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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The rights of our stockholders are governed by the Virginia Stock Corporation Act (the “VSCA”), our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended (our “articles of incorporation”), and our amended and restated bylaws (our “bylaws”). The following is a summary of the material provisions of our capital stock and certain provisions of the VSCA. You should refer to the full text of our articles of incorporation and bylaws filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

General

Our articles of incorporation provide that we may issue up to 400,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 300,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share. As of December 19, 2016, 6,915,653 shares of our common stock are issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock are issued and outstanding. Under the VSCA, our shareholders generally are not personally liable for our debts and obligations solely as a result of their status as shareholders.

Common Stock

Voting Rights

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by our shareholders. Except as otherwise provided by law, holders of our common stock vote together as a single voting group. Our articles of incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting for the election of directors, which means that the holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock have the ability to elect all of the members of our board of directors. Except as otherwise required by law or with respect to any outstanding class or series of our preferred stock, the holders of our common stock have the sole power to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes.

Dividend Rights

Subject to the VSCA and any preferential dividend rights of holders of our preferred stock that may be outstanding, the holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably on a per share basis in dividends and other distributions, as may be declared by our board of directors out of assets legally available for distribution, when, as and if authorized and declared by our board of directors.

Other Rights

Subject to any preferential liquidation rights of holders of our preferred stock that may be outstanding, the holders of our common stock are entitled to participate ratably on a per share basis in our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up. Shares of our common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.

Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares

Our articles of incorporation authorize our board of directors to designate and issue from time to time one or more series of preferred stock without shareholder approval. Our board of directors may fix and determine the preferences, limitations and relative rights of each series of preferred stock issued. Because the board of directors has the power to establish the preferences and rights of each series of our preferred stock, it may afford the holders of any series of our preferred stock preferences and rights, voting or otherwise, senior to the rights of holders of our common stock. It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares of our preferred stock upon the rights of holders of our common stock until our board of directors determines the specific rights of the holders of our preferred stock. However, the effects might include:

If we issue and offer for sale shares of our preferred stock, we will describe in a prospectus supplement the specific designation, the aggregate number of shares offered, the dividend rate or manner of calculating the dividend rate, the dividend periods or manner of calculating the dividend periods, the ranking of the shares of the series with respect to dividends, liquidation and dissolution, the stated value of the shares of the series, the voting rights of the shares of the series, if any, whether and on what terms the shares of the series will be convertible or exchangeable, whether and on what terms we can redeem the shares of the series, whether we will offer depositary shares representing shares of the series and if so, the fraction or multiple of a share of preferred stock represented by each depositary share, whether we will list the preferred stock or depositary shares on a securities exchange and any other specific terms of the series of preferred stock.

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Description of the Depositary Shares

General

At our option, we may elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, we will issue receipts for depositary shares and each of these depositary shares will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in shares of preferred stock underlying that depositary share, to all rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying that depositary share. These rights may include dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights.

The shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited with a bank or trust company selected by us to act as depositary, under a deposit agreement by and among us, the depositary and the holders of the depositary receipts. The depositary will be the transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent for the depositary shares.

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the depositary agreement. Holders of depositary receipts agree to be bound by the deposit agreement, which requires holders to take certain actions such as filing proof of residence and paying certain charges.

The summary of terms of the depositary shares contained in this prospectus is not complete, and is subject to modification in any prospectus supplement for any issuance of depositary shares. You should refer to the forms of the deposit agreement, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designations that are, or will be, filed with the SEC for the applicable series of preferred stock.

Dividends

The depositary will distribute cash dividends or other cash distributions, if any, received in respect of the series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders on the relevant record date. The relevant record date for depositary shares will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock.

In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts that are entitled to receive the distribution, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary, with our approval, may adopt another method for the distribution, including selling the property and distributing the net proceeds to the holders.

