================================================================================ UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ---------------------- FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 10, 1999 ---------------------- SLM HOLDING CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 52-2013874 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 11600 SALLIE MAE DRIVE, RESTON VIRGINIA 20193 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (703) 810-3000 ================================================================================

ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS On November 10, 1999, SLM Holding Corporation (the "Registrant") consummated the sale of 3,000,000 shares of newly created 6.97% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series A. ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS (c) Exhibits. 1.1 Underwriting Agreement relating to the 6.97% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series A, dated November 10, 1999, by and among SLM Holding Corporation and the Underwriters, on behalf of each of the underwriters named on Schedule 1 thereto. 4.1 Certificate of Designation of Powers, Preferences, Rights, Privileges, Qualifications, Limitations, Restrictions, Terms and Conditions of 6.97% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series A. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Date: November 11, 1999 SLM HOLDING CORPORATION By: /s/ Mark G. Overend ---------------------------------------- Mark G. Overend Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Account Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)

EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Description of Document 1.1 Underwriting Agreement relating to the 6.97% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series A, dated November 10, 1999, by and among SLM Holding Corporation and the Underwriters, on behalf of each of the underwriters named on Schedule 1 thereto. 4.1 Certificate of Designation of Powers, Preferences, Rights, Privileges, Qualifications, Limitations, Restrictions, Terms and Conditions of 6.97% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series A.

EXHIBIT 1.1 SLM HOLDING CORPORATION 6.97% CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES A ------------------------- UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT November 10, 1999 Goldman, Sachs & Co., 85 Broad Street New York, New York 10004 CIBC World Markets Prudential Securities Incorporated Salomon Smith Barney Inc. c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co. 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004 Ladies and Gentlemen: From time to time SLM Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a "Pricing Agreement") in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and deletions as the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and therein, to issue and sell to the firms named in Schedule I to the applicable Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the "Underwriters" with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the securities specified therein) certain shares of its 6.97% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series A (the "Shares"). The Shares specified in such Pricing Agreement are referred to as the "Firm Shares" with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the Shares represented by such Pricing Agreement are referred to as the shares of "Designated Preferred Stock" with respect to such Pricing Agreement. If specified in such Pricing Agreement, the Company may grant the Underwriters the right to purchase at their election an additional number of Shares, specified as provided in such Pricing Agreement as provided in Section 3 hereof (the "Optional Shares"). The Firm Shares and the Optional Shares, if any, which the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to Section 3 hereof are herein collectively referred to as the "Designated Shares". The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated Shares shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto. 1. Particular sales of Designated Shares may be made from time to time to the Underwriters of such Shares, for whom the firms designated as representatives of the Underwriters of such Shares in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto will act as representatives (the "Representatives"). The term "Representatives" also refers to a single firm acting as sole

representative of the Underwriters and to Underwriters who act without any firm being designated as their representative. This Underwriting Agreement shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company to sell any of the Shares or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the Shares. The obligation of the Company to issue and sell any of the Shares and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the Shares shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Shares specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify the aggregate number of the Firm Shares, the maximum number of Optional Shares, if any, the initial public offering price of such Firm and Optional Shares or the manner of determining such price, the terms of the Designated Shares, the purchase price to the Underwriters of such Designated Shares, the names of the Underwriters of such Designated Shares, the names of the Representatives of such Underwriters, the number of such Designated Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter and the commission, if any, payable to the Underwriters with respect thereto and shall set forth the date, time and manner of delivery of such Firm and Optional Shares, if any, and payment therefor. The Pricing Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not set forth in the registration statement and prospectus with respect thereto) the terms of such Designated Shares. A Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic communications or any other rapid transmission device designed to produce a written record of communications transmitted. The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be several and not joint. 2. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that: (a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No 333-83941) (the "Initial Registration Statement") in respect of the Shares has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"); the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered or to be delivered to the Representatives and, excluding exhibits to the Initial Registration Statement, but including all documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus included therein, to the Representatives for each of the other Underwriters have been declared effective by the Commission in such form; other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering (a "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), which became effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or document incorporated by reference therein has heretofore been filed, or transmitted for filing, with the Commission (other than prospectuses filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act each in the form heretofore delivered to the Representatives); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Act, is hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus"; the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in the Initial Registration Statement at the time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective but 2

excluding Form T-1, each as amended at the time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective, are hereinafter collectively called the "Registration Statement"; the prospectus relating to the Shares, in the form in which it has most recently been filed, or transmitted for filing, with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter called the "Prospectus"; any reference herein to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the applicable form under the Act, as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Initial Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and any reference to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall be deemed to refer to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable Designated Shares in the form in which it is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such filing); (b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Shares through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Shares; (c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this representation and 3

warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Shares through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Shares; (d) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus; (e) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of Delaware, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; (f) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; (g) The Shares have been duly and validly authorized, and, when the Firm Shares are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Shares and, in the case of any Optional Shares, pursuant to Over-allotment Options (as defined in Section 3 hereof) with respect to such Shares, such Designated Shares will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; the Shares conform to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Designated Shares will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented with respect to such Designated Shares; (h) The issue and sale of the Shares and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement and each Over-allotment Option, if any, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or any statute (including the Student Loan Marketing Association Reorganization Act of 1996) or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement or any Over-allotment Option, except such as have been, or will have been prior to each Time of Delivery (as 4

