<html>

<head>






</head>

<body lang="EN-US">

<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 20, 2005</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Registration No.&nbsp;333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<div style="border:none;border-top:double windowtext 9.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">

<p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

</div>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED
STATES<br>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Washington, D.C.&#160; 20549</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM&nbsp;S-8</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNDER<br>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center">

</font></div>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">MERCANTILE
BANKSHARES CORPORATION</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">MARYLAND</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">52-0898572</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Mercantile Bank&nbsp;&amp; Trust Building<br>
Two Hopkins Plaza, P.O.&nbsp;Box 1477<br>
Baltimore, Maryland&#160; 21203</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">MERCANTILE BANKSHARES CORPORATION STOCK RETAINER AND<br>
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Full Title of the Plan)</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">John L. Unger<br>
Senior Vice President and General Counsel<br>
Mercantile Bankshares Corporation<br>
Two Hopkins Plaza, P.O.&nbsp;Box 1477<br>
Baltimore, Maryland&#160; 21203<br>
(410) 237-5900</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Name, Address and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">COPY TO:</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Melissa Allison Warren<br>
Venable LLP<br>
Two Hopkins Plaza, 18<sup>th</sup> Floor<br>
Baltimore, Maryland 21201(410) 244-7400</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="22%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.18%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Title Of Securities<br>
  To Be Registered</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.84%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="15%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.12%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Amount To Be<br>
  Registered (1)</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.06%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="17%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:17.04%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Proposed Maximum<br>
  Offering Price Per Share</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.06%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="21%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:21.56%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Proposed Maximum<br>
  Aggregate Offering Price (2)</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.26%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="14%" colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:14.36%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Amount Of<br>
  Registration Fee (2)</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.5%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="22%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.18%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Common Stock, $2.00 par value(1)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.84%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="15%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.12%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">445,000 shares</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.06%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="17%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:17.04%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Not applicable</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.06%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="21%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:21.56%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Not applicable</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.26%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.3%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">$</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="13%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-top:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.06%;">
  <p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2,742.43</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.5%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr height="0">
  <td width="166" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="14" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="113" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="15" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="127" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="15" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="161" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="17" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="10" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="98" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="11" style="border:none;"></td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="left">

</font></div>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 22.5pt;text-indent:-22.5pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(1)</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Represents the maximum number of shares
issuable under the Plan, and also covers an indeterminate number of additional
shares which may be necessary to adjust the number of shares reserved for
issuance under the Plans as a result of any future stock split, stock dividend
or similar adjustment. Includes as to each share of Common Stock a right, not
currently exercisable or separately tradable, to purchase additional securities
pursuant to the Registrant&#146;s Shareholders Protection Rights Agreement.</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 22.5pt;text-indent:-22.5pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 22.5pt;text-indent:-22.5pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(2)</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>The registration fee has been computed
pursuant to Rules&nbsp;457(c)&nbsp;and 457(h)(1)&nbsp;under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, based on the average of the high and low prices per share
for the Registrant&#146;s common stock ($52.36), as reported on The Nasdaq National
Market System on May 19, 2005.</p>

<div style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 9.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">

<p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 22.5pt;padding:0in;text-indent:-22.5pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

</div>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 22.5pt;text-indent:-22.5pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="2" width="100%" noshade color="gray" align="left">

</font></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\slasley\05-9726-1\task447364\9726-1-ba.htm',USER='slasley',CD='May 20 14:45 2005' -->