Liquidation Preference

If a series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares has a liquidation preference, in the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of depositary shares will be entitled to receive the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of the applicable series of preferred stock, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Redemption

If a series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of the preferred stock held by the depositary. Whenever we redeem any preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same redemption date, the number of depositary shares representing the preferred stock so redeemed. The depositary will mail the notice of redemption to the record holders of the depositary receipts promptly upon receiving the notice from us and not fewer than 20 or more than 60 days, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, prior to the date fixed for redemption of the preferred stock.

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Voting

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts underlying the preferred stock. Each record holder of those depositary receipts on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of preferred stock underlying that holder’s depositary shares. The record date for the depositary will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock. The depositary will, to the extent practicable, vote the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares in accordance with these instructions. We will agree to take all action that may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to vote the preferred stock in accordance with these instructions. The depositary will not vote the preferred stock to the extent that it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary receipts.

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

Owners of depositary shares will be entitled to receive upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary and payment of any unpaid amount due to the depositary, the number of whole shares of preferred stock underlying their depositary shares.

Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. Holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to deposit the shares under the deposit agreement or to receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares for the preferred stock.

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended by agreement between the depositary and us. However, any amendment which materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares, other than fee changes, will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by at least a majority of the outstanding depositary shares. The deposit agreement may be terminated by the depositary or us only if:

Charges of Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangement. We will also pay charges of the depositary in connection with:

Holders of depositary receipts will pay transfer, income and other taxes and governmental charges and other specified charges as provided in the deposit agreement for their accounts. If these charges have not been paid, the depositary may:

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Miscellaneous

The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications we deliver to the depositary that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. In addition, the depositary will make available for inspection by holders of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary, and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable, any reports and communications we deliver to the depositary as the holder of preferred stock.

Neither the depositary nor we will be liable if either the depositary or we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond the control of either the depositary or us in performing our respective obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations and the depositary’s obligations will be limited to the performance in good faith of our or the depositary’s respective duties under the deposit agreement. Neither the depositary nor we will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. The depositary and we may rely on:

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering a notice to us. We may remove the depositary at any time. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice for resignation or removal. The successor depositary must be a bank and trust company having its principal office in the United States of America and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000.

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Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of the VSCA, Our Articles of Incorporation and Our Bylaws

General

The VSCA contains provisions that may have the effect of impeding the acquisition of control of a Virginia corporation by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest, open market purchases or otherwise in a transaction not approved by the corporation’s board of directors. These provisions are designed to reduce, or have the effect of reducing, the corporation’s vulnerability to coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids.

Affiliated Transactions Statute

Pursuant to a provision in our articles of incorporation, we have opted out of the affiliated transactions provisions contained in the VSCA. In general, these provisions prohibit a Virginia corporation from engaging in affiliated transactions with the beneficial owner of more than 10% of any class of its outstanding voting shares (an “interested shareholder”) for a period of three years following the date that such person became an interested shareholder unless:

Affiliated transactions subject to this approval requirement include mergers, share exchanges, certain dispositions of corporate assets not in the ordinary course of business, any dissolution of the corporation proposed by or on behalf of an interested shareholder or any reclassification, including reverse stock splits, recapitalizations or mergers of the corporation with its subsidiaries, which increases the percentage of voting shares owned beneficially by an interested shareholder by more than 5%.

Control Share Acquisitions

Our board of directors has adopted a bylaw opting out of the control share acquisition provisions of the VSCA. Control share acquisitions are transactions causing the voting power of any person acquiring beneficial ownership of shares of a Virginia public corporation to meet or exceed certain threshold percentages (20%, 33 1/3% or 50%) of the total votes entitled to be cast for the election of directors. The VSCA provides that shares acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights unless:

The acquiring person may require that a special meeting of the shareholders be held within 50 days of the acquiring person’s request to consider the grant of voting rights to the shares acquired in the control share acquisition. If voting rights are not granted and the corporation’s articles of incorporation or bylaws permit, the acquiring person’s shares may be repurchased by the corporation, at its option, at a price per share equal to the acquiring person’s cost. The VSCA grants appraisal rights to any shareholder who objects to a control share acquisition that is approved by a vote of disinterested shareholders and that gives the acquiring person control of a majority of the corporation’s voting shares.