defined in Section 4 hereof), obtained under the Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters; and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters; (i) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject, which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the current or future consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries; and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others; (j) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or in default in the performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other material agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound; (k) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Description of Preferred Stock", insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Shares, under the caption "U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters", and under the caption "Underwriting", insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate complete and fair; (l) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares, will not be an "investment company", as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"); (m) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates does business with the government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba within the meaning of Section 517.075, Florida Statutes; (n) Arthur Andersen LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, and Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, are each independent public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and (o) The Company has reviewed its operations and that of its subsidiaries and has performed certain procedures in connection with any third parties with which the Company or any of its subsidiaries has a material relationship to evaluate the extent to which the business or operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries will be affected by the Year 2000 Problem. As a result of such review, the Company has a reasonable basis to conclude that the Year 2000 Problem will not have a material adverse effect on the general affairs, management, the current or future consolidated financial position, business prospects, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries or result in any material loss or interference with the Company's business or operations. The "Year 2000 5

Problem" as used herein means any significant risk that computer hardware or software used in the receipt, transmission, processing, manipulation, storage, retrieval, retransmission or other utilization of data or in the operation of mechanical or electrical systems of any kind will not, in the case of dates or time periods occurring after December 31, 1999, function at least as effectively as in the case of dates or time periods occurring prior to January 1, 2000. 3. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any Designated Shares and authorization by the Representatives of the release of the Firm Shares, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Shares for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented. The Company may specify in the Pricing Agreement applicable to any Designated Shares that the Company thereby grants to the Underwriters the right (an "Over-allotment Option") to purchase at their election up to the number of Optional Shares set forth in such Pricing Agreement, on the terms set forth in the paragraph above, for the sole purpose of covering over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may be exercised by written notice from the Representatives to the Company, given within a period specified in the Pricing Agreement, setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the date on which such Optional Shares are to be delivered, as determined by the Representatives but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) or, unless the Representatives and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than or later than the respective number of business days after the date of such notice set forth in such Pricing Agreement. The number of Optional Shares to be added to the number of Firm Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter as set forth in Schedule I to the Pricing Agreement applicable to such Designated Shares shall be, in each case, the number of Optional Shares which the Company has been advised by the Representatives have been attributed to such Underwriter; PROVIDED THAT, if the Company has not been so advised, the number of Optional Shares to be so added shall be, in each case, that proportion of Optional Shares which the number of Firm Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter under such Pricing Agreement bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares (rounded as the Representatives may determine to the nearest 100 shares). The total number of Designated Shares to be purchased by all the Underwriters pursuant to such Pricing Agreement shall be the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I to such Pricing Agreement plus the aggregate number of Optional Shares which the Underwriters elect to purchase. 4. Certificates for the Firm Shares and the Optional Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to the Pricing Agreement relating thereto, in the form specified in such Pricing Agreement, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours' prior notice to the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Representatives for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to Goldman, Sachs & Co. at least forty-eight hours in advance as specified in such Pricing Agreement, (i) with respect to the Firm Shares, all in the manner and at the place and time and date specified in such Pricing Agreement or at such other place and time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing, such time and date being herein called the "First Time of Delivery" and (ii) with respect to the Optional Shares, if any, in the manner and at the time and date specified by the Representatives in the written notice given by the Representatives of the Underwriters' election to purchase such 6

Optional Shares, or at such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing, such time and date, if not the First Time of Delivery, herein called the "Second Time of Delivery". Each such time and date for delivery is herein called a "Time of Delivery". 5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of any Designated Shares: (a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended and supplemented in relation to the applicable Designated Shares in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission's close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of the Pricing Agreement relating to the applicable Designated Shares or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b); to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to such Shares and prior to any Time of Delivery for such Shares which shall be disapproved by the Representatives for such Shares promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of any such amendment or supplement after any Time of Delivery for such Shares and furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of such Shares, and during such same period to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Shares, of the suspension of the qualification of such Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Shares or suspending any such qualification, promptly to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order; (b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of such Shares, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction; (c) Prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus in New York City as amended or supplemented in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact 7

necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; (d) To make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158); and (e) During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated Shares and continuing to and including the later of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for such Designated Shares, as notified to the Company by the Representatives and (ii) the last Time of Delivery for such Designated Shares, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, except as provided hereunder, any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Designated Shares, including but not limited to any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Shares or any such substantially similar securities (other than pursuant to employee stock option plans existing on, or upon the conversion of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated Shares) without the prior written consent of the Representatives; (f) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act. (g) To use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, Shares on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange"). 6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Shares under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement, any Blue Sky Memorandum and legal investment survey, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under 8

state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey(s); (iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Shares; (v) any filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any required reviews by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Shares; (vi) any fees and expenses in connection with listing the Shares; (vii) the cost of preparing certificates for the Shares; (viii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar or dividend disbursing agent; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder and under any Over-allotment Options which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 8 and 11 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make. 7. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Designated Shares under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Shares shall be subject, in the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company in or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Shares are, at and as of each Time of Delivery for such Designated Shares, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions: (a) The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to such Designated Shares shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives' reasonable satisfaction; (b) Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to the Representatives such written opinion or opinions (a draft of each such opinion is attached as Annex II(a) hereto), dated each Time of Delivery for such Designated Shares, with respect to the matters covered in paragraphs (i), (ii), (iv) and (viii) of subsection (c) below as well as such other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters; (c) The general counsel of or other counsel employed by the Company, or outside counsel for the Company satisfactory to the Representatives, shall have furnished to the Representatives their written opinions (a draft of each such opinion is attached as Annex II(b) hereto), dated each Time of Delivery for such Designated Shares, respectively, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that: (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with 9

power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented; (ii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company (including the Designated Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery) have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; and the Designated Shares conform to the description of the Shares contained in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented; (iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the current or future consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries; and to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others; (iv) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Shares have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; (v) The issue and sale of the Designated Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Shares and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or any statute (including the Student Loan Marketing Association Reorganization Act of 1996) or any order, rule or regulation known to such counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its properties; (vi) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Designated Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or such Pricing Agreement, except such as have been obtained under the Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Designated Shares by the Underwriters; (vii) Neither the Company nor any of its material subsidiaries is in violation of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or in default in the performance or observance of 10

any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other material agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound; (viii) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Description of Preferred Stock", insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Shares, under the caption "U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters", insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws referred to therein, and under the caption "Underwriting", insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, constitute a fair summary of such terms, laws and documents; (ix) The Company is not an "Investment Company", as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act; (x) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (other than the financial statements, related schedules and other financial information therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and they have no reason to believe that any of such documents, when they became effective or were so filed, as the case may be, contained, in the case of a registration statement which became effective under the Act, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or, in the case of other documents which were filed under the Act or the Exchange Act with the Commission, an 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 when such documents were so filed, not misleading; and (xi) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, and any further amendments and supplements thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements, related schedules and other financial information therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; although they do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, except for those referred to in the opinion in subsection (viii) of this Section 7(c), they have no reason to believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration Statement or any further amendment thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which 11

such counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that, as of its date, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an 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 or that, as of such Time of Delivery, either the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements, related schedules and other financial information therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits 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 they do not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to be filed or any contracts or other documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented which are not filed or incorporated by reference or described as required; Such counsel may rely on the opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as to matters of New York law and as to the statements in the Prospectus under the caption "U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters." (d) On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated Shares at a time prior to the execution of the Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Shares and at each Time of Delivery for such Designated Shares, the independent accountants of the Company who have certified the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of the most recent report filed with the Commission containing financial statements and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, if the date of such report is later than such effective date, and a letter dated such Time of Delivery, respectively, to the effect set forth in Annex II hereto, and with respect to such letter dated such Time of Delivery, as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives (the executed copy of the letter delivered prior to the execution of this Agreement is attached as Annex I(a) hereto and a draft of the form of letter to be delivered on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and as of each Time of Delivery is attached as Annex I(b) hereto); (e) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Shares any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Shares, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Shares there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting 12

the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Shares, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of the Representatives so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Designated Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as amended relating to the Designated Shares; (f) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Shares (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company's debt securities or preferred stock by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company's debt securities or preferred stock; (g) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Shares there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company's securities on the Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York State authorities, or a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in the District of Columbia is declared by either Federal or District of Columbia authorities; or (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, if the effect of any such event specified in this clause (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Firm Shares or Optional Shares or both on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or supplemented relating to the Designated Shares; (h) The Shares at each Time of Delivery shall have been duly listed, subject to notice of issuance, on the Exchange; (i) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement; and (j) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representatives at each Time of Delivery for the Designated Shares certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (e) of this Section and as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request. 8. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect 13

thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Shares, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Shares, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter of Designated Shares through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Shares. (b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Shares, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Shares, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred. (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such 14

subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include any statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party. The consent in this last sentence shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed and the indemnifying party agrees that the indemnified party shall in all cases be justified in withholding consent unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party. (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Shares on the other from the offering of the Designated Shares to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Shares on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters. The relative fault 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 on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) 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 which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), 15

no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the applicable Designated Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which 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 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters of Designated Shares in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such Shares and not joint. (e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act. 9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Firm Shares or Optional Shares which it has agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Shares, the Representatives may in their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to purchase such Shares on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase such Shares on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed period, the Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, or the Company notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone a Time of Delivery for such Shares for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Shares. (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of the Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, to be purchased at the respective Time of Delivery, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Shares and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, which such Underwriter agreed 16

to purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default. (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate number of the Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, to be purchased at the respective Time of Delivery, as referred to in subsection (b) above, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then the Pricing Agreement relating to such Firm Shares or the Over-allotment Option relating to such Optional Shares, as the case may be, shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default. 10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares. 11. If any Pricing Agreement or Over-allotment Option shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Firm Shares or Optional Shares with respect to which such Pricing Agreement shall have been terminated except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason, Designated Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of such Designated Shares, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Designated Shares except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof. 12. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters of Designated Shares shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the Pricing Agreement; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by facsimile transmission or registered mail to SLM Holding Corporation, 11600 Sallie Mae Drive, Reston, Virginia 20193, facsimile transmission number (703) 810-7589, Attention: General 17

Counsel's Office; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters' Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by the Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof. 13. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase. 14. Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used herein, the term "Business Day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office in Washington, D.C. is open for business. 15. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH PRICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 16. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. 18

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us seven counterparts hereof. Very truly yours, SLM Holding Corporation By: /s/ Mark G. Overend ----------------------------------- Name: Mark G. Overend Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Accepted as of the date hereof: Goldman, Sachs & Co. CIBC World Markets Prudential Securities Inc. Salomon Smith Barney Inc. By: /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co. --------------------------------- (Goldman, Sachs & Co.) 19

ANNEX I PRICING AGREEMENT Goldman, Sachs & Co., CIBC World Markets Prudential Securities Inc. Salomon Smith Barney Inc. As Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto, c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co., 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004. November 10, 1999 Ladies and Gentlemen: SLM Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting Agreement, dated November 10, 1999 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), between the Company on the one hand and Goldman, Sachs & Co., CIBC World Markets, Prudential Securities Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. on the other hand, to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") the Shares specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated Shares" consisting of Firm Shares and any Optional Shares the Underwriters may elect to purchase). Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each representation and warranty which refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein defined), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Designated Shares which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representatives designated to act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf of each of the Underwriters of the Designated Shares pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in such Section 12 are set forth in Schedule II hereto. An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Shares, in the form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the Commission. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, (a) the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the

Company, at the time and place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto, the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and, (b) in the event and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase Optional Shares, as provided below, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto that portion of the number of Optional Shares as to which such election shall have been exercised. The Company hereby grants to each of the Underwriters the right to purchase at their election up to the number of Optional Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto on the terms referred to in the paragraph above for the sole purpose of covering over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may be exercised by written notice from the Representatives to the Company given within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Pricing Agreement, setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the date on which such Optional Shares are to be delivered, as determined by the Representatives, but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery or, unless the Representatives and the Company otherwise agree in writing, no earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice. 2

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us seven counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof, including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination, upon request, but without warranty on the part of the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof. Very truly yours, SLM Holding Corporation By: /s/ Mark G. Overend ------------------------------------ Name: Mark G. Overend Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Accepted as of the date hereof: Goldman, Sachs & Co. CIBC World Markets Prudential Securities Inc. Salomon Smith Barney Inc. By: /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co. ------------------------------------- (Goldman, Sachs & Co.) On behalf of each of the Underwriters 3

SCHEDULE I Maximum Number of Optional Number of Shares Which Firm Shares May be Underwriter to be Purchased Purchased ----------- --------------- -------------- Goldman, Sachs & Co. ................................................... 1,800,000 270,000 Salomon Smith Barney Inc................................................ 600,000 90,000 CIBC World Markets Corp................................................. 300,000 45,000 Prudential Securities Incorporated ..................................... 300,000 45,000 Total................................................. --------------- -------------- 3,000,000 450,000 4

SCHEDULE II TITLE OF DESIGNATED SHARES: 6.97% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series A NUMBER OF DESIGNATED SHARES: Number of Firm Shares: 3,000,000 Maximum Number of Optional Shares: 450,000 INITIAL OFFERING PRICE TO PUBLIC: $50.00 per Share PURCHASE PRICE BY UNDERWRITERS: $49.00 per Share COMMISSION PAYABLE TO UNDERWRITERS: $1.00 per Share in Federal same-day funds FORM OF DESIGNATED SHARES: Definitive form, to be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of the Representatives. SPECIFIED FUNDS FOR PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE: Federal (same-day) funds TIME OF DELIVERY: 10:00 a.m. (New York City time), November 16, 1999 5

CLOSING LOCATION: Reston, Virginia NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES: Designated Representatives: Goldman, Sachs & Co. 85 Broad Street New York, New York 10004 OTHER TERMS: As more fully described in the Prospectus Supplement dated November 10, 1999, if, prior to May 16, 2001, Congress enacts amendments to the Internal Revenue Code that reduce the percentage of the dividends-received deduction below 70%, the amount of dividends payable on the Shares will be adjusted to offset the effect of that reduction. However, the Company will make no adjustment to the extent that the percentage of the dividends-received deduction is reduced below 50%. 6

EXHIBIT 4.1 SLM HOLDING CORPORATION CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, POWERS, PREFERENCES, RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF 6.97% CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES A I, Mary F. Eure, Secretary of SLM Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), do hereby certify that, pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and Article Fourth of the Corporation's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (a) on September 23, 1999 the board of directors of the Corporation (the "Board of Directors") appointed a Preferred Stock Issuance Committee of the Board of Directors and delegated authority to such committee to create and designate one or more series of preferred stock of the Corporation and, to the extent that the powers, preferences and other special rights of such series, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, are not stated and expressed in the Corporation's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, to fix the powers, preferences and other special rights of such series and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions and other terms and conditions thereof, and (b) on November 10, 1999, the Preferred Stock Issuance Committee adopted the resolutions shown immediately below, which resolutions of the Board of Directors and the Preferred Stock Issuance Committee are now, and at all times since their respective dates of adoption have been, in full force and effect: RESOLVED, that the Preferred Stock Issuance Committee does hereby create, authorize and provide for the issuance of the 6.97% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series A, par value $0.20 per share, with the following designation, powers, preferences, rights, privileges, qualifications, limitations, restrictions, terms and conditions: 1. DESIGNATION, PAR VALUE, NUMBER OF SHARES AND SENIORITY The series of preferred stock of the Corporation created hereby (the "Series A Preferred Stock") shall be designated "6.97% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series A," shall have a par value of $0.20 per share and shall consist of up to 4,000,000 shares. Subject to the requirements of applicable law and the terms and conditions of the Corporation's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall be permitted to increase the authorized number of shares of such series at any time. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, both as to dividends and upon liquidation, prior to the common stock of the Corporation (the "Common Stock") to the extent provided in this Certificate and the Corporation's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and shall rank, both as to dividends and upon liquidation, on a parity with any other class or series of preferred stock the Corporation may from time to time issue (the "Parity Preferred Stock"). 1

2. DIVIDENDS (a) The holders of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, ratably, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, out of funds legally available therefor, cumulative, cash dividends at the annual rate of 6.97%, or $3.485, per share of Series A Preferred Stock. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock shall accrue from but not including November 16, 1999 and are payable when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 30 and October 31 of each year (each, a "Dividend Payment Date") commencing on January 31, 2000. If a Dividend Payment Date is not a "Business Day," the related dividend shall be paid on the next Business Day with the same force and effect as though paid on the Dividend Payment Date, without any increase to account for the period from such Dividend Payment Date through the date of actual payment. For these purposes, "Business Day" means a day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday, (ii) a day on which New York City banks are closed or (iii) a day on which the offices of the Corporation are closed. The "Dividend Period" relating to a Dividend Payment Date shall be the period from but not including the preceding Dividend Payment Date (or from but not including November 16, 1999, in the case of the first Dividend Payment Date) through and including the related Dividend Payment Date. If declared, the dividend payable in respect of the first Dividend Period will be $0.7357 per share. The amount of dividends payable in respect of any quarterly Dividend Period other than the first Dividend Period shall be computed at a rate equal to 6.97% divided by 4; the amount of dividends payable in respect of any shorter period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. Each such dividend shall be paid to the holders of record of outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock as they appear in the books and records of the Corporation on such record date as shall be fixed in advance by the Board of Directors, not to be earlier than 45 days nor later than 10 days preceding the applicable Dividend Payment Date. No dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on the Common Stock or any other class or series of stock ranking junior to or (except as hereinafter provided) on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends unless all accrued and unpaid dividends have been declared and paid or set apart for payment on the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock in respect of all prior Dividend Periods. In the event that the Corporation shall not pay any one or more dividends or any part thereof on the Series A Preferred Stock, the holders of that Series A Preferred Stock shall not have any cause of action against the Corporation in respect of such non-payment so long as no dividend is paid on any junior or parity stock in violation of the next preceding sentence. No Common Stock or any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends may be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any payment be made to or available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of such stock) unless all accrued and unpaid dividends have been declared and paid or set apart for payment on the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock in respect of all prior Dividend Periods; provided, however, that any moneys theretofore deposited in any 2

sinking fund with respect to any such stock in compliance with the provision of such sinking fund may thereafter be applied to the purchase or redemption of such stock in accordance with the terms of such sinking fund, regardless of whether at the time of such application full cumulative dividends upon the Series A Preferred Stock outstanding to the most recent Dividend Payment Date shall have been paid or declared and set apart for payment by the Corporation; provided that, if and when authorized by the Board of Directors, any such junior or parity stock or Common Stock may be converted into or exchanged for stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends. (b) If, prior to May 16, 2001, one or more amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), are enacted that reduce the percentage of the dividends-received deduction (70% as of November 10, 1999) as specified in section 243(a)(1) of the Code or any successor provision (the "Dividends-Received Percentage"), certain adjustments may be made in respect of the dividends payable by the Corporation, and Post Declaration Date Dividends and Retroactive Dividends (as such terms are defined below) may become payable, as described below. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Corporation will make no adjustment for any amendments to the Code on or after May 16, 2001 that reduce the Dividends-Received Percentage. The amount of each dividend payable (if declared) per share of Series A Preferred Stock for dividend payments made on or after the effective date of such change in the Code will be adjusted by multiplying the amount of the dividend payable pursuant to clause (a) of this Section 2 (before adjustment) by a factor, which shall be the number determined in accordance with the following formula (the "DRD Formula"), and rounding the result to the nearest cent (with one-half cent rounded up): 1 - .35 (1 - .70) ----------------- 1 - .35 (1 - DRP) For the purposes of the DRD Formula, "DRP" means the Dividends-Received Percentage (expressed as a decimal) applicable to the dividend in question; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Dividends-Received Percentage applicable to the dividend in question is less than 50%, then the DRP will equal .50. No amendment to the Code, other than a change in the percentage of the dividends-received deduction set forth in section 243(a)(1) of the Code or any successor provision, or a change in the percentage of the dividends-received deduction for certain categories of stock, which change is applicable to the Series A Preferred Stock, will give rise to an adjustment. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, if, with respect to any such amendment, the Corporation receives an unqualified opinion of nationally recognized independent tax counsel selected by the Corporation or a private letter ruling or similar form of assurance from the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") to the effect that such an amendment does not apply to a dividend payable on the Series A Preferred Stock, then such amendment shall not result in the adjustment provided for pursuant to the DRD Formula with respect to such dividend. The opinion referenced in the previous sentence shall be based upon the legislation amending or 3

establishing the DRP or upon a published pronouncement of the IRS addressing such legislation. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to dividends herein shall mean dividends as adjusted by the DRD Formula. The Corporation's calculation of the dividends payable as so adjusted shall be final and not subject to review absent manifest error. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such amendment to the Code is enacted after the dividend payable on a Dividend Payment Date has been declared but before such dividend is paid, the amount of the dividend payable on such Dividend Payment Date shall not be increased. Instead, additional dividends (the "Post Declaration Date Dividends"), equal to the excess, if any, of (x) the product of the dividend paid by the Corporation on such Dividend Payment Date and the DRD Formula (where the DRP used in the DRD Formula would be equal to the greater of the Dividends-Received Percentage applicable to the dividend in question and .50) over (y) the dividend paid by the Corporation on such Dividend Payment Date, shall be payable (if declared) to holders of Series A Preferred Stock on the record date applicable to the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date, or, if the Series A Preferred Stock is called for redemption prior to such record date, to holders of Series A Preferred Stock on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, in addition to any other amounts payable on such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, if, with respect to any such amendment, the Corporation receives either an unqualified opinion of nationally recognized independent tax counsel selected by the Corporation or a private letter ruling or similar form of assurance from the IRS to the effect that such amendment does not apply to a divided so payable on the Preferred Stock, then such amendment will not result in the payment of Post Declaration Date Dividends. The opinion referenced in the previous sentence must be based upon the legislation amending or establishing the DRP or upon a published pronouncement of the IRS addressing such legislation. If any such amendment to the Code is enacted and the reduction in the Dividends-Received Percentage retroactively applies to a Dividend Payment Date as to which the Corporation previously paid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock (each, an "Affected Dividend Payment Date"), the Corporation shall pay (if declared) additional dividends (the "Retroactive Dividends") to holders of the Series A Preferred Stock on the record date applicable to the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date (or, if such amendment is enacted after the dividend payable on such Dividend Payment Date has been declared, to holders on the record date applicable to the second succeeding Dividend Payment Date following the date of enactment) in an amount equal to the excess of (x) the product of the dividend paid by the Corporation on each Affected Dividend Payment Date and the DRD Formula (where the DRP used in the DRD Formula would be equal to the greater of the Dividends-Received Percentage and .50 applied to each Affected Dividend Payment Date) over (y) the sum of the dividend paid by the Corporation on each Affected Dividend Payment Date. The Corporation will make only one payment of Retroactive Dividends for any such amendment. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, if, with respect to any such amendment, the Corporation receives either an unqualified opinion of nationally recognized independent tax counsel selected by the Corporation or a private letter ruling or similar form of assurance from the IRS to the effect that such amendment does not apply to a dividend payable on an Affected Dividend Payment Date for the Series A Preferred Stock, then such amendment will not result in the payment of Retroactive Dividends with respect to such Affected Dividend Payment Date. The opinion referenced in the 4

previous sentence must be based upon the legislation amending or establishing the DRP or upon a published pronouncement of the IRS addressing such legislation. In the event that the amount of dividends payable per share of the Series A Preferred Stock is adjusted pursuant to the DRD Formula and/or Post Declaration Date Dividends or Retroactive Dividends are to be paid, the Corporation will give notice of each such adjustment and, if applicable, any Post Declaration Date Dividends and Retroactive Dividends to be paid as soon as practicable to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may choose to pay dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock without the payment of any dividends on the Common Stock or any other class or series of stock from time to time outstanding ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends. (d) No dividend shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any shares of the Series A Preferred Stock if at the same time any arrears or default exists in the payment of dividends on any outstanding class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking prior to or (except as provided herein) on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends. (e) Holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, in cash or in property, other than as herein provided and shall not be entitled to interest, or any sum in lieu of interest, on or in respect of any dividend payment. 3. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION (a) The Series A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable prior to November 16, 2009. Subject to this limitation and to any further limitations imposed by law, the Corporation may redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, out of funds legally available therefor, at the redemption price of $50.00 per share plus an amount, determined in accordance with Section 2 above, equal to the amount of the dividend accrued and unpaid for all prior Dividend Periods and for the then-current Dividend Period to but not including the date of such redemption. If less than all of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall select shares to be redeemed from the outstanding shares not previously called for redemption by lot or pro rata (as nearly as possible) or by any other method which the Corporation in its sole discretion deems equitable. (b) In the event the Corporation shall redeem any or all of the Series A Preferred Stock as aforesaid, notice of such redemption shall be given by the Corporation by first class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, to each holder of record of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock being redeemed, at such holder's address as the same appears in the books and records of the Corporation. Each such notice shall state the number of shares being redeemed, the redemption price, the redemption date and the place at which such holder's certificate(s) representing shares of the Series A Preferred Stock must be presented for cancellation or exchanges, as the case may be, 5

upon such redemption. Any notice that is so mailed shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the stockholder received such notice. Failure to duly give notice, or any defect in the notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series A Preferred Stock being redeemed. (c) If any redemption date is not a Business Day, then payment of the redemption price may be made on the next Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the redemption date, and no interest, additional dividends or other sums will accrue on the amount payable from the redemption date to the next Business Day. (d) Notice having been mailed as aforesaid, from and after the redemption date specified therein and upon payment of the consideration set forth in Section 3(a) above, said shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding, and all rights of the holders thereof as holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall cease, with respect to shares so redeemed. (e) Subject to applicable law, any shares of the Series A Preferred Stock which shall have been redeemed shall, after such redemption, no longer have the status of authorized, issued or outstanding shares. (f) The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be subject to any sinking fund or to any mandatory redemption. 4. PREFERRED STOCK BOARD COMMITTEE; LIMITED RIGHTS TO VOTE AND ELECT BOARD OBSERVERS At the first regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors after the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors shall form a committee (the "Preferred Stock Committee") of the Board of Directors whose purpose shall be to monitor and evaluate proposed actions of the Corporation that may impact the rights of holders of Series A Preferred Stock, including the payment of dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock, and to report to the Board of Directors thereon. The Board of Directors shall designate from among its "independent directors" (as such term is defined (i) by the Corporation's Bylaws as then in effect or (ii) by New York Stock Exchange rules) at least three directors to serve on the Preferred Stock Committee. In designating the independent directors to serve on the Preferred Stock Committee, the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, apply either of the foregoing definitions. The Preferred Stock Committee shall meet at least once a year. Except as set forth in this Section 4 and in Section 9(h) below, the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not have any voting powers, either general or special. Whenever dividends on any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears for four or more quarterly Dividend Periods, whether or not consecutive: (a) The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as single class with all other classes or series of capital stock of the Corporation upon which like voting rights have 6

been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of two observers to the board of directors, will be entitled to vote for the election of a total of two board observers at a special meeting called by an officer of the Corporation at the request of holders of record of at least 10% of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock or by the holders of any such other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders, until all dividends accumulated on the Series A Preferred Stock for all prior Dividend Periods and the then current Dividend Period have been fully paid. (b) If and when full cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for all prior Dividend Periods and the then current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment in full, the right of holders of Series A Preferred Stock to elect those two board observers will cease and, unless there are other classes and series of capital stock of the Corporation upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, all rights of each of the two board observers will immediately and automatically terminate. (c) The Corporation shall provide to the board observers notice, and a detailed agenda (to the extent prepared for any member of the Board of Directors), of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee of the Board of Directors which has been delegated responsibility for matters relating to the payment or nonpayment of dividends, including the Preferred Stock Committee. The Corporation shall also provide to the board observers copies of all materials that may in any way be related to the payment or nonpayment of dividends that are provided to the Board of Directors and to the members of any such committees. The board observers shall be subject to the same confidentiality obligations with respect to such materials as bind the Board of Directors. The board observers may attend any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof which has been delegated responsibility for matters relating to the payment or nonpayment of dividends, including the Preferred Stock Committee; the board observers may participate in any such meeting, include statements in the minutes of such meetings, and present information and make recommendations to, and ask questions of, the Board of Directors or the Preferred Stock Committee with respect to all matters. If a special meeting of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock for the election of the board observers is not called by an officer of the Corporation within 30 days after request, then the holders of record of at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock may designate a holder of Series A Preferred Stock to call that meeting at the Corporation's expense. The Corporation will pay all costs and expenses of calling and holding any meeting and of electing board observers as described above. The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required will be effected, all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been redeemed or called for redemption and sufficient funds have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption. 7

In any matter in which the Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to vote, including any action by written consent, each share of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote, except that when shares of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation have the right to vote with the Series A Preferred Stock as a single class on any matter, the Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of each such other class or series will have one vote for each $50.00 of liquidation preference (excluding accrued dividends). 5. NO CONVERSION OR EXCHANGE RIGHTS The holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not have any right to convert such shares into or exchange such shares for any other class or series of stock or obligations of the Corporation. 6. NO PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS No holder of the Series A Preferred Stock shall as such holder have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any other shares, rights, options or other securities of any class of the Corporation which at any time may be sold or offered for sale by the Corporation. 7. LIQUIDATION RIGHTS AND PREFERENCE (a) Except as otherwise set forth herein, upon the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, after payment of or provision for the liabilities of the Corporation and the expenses of such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, the holders of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders, before any payment or distribution shall be made on the Common Stock or any other class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock upon liquidation, the amount of $50.00 per share plus an amount, determined in accordance with Section 2 above, equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends for all prior Dividend Periods and for the then-current Dividend Period through and including the date of payment in respect of such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, and the holders of the outstanding shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock upon liquidation shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders, before any such payment or distribution shall be made on the Common Stock or any other class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock and to such parity stock upon liquidation, any corresponding preferential amount to which the holders of such parity stock may, by the terms thereof, be entitled; provided, however, that if the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders shall be insufficient for the payment of the full amounts to which the holders of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of the outstanding shares of such parity stock shall be entitled to receive upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation as aforesaid, then all of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders shall be distributed to the holders of outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and to the holders of outstanding shares of such parity stock pro rata, so that the amounts so distributed to holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and to holders of such classes or series of such parity stock, respectively, shall bear to each 8