<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">


<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">PART&nbsp;I</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Documents
containing the information specified in Part&nbsp;I of this Form&nbsp;S-8 have
been and/or will be sent or given to Plan participants as specified by Rule&nbsp;428(b)(1)&nbsp;of
the Securities Act of 1933 (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;). In accordance with the
instructions to Part&nbsp;I of Form&nbsp;S-8, such documents will not be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) either as part
of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements
pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424 under the Securities Act. These documents and the
documents incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part&nbsp;II of this
Registration Statement, taken together, constitute the prospectus as required
by Section&nbsp;10(a)&nbsp;of the Securities Act.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">PART&nbsp;II</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .75in;text-indent:-.75in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Item 3.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><u>Incorporation
of Documents by Reference.</u></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The following
documents previously filed with the Commission by Mercantile Bankshares
Corporation (the &#147;Company&#148; or &#147;Registrant&#148;) are incorporated herein by
reference to the extent such documents are filed, not furnished: (a)&nbsp;the
Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31,
2004; (b)&nbsp;the Company&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter
ended March&nbsp;31, 2005; (c)&nbsp;the Company&#146;s Current Reports on Form&nbsp;8-K
filed on January&nbsp;14, 2005, January&nbsp;25, 2005, March&nbsp;8, 2005, March&nbsp;14,
2005, March&nbsp;15, 2005, March&nbsp;31, 2005, April&nbsp;27, 2005, May&nbsp;6,
2005, May&nbsp;16, 2005 and May&nbsp;19, 2005; and (d)&nbsp;the description of
the Company&#146;s Common Stock contained in the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on
Form&nbsp;8-B under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;),
including any amendment or report filed to update the description.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">All documents
filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)&nbsp;of the
Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered have been sold or deregisters all securities then remaining unsold
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement
and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .75in;text-indent:-.75in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Item 4.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><u>Description
of Securities.</u></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Not
applicable.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .75in;text-indent:-.75in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Item 5.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><u>Interests
of Named Experts and Counsel.</u></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Certain legal
matters in connection with this Registration Statement will be passed upon for
the Registrant by Venable LLP, Baltimore, Maryland. James L. Shea, a partner of
Venable LLP, is a director of the Company.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .75in;text-indent:-.75in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Item 6.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><u>Indemnification
of Directors and Officers.</u></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Maryland
General Corporation Law (&#147;MGCL&#148;) provides that a corporation may indemnify any
director made a party to a proceeding by reason of service in that capacity
unless it is established that: (1)&nbsp;the act or omission of the director was
material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (a)&nbsp;was committed
in bad faith or (b)&nbsp;was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, or
(2)&nbsp;the director actually received an improper personal benefit in money,
property or services, or (3)&nbsp;in the case of any criminal&#160; proceeding, the director had reasonable cause
to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. To the extent that a director
has been successful in defense of any proceeding, the MGCL provides that he
shall be indemnified against reasonable expenses incurred in connection
therewith. A Maryland corporation may indemnify its officers to the same extent
as its directors and to such further extent as is consistent with law.</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="2" width="100%" noshade color="gray" align="left">

</font></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\slasley\05-9726-1\task447364\9726-1-ba.htm',USER='slasley',CD='May 20 14:45 2005' -->