Articles of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions

Number of Directors, Vacancies and Removal . Our articles of incorporation provide that the number of directors shall be determined in accordance with our bylaws or, in the absence of a bylaw fixing the number of directors, the number will be nine. Our bylaws provide that the number of directors on our board of directors will be eight. Our board of directors may amend our bylaws to increase or decrease the number of directors on our board last elected by our shareholders.

Our bylaws provide that any vacancies on the board of directors, including vacancies resulting from an increase in the number of directors, may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, though the number of remaining directors may be less than a quorum. Our articles of incorporation provide that directors may be removed with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single group.

Shareholder Meetings . Our articles of incorporation and our bylaws provide that our chairman of the board, any vice chairman of our board, our chief executive officer, our president, a majority of our board of directors or the holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock may call a special meeting of shareholders. Our articles of incorporation provide that the right of the holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock to call a special meeting of our shareholders may only be amended, altered, modified or repealed upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single group.

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Advance Notice of Nominations and Shareholder Business . Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to shareholder proposals and the nomination of persons for election as directors at meetings of our shareholders, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors.

Preferred Stock . Our articles of incorporation authorize our board of directors to establish one or more series of preferred stock and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred stock, the preferences, rights and other terms of such series. Under this authority, our board of directors could create and issue a series of preferred stock with rights, preferences or restrictions that have the effect of discriminating against an existing or prospective holder of our capital stock as a result of such holder beneficially owning or commencing a tender offer for a substantial amount of our common stock. One of the effects of authorized but unissued and unreserved shares of preferred stock may be to render it more difficult for, or discourage an attempt by, a potential acquiror to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management. The issuance of shares of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company without any action by our stockholders.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.

We have filed, as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, the form of indenture pursuant to which the debt securities will be issued and will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, a form of debt security that describes the terms of the particular debt securities we are offering before the issuance of the related debt securities. We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more distinct series. The debt securities may be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. Senior debt securities may be issued under a senior indenture and subordinated debt securities may be issued under a subordinated indenture. If we issue debt securities pursuant to an indenture, we will specify the trustee under such indenture in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will include in a supplement to this prospectus the specific terms of debt securities being offered, including the terms, if any, on which debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or other debt securities. The statements and descriptions in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement regarding provisions of debt securities and any indentures are summaries of those provisions, do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the debt securities and the indentures (including any amendments or supplements we may enter into from time to time which are permitted under the debt securities or any indenture).

General

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt that we may issue under the indenture or otherwise. Under the indenture, we may issue the securities in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par or a premium, or with original issue discount.

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities covered by this prospectus will be our direct unsecured obligations. Senior debt securities will rank equally with our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness. Any of our secured indebtedness will rank ahead of the debt securities to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness.

We conduct operations primarily through our subsidiaries and substantially all of our consolidated assets are held by our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our cash flow and our ability to meet our obligations under the debt securities will be largely dependent on the earnings of our subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment of these earnings to us in the form of dividends, loans or advances and repayment of loans and advances from us. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to pay the amounts that will be due on our debt securities or to make any funds available for payment of amounts that will be due on our debt securities. Because we are a holding company, our obligations under our debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries. Therefore, our rights, and the rights of our creditors, including the rights of the holders of the debt securities, to participate in any distribution of assets of any of our subsidiaries, if such subsidiary were to be liquidated or reorganized, are subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors. To the extent that we may be a creditor with recognized claims against our subsidiaries, our claims will still be effectively subordinated to any security interest in, or mortgages or other liens on, the assets of the subsidiary that are senior to us.

In addition, various statutes and regulations restrict some of our subsidiaries from paying dividends or making loans or advances to us. These restrictions could prevent those subsidiaries from paying the cash to us that we need in order to pay you. These restrictions include the net capital requirements under the Exchange Act and the rules of some exchanges and other regulatory bodies, which apply to some of our principal subsidiaries, such as FBR Capital Markets & Co. and MLV & Co.

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The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the debt securities or any series thereof, including, if applicable:

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Unless indicated in a prospectus supplement, we may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable indenture. We intend to disclose any restrictive covenants for any issuance or series of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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The prospectus supplement relating to debt securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus will be attached to the front of this prospectus.

We may also in the future issue debt securities other than the debt securities described in this prospectus. There is no requirement that any other debt securities that we issue be issued under the indenture described in this prospectus. Thus, any other debt securities that we may issue may be issued under other indentures or documentation containing provisions different from those included in the indentures or applicable to one or more issues of the debt securities described in this prospectus.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

The indenture will not prevent us from consolidating or merging with any other person or selling our assets as, or substantially as, an entirety. However, under the indenture we agree not to consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey or transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless, among other things:

After assuming the obligations, the successor entity will have all our rights and powers under the indentures.

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Events of Default

Under the indenture, an “event of default” means any one of the following events that occurs with respect to a series of debt securities issued under such indenture, unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture, board resolutions or officer’s certificate establishing the terms of such series:

The supplemental indenture, board resolutions or officer’s certificate establishing the terms of such series, or the form of security for a particular series of debt securities issued under, the indenture may include additional events of default or changes to the events of default described above. The events of default applicable to a particular series of debt securities issued under the indenture will be discussed in the prospectus supplement relating to such series. A default under our other indebtedness will not be a default under the indentures for the debt securities covered by this prospectus, and a default under one series of debt securities will not necessarily be a default under another series.

If an event of default with respect to outstanding debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of that series may declare, in a written notice, the principal amount (or specified amount) on all debt securities of that series to be immediately due and payable. In the case of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency of FBR & Co., all unpaid principal amount (or specified amount) of and all accrued and unpaid interest on the outstanding debt securities of such series shall automatically become immediately due and payable.

The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of our debt securities of any default (except for defaults that involve our failure to pay principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, or any sinking fund payment, if applicable, on any series of debt securities) if the trustee considers that withholding notice is in the interests of the holders of that series of debt securities.

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At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, the holders of a majority in principal amount (or specified amount) of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by written notice to us and the trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of the discount securities upon the occurrence of an event of default.

If a default in the performance or breach of the indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series under such indenture, by notice to the trustee, may waive any past event of default or its consequences under such indenture. However, an event of default cannot be waived with respect to any series of securities in the following two circumstances:

Other than its duties in case of a default, the trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under an indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable indemnity. If they provide this reasonable indemnity, the holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of any series of debt securities may, subject to certain limitations, direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the trustee, for any series of debt securities.

We are required to deliver to the trustee an annual statement as to our fulfillment of all of our obligations under the indentures.

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Modification of Indenture

The indenture contains provisions permitting us and the trustee to amend, modify or supplement the indenture and any supplemental indenture under which the series of debt securities are issued. Generally, these changes require the consent of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding principal amount of each series of debt securities affected by the change.

However, no modification of the maturity date or principal or interest payment terms, no modification of the currency for payment, no impairment of the right to sue for the enforcement of payment at the maturity of the debt security, no modification of any conversion rights and no modification reducing the percentage required for modifications or modifying the foregoing requirements or reducing the percentage required to waive certain specified covenants is effective against any holder without its consent.

In computing whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding debt securities have taken action under an indenture or any supplemental indenture:

Global Securities

We may issue the global securities in registered form, in either temporary or permanent form. Unless the prospectus supplement specifies otherwise, debt securities, when issued, will be represented by a permanent global security or securities. Each such global security will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for The Depository Trust Company, referred to as “DTC” and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for notes in definitive form, no global security may be transferred except as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC or by DTC or any such nominee to a successor of DTC or a nominee of such successor.

