clear Market.  For a period of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Representative, other than (A) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) any shares to be issued as consideration in connection with the Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement as in effect on the date hereof and the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission in connection with the Merger, and (C) any shares of Stock of the Company issued upon the exercise of options or other awards granted under Company Stock Plans, or in the form of restricted shares or restricted stock units, including those that vest based on the achievement of certain performance metrics, under the Company Stock Plans.

(i) Use of Proceeds.  The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading "Use of proceeds".

(j) No Stabilization.  The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Stock.

(k) Exchange Listing.  The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to list for quotation the Shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the "Nasdaq Market")

(l) Reports.  During any Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will furnish to the Representative, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representative to the extent they are filed on the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.

(m) Record Retention.  The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:

(a) It has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any "free writing prospectus", as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no "issuer information" (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an "Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus").

(b) It has not and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the Shares unless such terms have previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission; provided that any Underwriter using such free writing prospectus with the final terms of the Shares shall notify the Company and provide a copy of such free writing prospectus to the Company, prior to, or substantially concurrently with, the first use of such term sheet.

(c) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).

6. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.  The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date or the Option Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order.  No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative.

(b) Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

(c) No Downgrade. Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Applicable Time and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any debt securities or preferred stock issued, or guaranteed by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as such term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any such debt securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).

(d) No Material Adverse Change.  No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(h) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representative makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(e) Officer's Certificate.  The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is reasonably satisfactory to the Representative (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a)  and (c) above.

(f) Comfort Letters; CFO Certificates.  (i) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, each of  Xxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP, KPMG US LLP and Cherry Bekaert LLP shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company or BNC, as applicable, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided, that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a "cut-off" date no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date or such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

(ii) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, each of the Company and BNC shall have furnished to the Representative a certificate, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Representative, of their respective chief financial officers with respect to certain financial data contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, providing "management comfort" with respect to such information, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative to the effect set forth in Annexes B and C hereto.

(g) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company.  Bass, Xxxxx & Xxxx PLC, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter.

(h) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters.  The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion and 10b-5 statement, addressed to the Underwriter, of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representative may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(i) No Legal Impediment to Issuance.  No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares.

(j) Good Standing.  The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and the Bank in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing in such other jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

(k) Exchange Listing.  The Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Market, subject to official notice of issuance.

(l) Lock-up Agreements.  The "lock-up" agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between you and each of the officers and directors of the Company listed in Schedule 2 hereto relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

(m) Additional Documents.  On or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative such further certificates and documents as the Representative may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

7. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters.  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any "issuer information" filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a "road show") or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

(b) Indemnification of the Company.  Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus any road show or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter:  the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the third paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" and the information contained in the fifteenth  paragraph under the caption "Underwriting."

(c) Notice and Procedures.  If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the "Indemnifying Person") in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) above.  If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall have the right to defend using counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred.  In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to assume the defense and retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.  It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred.  Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by X. X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company.  The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment for which indemnification is available hereunder.  No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(d) Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Shares and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares.  The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(e) Limitation on Liability.  The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (d) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above.  The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (d) and (e), in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters' obligations to contribute pursuant to paragraphs (d) and (e) are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies.  The remedies provided for in paragraphs (a) through (e) are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

8. Effectiveness of Agreement.  This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above.

9. Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representative, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Shares, prior to the Additional Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representative, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

10. Defaulting Underwriter.

(a) If, on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement.  If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Shares on such terms.  If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non‑defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes.  As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter's pro rata share (based on the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of Shares to be purchased on such date, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement or, with respect to any Additional Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Shares on the Additional Closing Date shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters.  Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

11. Payment of Expenses.

(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Shares and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing this Agreement; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Company's counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Shares under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (viii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA; (ix) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any "road show" presentation to potential investors; and (x) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq Market.

(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby. If this Agreement is terminated prior to issuance and sale by the Company of any Shares to the Underwriters hereunder by reason of a default of an Underwriter, the Company shall not be obligated to reimburse the Underwriters for their out-of-pocket costs and expenses, except as set forth in Section 11(a).

12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 7 hereof.  Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein.  No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

13. Survival.  The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters.

14. Certain Defined Terms.  For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term "affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term "business day" means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term "subsidiary" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

15. Compliance with USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

16. Miscellaneous.

(a) Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication.  Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representative c/o X. X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (fax:  (000) 000-0000); Attention  Equity Syndicate Desk.  Notices to the Company shall be given to it at Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000 (phone: (000) 000-0000); Attention General Counsel.