<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">


<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Registrant&#146;s
Charter provides, as to indemnification:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(a)&nbsp;The
liability of directors and officers to the Registrant or its stockholders for
money damages shall be limited to the maximum extent that the liability of
directors and officers of Maryland corporations is permitted to be limited by
Maryland law. This limitation on liability shall apply to events occurring at
the time a person serves as a director or officer of the Registrant whether or
not such person is a director or officer at the time of any proceeding in which
liability is asserted.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(b)&nbsp;To
the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, the Registrant shall indemnify
its currently acting and its former directors against any and all liabilities
and expenses incurred in connection with their services in such capacities,
shall indemnify its currently acting and its former officers to the full extent
that indemnification shall be provided to directors, and shall indemnify, to
the same extent, its employees and agents and persons who serve and have
served, at its request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture or other
enterprise.&#160; The Registrant shall advance
expenses to its directors, officers and other person referred to above to the
extent permitted by Maryland law.&#160; The
Registrant&#146;s Board of Directors may by By-law, resolution or other agreement
make further provision for indemnification of directors, officers, employees
and agents to the extent permitted by Maryland law.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(c)&nbsp;References
to Maryland law shall include the MGCL as from time to time amended. Neither
the repeal or amendment of this paragraph, nor any other amendment to the
Articles of Incorporation, shall eliminate or reduce the protection afforded to
any person by the foregoing provisions of this paragraph with respect to any
act or omission which shall have occurred prior to such repeal or amendment.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .75in;text-indent:-.75in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Item 7.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><u>Exemption
from Registration Claimed.</u></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Not applicable.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .75in;text-indent:-.75in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Item 8.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><u>Exhibits.</u></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.1 -</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles of Incorporation</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">A.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles of Incorporation
effective May&nbsp;27, 1969 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s
Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1, File No.&nbsp;2-39545, Exhibit&nbsp;3-A(1)).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">B.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles of Amendment effective
June&nbsp;6, 1969 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s Registration
Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1, File No.&nbsp;2-39545, Exhibit&nbsp;3-A(2)).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">C.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles Supplementary effective
August&nbsp;28, 1970 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s
Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1, File No.&nbsp;2-39545, Exhibit&nbsp;3-A(3)).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">D.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles of Amendment effective
December&nbsp;14, 1970 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s
Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1, File No.&nbsp;2-39545, Exhibit&nbsp;3-A(4)).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">E.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles Supplementary
effective May&nbsp;10, 1971 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s
Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1, File No.&nbsp;2-39545, Exhibit&nbsp;3-A(5)).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">F.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles Supplementary
effective July&nbsp;30, 1971 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s
Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1, File No.&nbsp;2-41379, Exhibit&nbsp;3-A(6)).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">G.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles of Amendment effective
May&nbsp;8, 1986 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s Annual Report
on Form&nbsp;10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;31, 1993, Exhibit&nbsp;3-A(7),
Commission File No.&nbsp;0-5127).</p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="2" width="100%" noshade color="gray" align="left">

</font></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='2',FILE='C:\JMS\slasley\05-9726-1\task447364\9726-1-ba.htm',USER='slasley',CD='May 20 14:45 2005' -->


<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">


<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">H.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles of Amendment effective
April&nbsp;27, 1988 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s Annual
Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;31, 1993,
Exhibit&nbsp;3-A(8), Commission File No.&nbsp;0-5127).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">I.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles
Supplementary effective September&nbsp;13, 1989 (Incorporated by reference to
the Registrant&#146;s Form&nbsp;8-K filed September&nbsp;27, 1989, Exhibit&nbsp;B
attached to Exhibit&nbsp;4-A, Commission File No.&nbsp;0-5127).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">J.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles
Supplementary effective January&nbsp;3, 1990 (Incorporated by reference to the
Registrant&#146;s Form&nbsp;8-K filed January&nbsp;9,1990, Exhibit&nbsp;B attached
to Exhibit&nbsp;4-A, Commission File No.&nbsp;0-5127).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">K.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles of Amendment effective
April&nbsp;26, 1990 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s Annual
Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;31, 1990,
Exhibit&nbsp;3-A(11), Commission File No.&nbsp;0-5127).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">L.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles of Amendment effective
April&nbsp;30, 1997 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s Registration
Statement on Form&nbsp;S-4, File No.&nbsp;333-43651, Exhibit&nbsp;3(i)(L)).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">M.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles Supplementary effective
June&nbsp;9, 1999 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s Registration
Statement on Form&nbsp;S-8, No.&nbsp;333-90307, Exhibit&nbsp;4.1.M).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">N.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Articles Supplementary effective
September&nbsp;30, 1999 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s
Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-8, No.&nbsp;333-90307,
Exhibit&nbsp;4.1.N).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">O.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Certificate of Correction
effective July&nbsp;3, 2002, concerning Articles of Amendment effective
May&nbsp;8, 1986 (Incorporated by reference to Registrant&#146;s Quarterly Report
for the quarter ended September&nbsp;30, 2002, Exhibit&nbsp;3A(15), Commission
File No.&nbsp;0-5127).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.4in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">P.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Certificate of Correction
effective July&nbsp;3, 2002, concerning Articles of Amendment effective
April&nbsp;26, 1990 (Incorporated by reference to Registrant&#146;s Quarterly Report
for the quarter ended September&nbsp;30, 2002, Exhibit&nbsp;3A(16), Commission
File No.&nbsp;0-5127).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.2&#160; -</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Bylaws
(Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K
for the year ended December&nbsp;31, 2003, Exhibit&nbsp;3.B, Commission File No.&nbsp;0-5127).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.3&#160; -</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Rights
Agreement dated as of June&nbsp;8, 1999, between the Company and the Rights
Agent (incorporated by reference to Form&nbsp;8-K of Registrant, Exhibit&nbsp;(4),
filed June&nbsp;11, 1999, Commission File No.&nbsp;0-5127).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.4&#160; -</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Mercantile
Bankshares Corporation Stock Retainer and Deferred Compensation Plan for
Non-Employee Directors (incorporated by reference to Form&nbsp;8-K of
Registrant, Exhibit&nbsp;10.1,&#160; filed May&nbsp;16,
2005, Commission File No.&nbsp;0-5127.)</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">5.1&#160; -</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Opinion of
Venable LLP (filed herewith).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">23.1&#160; -</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP&#160; (filed herewith).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">23.2&#160; -</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Consent of
Venable LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">24.1&#160; -</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Power of Attorney
(filed herewith).</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .75in;text-indent:-.75in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Item 9.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><u>Undertakings.</u></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The
undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="2" width="100%" noshade color="gray" align="left">