Beneficial interests in the notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold interest in the notes held by DTC through Clearstream Bank, société anonyme, referred to as “Clearstream, Luxembourg,” or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, referred to as the “Euroclear operator,” if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly

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through organizations that are participants in such systems. Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear operator will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream, Luxembourg’s and the Euroclear operator’s names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC.

So long as DTC, or its nominee, is a registered owner of a note, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the notes represented by such note for all purposes under the indenture or other governing documents. Except as provided below, the actual owners of the notes represented by a note, referred to as the “beneficial owner,” will not be entitled to have the notes represented by such note registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the notes in definitive form and will not be considered the registered owners or holders thereof under the indenture.

Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a note must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if such person is not a participant of DTC, referred to as a “participant,” on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture. We understand that under existing industry practices, in the event that we request any action of holders or that an owner of a beneficial interest that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take such action, and such participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through such participants to give or take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners. Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to participants, by participants to indirect participants, as defined below, and by participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

The following is based on information furnished by DTC:

DTC will act as securities depository for the notes. Offered securities will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC’s partnership nominee) or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One or more fully registered global securities will be issued for the notes, in the aggregate principal amount of the notes, and will be deposited with DTC.

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between participants’

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accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants of DTC, referred to as “direct participants,” include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, referred to as “DTCC.” DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to DTC’s system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly, referred to as “indirect participants.” The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of the notes under DTC’s system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each beneficial owner is in turn to be recorded on the records of direct participants and indirect participants. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct participants or indirect participants through which such beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of direct participants and indirect participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the notes, except in the event that the use of the book-entry system for the notes is discontinued or other limited circumstances that may be provided in the indenture.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all notes deposited by direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of the notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the notes. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such notes are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The direct participants and indirect participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the notes. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to us as soon as possible after the applicable record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts securities are credited on the applicable record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).

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Payments on the notes will be made in immediately available funds to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the applicable agent, on the applicable payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC, the applicable agent or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Any payment to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of FBR & Co. or the applicable agent, disbursement of such payments to direct participants shall be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners shall be the responsibility of direct participants and indirect participants.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to FBR & Co. or the applicable agent. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, offered security certificates are required to be printed and delivered. FBR & Co. may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depositary). In that event, offered security certificates will be printed and delivered.

Clearstream, Luxembourg advises that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depository. Clearstream, Luxembourg holds securities for its participating organizations, referred to as “Clearstream participants,” and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream, Luxembourg provides to Clearstream participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream, Luxembourg interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a professional depository, Clearstream, Luxembourg is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary Institute.

Clearstream participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream, Luxembourg is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream participant either directly or indirectly.

Distributions with respect to the notes held beneficially through Clearstream, Luxembourg will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg.

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Euroclear advises that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for its participants, referred to as “Euroclear participants,” and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is owned by Euroclear Clearance System Public Limited Company and operated through a license agreement by the Euroclear operator.

Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters or agents for the notes. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.

The Euroclear operator is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission and the National Bank of Belgium. Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of Euroclear, and applicable Belgian law, collectively referred to as the “Terms and Conditions.” The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear participants.

Distributions with respect to the notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Euroclear.

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

Initial settlement for the notes will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC’s rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. If and to the extent this prospectus supplement with respect to any of the notes indicates that investors may elect to hold interests in the notes through Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear, secondary market trading between Clearstream participants and/or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in immediately available funds. No assurance can be given as to the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the notes.

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Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be effected in DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving the notes in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream participants and Euroclear participants may not deliver instructions directly to DTC.

Because of time-zone differences, credits of the notes received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and will be credited the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in the notes settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear as a result of sales of the notes by or through a Clearstream participant or a Euroclear participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

Although DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the notes among participants of DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time.

Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We may discharge certain obligations to the holders of any debt securities of any series that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that either have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) if we deposit with the trustee, in trust, funds in the currency in which such debt securities are payable in an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on such debt securities with respect to principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (if such debt securities have then become due and payable) or to the maturity date of such debt securities, as the case may be.