(b) Governing Law.  This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

(c) Waiver of Jury Trial.  Each of the parties hereto hereby waives any right to trial by jury in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

(d) Counterparts.  This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(e) Amendments or Waivers.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(f) Headings.  The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

Very truly yours,

	PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.
	By:	/s/ M. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
		M. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Accepted:  As of the date first written above

X. X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC

For itself and on behalf of the

several Underwriters listed

in Schedule 1 hereto.

By:	/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
	Authorized Signatory

Schedule 1

Underwriter	Number of Shares
X. X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC	2,800,000
Total	2,800,000

Schedule 2

Directors, Officers and Shareholders subject to a lock up:

Xxxxxx X. XxXxxx, Xx.

M. Xxxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx

Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx

J. Xxxxxx Xxxxx

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx

X. Xxxxxx Bone

Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx

Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx

Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx

Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx-Xxxxx

Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, III

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx

Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, XX

Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, XX

Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx

Xx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.

Xxxx X. Xxxxx

Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, III

ANNEX A

a. Free-Writing Prospectuses

None.

b.  Pricing Information Provided Orally by Underwriters

· The public offering price per share for the Shares is $62.50.

· The number of Underwritten Shares purchased by the Underwriter from the Company is 2,800,000.

· The number of Option Shares to be sold by the Company at the option of the Underwriter is up to 420,000.

ANNEX B

PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.

CERTIFICATE OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

January [●], 2017

Reference is hereby made to the Underwriting Agreement, dated January [●], 2017 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), between Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (the "Company") and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC (the "Underwriter"). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this certificate have the meaning assigned to them in the Underwriting Agreement.

I am responsible for the financial accounting matters of the Company and am familiar with the accounting books and records and internal controls of the Company. To assist the Underwriter in conducting and documenting its investigation of the affairs of the Company, I, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, in my capacity as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, do hereby certify pursuant to Section 6(e)(ii) of the Underwriting Agreement that after reasonable inquiry and investigation by myself or members of my staff who are responsible for the Company's financial and accounting matters:

1. The items marked with an "A" on the pages of the [Preliminary] Prospectus dated January [●], 2017  (the "Prospectus") attached as Exhibit A hereto (a) are prepared on a basis substantially consistent with the latest audited financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, (b) are derived from the accounting books and records of the Company, (c) fairly present, in all material respects, the financial performance or position of the Company as of and for the three- and twelve-month period (as applicable) ended December 31, 2016, and (d) are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), where applicable. In addition, nothing has come to my attention that would cause me to believe that the actual financial results of the Company as of and for the  three- and twelve-month period ended December 31, 2016, once finalized, will differ in any material respect from such information.

2. The items marked with a "B" on the pages of the [Preliminary] Prospectus attached as Exhibit A (a) are calculated from (i) amounts from the accounting books and records of the Company, (ii) amounts from the accounting records of BNC as provided to the Company in connection with the acquisition of BNC, (iii) amounts from the unaudited financial statements as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 of each of the Company and BNC incorporated by reference in the [Preliminary] Prospectus, and (iv) amounts included in the unaudited condensed combined pro forma financial statements and related footnotes as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 which appear under the caption "Unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data" in the [Preliminary] Prospectus, and (b) fairly present, in all material respects, the pro forma financial position of the Company as of nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 on the basis described under the caption "Unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data" in the [Preliminary] Prospectus. The assumptions underlying such pro forma financial information are reasonable and the pro forma adjustments have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of such figures.

[Signature Page Follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, have signed this certificate as of the date first written above.

	PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.
	By:
	Name:	Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
	Title:	Chief Financial Partners

ANNEX C

BNC BANCORP

CERTIFICATE OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

January [●], 2017

Reference is hereby made to the Underwriting Agreement, dated January [●], 2017 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), between Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC (the "Underwriter"). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this certificate have the meaning assigned to them in the Underwriting Agreement.