</font></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='3',FILE='C:\JMS\slasley\05-9726-1\task447364\9726-1-ba.htm',USER='slasley',CD='May 20 14:45 2005' -->


<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">


<div>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(1)&nbsp;To
file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(i)&nbsp;To include any prospectus required by Section&nbsp;10(a)(3)&nbsp;of
the Securities Act;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(ii)&nbsp;To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration
Statement;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(iii)&nbsp;To include any material information with respect to the plan
of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any
material change to such information in the Registration Statement;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i)&nbsp;and (1)(ii)&nbsp;do not
apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant
pursuant to the Section&nbsp;13 or Section&nbsp;15(d)&nbsp;of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(2)&nbsp;That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each
such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(3)&nbsp;To
remove from the registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(4)&nbsp;That,
for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing
of the Registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a)&nbsp;or 15(d)&nbsp;of
the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;15(d)&nbsp;of the Exchange Act
that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.75in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer of controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="2" width="100%" noshade color="gray" align="left">

</font></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='4',FILE='C:\JMS\slasley\05-9726-1\task447364\9726-1-ba.htm',USER='slasley',CD='May 20 14:45 2005' -->


<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">


<div>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.75in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant, Mercantile Bankshares Corporation, certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form&nbsp;S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Baltimore in the State of Maryland on this 20 day of May&nbsp;2005.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="54%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">MERCANTILE BANKSHARES CORPORATION</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="48%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:48.34%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="48%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:48.34%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="40%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:40.84%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/S/ EDWARD J. KELLY,&nbsp;III</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="7%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.5%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;text-transform:uppercase;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="48%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:48.34%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Edward J. Kelly,&nbsp;III</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="48%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:48.34%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chairman of the Board, President and</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="48%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:48.34%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief Executive Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.75in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="37%" colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:37.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Signature</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.08%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.92%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Title</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.52%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.4%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Date</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="37%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:37.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="37%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:37.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chairman of the Board, President and</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">May 20, 2005</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.14%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/S/ EDWARD J. KELLY,&nbsp;III</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.94%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.14%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Edward J. Kelly,&nbsp;III</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.94%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.14%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.94%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.14%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.94%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">May 20, 2005</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.14%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/S/ TERRY L. TROUPE</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.94%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Principal Financial Officer)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.14%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Terry L. Troupe</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.94%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.14%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.94%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.14%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.94%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.14%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/S/ WILLIAM T. SKINNER,&nbsp;JR.</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.94%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">May 20, 2005</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.14%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">William T. Skinner,&nbsp;Jr.</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.94%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;text-transform:uppercase;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.75in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">A majority of the Board of Directors:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.75in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Richard O. Berndt, Howard B. Bowen, William R. Brody, Eddie C. Brown,
George L. Bunting,&nbsp;Jr., Anthony W. Deering, Darrell D. Friedman, Freeman
A. Hrabowski, Robert A. Kinsley, Alexander T. Mason, Jenny&nbsp;G. Morgan,
Morton P. Plant, Christian H. Poindexter, Clayton S. Rose, James L. Shea,
Donald L. Shepard and Jay M. Wilson.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">May</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.98%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;20</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="35%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:35.68%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">, 2005</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.26%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.26%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/S/ EDWARD J. KELLY,&nbsp;III</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="20%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:20.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;text-transform:uppercase;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="43%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.26%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="52%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Edward J. Kelly,&nbsp;III</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="43%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.26%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="52%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">for himself and as attorney-in-fact</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">5</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="2" width="100%" noshade color="gray" align="left">