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We also may, at our option, elect to:

Defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, shall be conditioned upon the irrevocable deposit by us with the trustee, in trust, of an amount in U.S. dollars or in the foreign currency in which such debt securities are payable at stated maturity, or government obligations, or both, applicable to such debt securities which, through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such debt securities on the scheduled due dates.

Such trust may only be established if, among other things:

In the case of a defeasance, we must also deliver any ruling to such effect received from or published by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Concerning the Trustee

We will enter into our senior indenture and our subordinated indenture with a trustee as permitted by the terms thereof. At all times, the trustee must be organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and must comply with all applicable requirements under the Trust Indenture Act.

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The trustee may resign at any time by giving us written notice or may be removed:

If the trustee resigns, is removed or becomes incapable of acting, or if a vacancy occurs in the office of the trustee for any cause, we, by or pursuant to a board resolution, will promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees with respect to the debt securities of such series. We will give written notice to holders of the relevant series of debt securities, of each resignation and each removal of the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series and each appointment of a successor trustee. Upon the appointment of any successor trustee, we, the retiring trustee and such successor trustee, will execute and deliver a supplemental indenture in which each successor Trustee will accept such appointment and which will contain such provisions as necessary or desirable to transfer to such successor trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring trustee with respect to the relevant series of debt securities.

The form of indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Holders of any series of debt securities may obtain an indenture or any other documents relating to a series of debt securities by contacting us or the trustee or by accessing the SEC’s web site. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

New York Law to Govern

The indenture will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in that state.

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may sell any combination of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus, together as units. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the particular combination of securities constituting any units and any other specific terms of the units.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and the related warrant agreements and warrant certificates. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.

We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant agreement, including a form of warrant certificate, that describes the terms of the particular warrants we are offering before the issuance of the related warrants. The following summaries of material provisions of the warrants and the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as any related free writing prospectuses, and the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.

General

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities. We may evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into a warrant agreement with a warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address and other information regarding the warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants.

If we decide to issue warrants pursuant to this prospectus, we will specify in a prospectus supplement the terms of the warrants, including, if applicable, the following:

Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants may have no rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including, in the case of warrants to purchase our common stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.

Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase our securities at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

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Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, the warrants may also provide that they may be exercised on a “cashless” or net basis. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate, if applicable, and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to us or a warrant agent in order to exercise a warrant.

Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at our offices, the corporate trust office of a warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender our securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants

Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.

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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS

The following description, together with the additional information that we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the stock purchase contracts that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any stock purchase contracts that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of stock purchase contracts in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any stock purchase contracts offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.

We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of stock purchase contract that describes the terms of the particular stock purchase contract we are offering before the issuance of the related stock purchase contract. The following summaries of material provisions of the stock purchase contracts are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the stock purchase contracts applicable to the stock purchase contracts that we may offer under this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the stock purchase contracts that we may offer under this prospectus and the complete stock purchase contracts that contain the terms of the stock purchase contracts.

We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us and us to sell to the holders, a specified number of securities at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the stock purchase contracts may obligate us to purchase from holders, and obligate holders to sell to us, a specified or varying number of securities. The consideration per security may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by a specific reference to a formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may provide for settlement by delivery by us or on our behalf of shares of the underlying security, or they may provide for settlement by reference or linkage to the value, performance or trading price of the underlying security. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of certain of our securities or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations thereunder in a specified manner and may provide for the prepayment of all or part of the consideration payable by holders in connection with the purchase of the underlying security or other property pursuant to the stock purchase contracts.

The securities related to the stock purchase contracts may be pledged to a collateral agent for our benefit pursuant to a pledge agreement to secure the obligations of holders of stock purchase contracts to purchase the underlying security or property under the related stock purchase contracts. The rights of holders of stock purchase contracts to the related pledged securities will be subject to our security interest therein created by the pledge agreement. No holder of stock purchase contracts will be permitted to withdraw the pledged securities related to such stock purchase contracts from the pledge arrangement.

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