I am responsible for the financial accounting matters of BNC Bancorp (the "Company") and am familiar with the accounting books and records and internal controls of the Company. To assist the Underwriters in conducting and documenting their investigation of the affairs of the Company, I, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, in my capacity as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, do hereby certify pursuant to Section 6(e)(ii) of the Underwriting Agreement that after reasonable inquiry and investigation by myself or members of my staff who are responsible for the Company's financial and accounting matters:

1. The items marked with an "A" on the pages of the [Preliminary] Prospectus dated January [●], 2017  (the "Prospectus") attached as Exhibit A hereto (a) are prepared on a basis substantially consistent with the latest audited financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, (b) are derived from the accounting books and records of the Company, (c) fairly present, in all material respects, the financial performance or position of the Company as of and for the three- and twelve-month period (as applicable) ended December 31, 2016, and (d) are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), where applicable. In addition, nothing has come to my attention that would cause me to believe that the actual financial results of the Company as of and for the  three and twelve month period ended December 31, 2016, once finalized, will differ in any material respect from such information.

 [Signature Page Follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, have signed this certificate as of the date first written above.

	BNC BANCORP
	By:	/s/
	Name:	Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
	Title:	Chief Financial Partners

Exhibit A

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

January , 2017

X. X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC As Representative of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 to the Underwriting Agreement referred to below

c/o X. X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000

Re: Pinnacle Financial Partners --- Equity Offering

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned understands that you, as Representative of the several Underwriters, propose to enter into an underwriting agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") with Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. a Tennessee corporation (the "Company"), providing for the offering (the "Public Offering") by the several Underwriters named in Schedule 1 to the Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriters") of common stock, $1.00 par value per share, of the Company (the "Securities"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

In consideration of the Underwriters' agreement to purchase and make the Public Offering of the Securities, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of X. X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC, the undersigned will not, during the period beginning on the date of this letter agreement (this "Letter Agreement") and ending 90 days after the date of the prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the "Prospectus") (such period, the "Restricted Period"), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock, $1.00 per share par value, of the Company (the "Common Stock") or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (including without limitation, Common Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant), or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, in each case other than (A) transfers of shares of Common Stock as a bona fide gift or gifts, (B) distributions of shares of Common Stock to members, limited partners or stockholders of the undersigned, (C) transfers to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned (for purposes of this Letter Agreement, "immediate family" shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin), (D) transfers to the legal representatives or the immediate family of the undersigned by will or the laws of intestate succession, (E) pledges of up to 50,000 shares Common Stock and not pledged as of the date hereof required pursuant to the terms of any pledge or collateral agreement in effect on the date hereof, (F) transfers to the undersigned's affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the undersigned; provided that in the case of any transfer, pledge or distribution pursuant to clause (A) through (F), each donee, distributee, transferee or pledgee shall execute and deliver to the Representative a lock-up letter in the form of this paragraph; and provided, further, that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (A) through (F), no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Restricted Period referred to above), (G) any transfer upon foreclosure upon shares of Common Stock pledged pursuant to any pledge or collateral agreement in effect on the date hereof; provided that in the case of this clause (G) no filing by any party under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with any such transfer, except for any filing required under the Exchange Act which includes a statement to the effect that such transfer is made purusant to foreclosure under the terms of a collateral or security agreement in effect prior to the Restricted Period, (H) the transfer or deemed transfers of shares of Common Stock to the Company in connection with the exercise of options pursuant to the Company's stock incentive plans in effect on the date hereof that would otherwise expire during the Restricted Period effected by means of net share settlement or by the delivery or sale of shares of Common Stock held by the undersigned; provided that in the case of any transfer or deemed transfer pursuant to this clause (H), no filing by any party under the Exchange Act, or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or deemed transfer, other than any filing required under the Exchange Act which includes a statement to the effect that such transfer is pursuant to the net share settlement or cashless exercise of such options, or to pay any tax liability in connection with the exercise of such options, and (I) the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of up to 75,000 shares of Common Stock, provided that such plan does not provide for the transfer of Common Stock during the Restricted Period, and provided, further, that no filing by any party under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with the establishment of such plan, except for any filing required under the Exchange Act which includes a statement to the effect that no transfer of Common Stock may be made under such plan during the Restricted Period.

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Letter Agreement.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Letter Agreement.  All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.

The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective by February 15, 2017, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Securities to be sold thereunder, the undersigned shall be released from, all obligations under this Letter Agreement.  The undersigned understands that the  Underwriters are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Public Offering in reliance upon this Letter Agreement.

This Letter Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Very truly yours,

[NAME OF STOCKHOLDER]

By: Name: Title: