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EXHIBIT 4.4
TRUST AGREEMENT
This TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of November 7, 1996 (this "Trust
Agreement"), among (i) Independent Bank Corporation, a Michigan corporation
(the "Depositor"), (ii) Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking
corporation, as trustee, and (iii) Xxxxxxx X. Van Loan, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx and
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx, each an individual, as trustees (each of such trustees in
(ii) and (iii) a "Trustee" and collectively, the "Trustees"). The Depositor
and the Trustees hereby agree as follows:
1. The trust created hereby (the "Trust") shall be known as "IBC
Capital Finance" in which name the Trustees, or the Depositor to the extent
provided herein, may engage in the transactions contemplated hereby, make and
execute contracts, and xxx and be sued.
2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over
the Trustees the sum of Ten Dollars ($10.00). The Trustees hereby acknowledge
receipt of such amount in trust from the Depositor, which amount shall
constitute the initial trust estate. The Trustees hereby declare that they
will hold the trust estate in trust for the Depositor. It is the intention of
the parties hereto that the Trust created hereby constitute a business trust
under Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. Section 3801, et
seq. (the "Business Trust Act"), and that this document constitutes the
governing instrument of the Trust. The Trustees are hereby authorized and
directed to execute and file a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary
of State in accordance with the provisions of the Business Trust Act.
3. The Depositor and the Trustees will enter into an amended and
restated Trust Agreement, satisfactory to each such party and substantially in
the form included as an exhibit to the 1933 Act Registration Statement (as
defined below), to provide for the contemplated operation of the Trust created
hereby and the issuance of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities
referred to therein. Prior to the execution and delivery of such amended and
restated Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not have any duty or obligation
hereunder or with respect to the trust estate, except as otherwise required by
applicable law or as may be necessary to obtain prior to such execution and
delivery of any licenses, consents or approvals required by applicable law or
otherwise.
4. The Depositor and the Trustees hereby authorize and direct the
Depositor, as the sponsor of the Trust, (i) to file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and execute, in each case on behalf of
the Trust, (a) the Registration Statement on Form S-2 (the "1933 Act
Registration Statement"), including any pre-effective or post-effective
amendments to the 1933 Act Registration Statement, relating to the registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Preferred Securities of
the Trust and possibly certain other securities and (b) a Registration
Statement on Form 8-A (the "1934 Act Registration Statement") (including all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto) relating to the
registration of the Preferred Securities of the Trust under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) to file with the Nasdaq National Market
or a national stock exchange (each, an "Exchange") and execute on behalf of the
Trust one or more listing applications and all other applications, statements,
certificates,
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agreements and other instruments as shall be necessary or desirable to cause
the Preferred Securities to be listed on any of the Exchanges; (iii) to file
and execute on behalf of the Trust such applications, reports, surety bonds,
irrevocable consents, appointments of attorney for service of process and other
papers and documents as shall be necessary or desirable to register the
Preferred Securities under the securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem necessary or
desirable and (iv) to execute on behalf of the Trust that certain Underwriting
Agreement relating to the Preferred Securities, among the Trust, the Depositor
and the several Underwriters named therein, substantially in the form included
as an exhibit to the 1933 Act Registration Statement. In the event that any
filing referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above is required by the
rules and regulations of the Commission, an Exchange or state securities or
blue sky laws, to be executed on behalf of the Trust by one or more of the
Trustees, each of the Trustees, in its or his capacity as a Trustee of the
Trust, is hereby authorized and, to the extent so required, directed to join in
any such filing and to execute on behalf of the Trust any and all of the
foregoing, it being understood that Wilmington Trust Company in its capacity as
a Trustee of the Trust shall not be required to join in any such filing or
execute on behalf of the Trust any such document unless required by the rules
and regulations of the Commission, the Exchange or state securities or blue sky
laws. In connection with the filings referred to above, the Depositor and
Xxxxxxx X. Van Loan, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx, each as
Trustees and not in their individual capacities, hereby constitutes and
appoints Xxxxxxx X. Van Loan, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx, and
each of them, as its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, for the Depositor or such Trustee or
in the Depositor's or such Trustees' name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to the 1933 Act Registration Statement and the 1934 Act
Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, the Exchange and
administrators of the state securities or blue sky laws, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection
therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as the Depositor or such
Trustee might or could to in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their respective
substitute or substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
5. This Trust Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts.
6. The number of Trustees initially shall be four (4) and
thereafter the number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from
time to time by a written instrument signed by the Depositor which may increase
or decrease the number of Trustees; provided, however, that to the extent
required by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee shall either be a natural
person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person,
an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware
and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law. Subject to the
foregoing, the Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove without cause any
Trustee at any time. The Trustees may resign upon thirty (30) days' prior
notice to the Depositor.
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7. This Trust Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict
of laws of principles).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
INDEPENDENT BANK CORPORATION,
as Depositor
By /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
By /s/ Xxxxx Class
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Name:
Title:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Van Loan
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XXXXXXX X. VAN LOAN, as Trustee
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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XXXXXXX X. XXXXX, as Trustee
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
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XXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXXX, as Trustee
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