other the same ratio that the respective distributive amounts to which they are so entitled (including any adjustment due to changes in the Dividends-Received Percentage) bear to each other. After the payment of the aforesaid amounts to which they are entitled, the holders of outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of outstanding shares of any such parity stock shall not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets of the Corporation. (b) Neither the sale of all or substantially all of the property or business of the Corporation, nor the merger, consolidation or combination of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or entity, shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for the purpose of this Section 7. 8. ADDITIONAL CLASSES OR SERIES OF STOCK The Board of Directors shall have the right at any time in the future to authorize, create and issue, by resolution or resolutions, one or more additional classes or series of stock of the Corporation, and to determine and fix the distinguishing characteristics and the relative rights, preferences, privileges and other terms of the shares thereof. Any such class or series of stock may rank on a parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation or otherwise. No such class or series of stock of the Corporation may rank prior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation or otherwise. 9. MISCELLANEOUS (a) Any stock of any class or series of the Corporation shall be deemed to rank: (i) on a parity with shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, whether or not the dividend rates or amounts, dividend payment dates or redemption of liquidation prices per share, if any, be different from those of the Series A Preferred Stock, if the holders of such class or series shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, as the case may be, in proportion to their respective dividend rates or amounts or liquidation prices, without preference or priority, one over the other, as between the holders of such class or series and the holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock; and (ii) junior to shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if such class or series shall be Common Stock, or if the holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of such class or series. (b) The Corporation and any agent of the Corporation may deem and treat the holder of a share or shares of Series A Preferred Stock, as shown in the Corporation's books and records, as the absolute owner of such share or shares of Series A Preferred Stock for the purpose of receiving payment of dividends in respect of such share or shares of Series A Preferred Stock 9

and for all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the Corporation nor any agent or the Corporation shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All payments made to or upon the order of any such persons shall be valid and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge liabilities for moneys payable by the Corporation on or with respect to any such share or shares of Series A Preferred Stock. (c) The shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, when duly issued, shall be fully paid and non-assessable. (d) For purposes of this Certificate, the term "the Corporation" means SLM Holding Corporation and any successor thereto by operation of law or by reason of a merger, consolidation or combination. (e) Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Certificate is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the Corporation shall be given or served in writing addressed (unless and until another address shall be published by the Corporation) to SLM Holding Corporation, 11600 Sallie Mae Drive, Reston, Virginia 20193, Attn: General Counsel's Office. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Corporation shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of a writing by the Corporation. Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Certificate is required or permitted to be given or served by the Corporation hereunder may be given or served by being deposited first class, postage prepaid, in the United States mail addressed (i) to the holder as such holder's name and address may appear at such time in the books and records of the Corporation or (ii) to a person or entity other than a holder of record of the Series A Preferred Stock, to such person or entity at such address as appears to the Corporation to be appropriate at such time. Such notice, demand or other communication shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, upon mailing. (h) The Corporation, by or under the authority of the Board of Directors, may amend, alter, supplement or repeal any provision of this Certificate pursuant to applicable law and the following terms and conditions: (i) The consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of all of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or by a vote at a meeting called for the purpose at which the holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall vote together as a class, shall be necessary for authorizing, effecting or validating the amendment, alteration, supplementation or repeal of the provisions of this Certificate if such amendment, alteration, supplementation or repeal would materially and adversely affect the powers, preferences, rights, privileges, qualifications, limitations, restrictions, terms or conditions of the Series A Preferred Stock. The creation and issuance of any other class or series of stock, or the issuance of additional shares of any existing class or series of stock of the Corporation (including the Series A Preferred Stock), whether ranking on parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock, shall not be deemed to constitute such an amendment, alteration, supplementation or repeal. 10

(ii) Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote per share on matters on which their consent is required pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (h). In connection with any meeting of such holders, the Board of Directors shall fix a record date, neither earlier than 60 days nor later than 10 days prior to the date of such meeting, and holders of record of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock on such record date shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at any such meeting and any adjournment. The Board of Directors, or such person or persons as it may designate, may establish reasonable rules and procedures as to the solicitation of the consent of holders of the Series A Preferred Stock at any such meeting or otherwise, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of any national securities exchange on which the Series A Preferred Stock maybe listed at such time. (i) RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A SHARE OR SHARES OF THE SERIES A Preferred Stock BY OR ON BEHALF OF A HOLDER SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY THE HOLDER (AND ALL OTHERS HAVING BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SUCH SHARE OR SHARES) OF ALL OF THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS CERTIFICATE. NO SIGNATURE OR OTHER FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT TO THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS CERTIFICATE SHALL BE NECESSARY FOR ITS OPERATION OR EFFECT AS BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND THE HOLDER (AND ALL SUCH OTHERS). In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the Corporation this 10th day of November, 1999. [seal] /s/ Mary F. Eure --------------------------------------- Mary F. Eure, Secretary 11