</font></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='5',FILE='C:\JMS\slasley\05-9726-1\task447364\9726-1-ba.htm',USER='slasley',CD='May 20 14:45 2005' -->


<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">


<div>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">EXHIBIT&nbsp;INDEX</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="17%" colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:17.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">EXHIBIT&nbsp;NUMBER</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="77%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:77.08%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">DESCRIPTION</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="17%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:17.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="77%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:77.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.5%;">
  <p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;text-indent:.2in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">5.1</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="11%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:11.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.2in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="77%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:77.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Opinion of Venable LLP</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.5%;">
  <p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;text-indent:.2in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">23.1</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="11%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:11.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.2in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="77%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:77.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.5%;">
  <p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;text-indent:.2in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">23.2</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="11%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:11.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.2in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="77%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:77.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.5%;">
  <p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;text-indent:.2in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">24.1</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="11%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:11.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.2in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="77%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:77.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Power of Attorney</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">6</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="2" width="100%" noshade color="gray" align="left">

</font></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='6',FILE='C:\JMS\slasley\05-9726-1\task447364\9726-1-ba.htm',USER='slasley',CD='May 20 14:45 2005' -->


</body>

</html>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "a05-9726_1s8.htm", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 85768}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MERCANTILE BANKSHARES CORP", "cik": "0000064908", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "520898572", "state-of-incorporation": "MD", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-125115", "film-number": "05848597"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2 HOPKINS PLZ", "street2": "PO BOX 1477", "city": "BALTIMORE", "state": "MD", "zip": "21203", "phone": "4102375900"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 1477", "street2": "P O BOX 1477", "city": "BALTIMORE", "state": "MD", "zip": "21203"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 20, 2005
Registration No. 333-
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
MERCANTILE
BANKSHARES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
MARYLAND
52-0898572
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Mercantile Bank & Trust Building
Two Hopkins Plaza, P.O. Box 1477
Baltimore, Maryland  21203
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
MERCANTILE BANKSHARES CORPORATION STOCK RETAINER AND
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
(Full Title of the Plan)
John L. Unger
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Mercantile Bankshares Corporation
Two Hopkins Plaza, P.O. Box 1477
Baltimore, Maryland  21203
(410) 237-5900
(Name, Address and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
COPY TO:
Melissa Allison Warren
Venable LLP
Two Hopkins Plaza, 18
th
Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21201(410) 244-7400
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title Of Securities
To Be Registered
Amount To Be
Registered (1)
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per Share
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price (2)
Amount Of
Registration Fee (2)
Common Stock, $2.00 par value(1)
445,000 shares
Not applicable
Not applicable
$
2,742.43
(1)
Represents the maximum number of shares
issuable under the Plan, and also covers an indeterminate number of additional
shares which may be necessary to adjust the number of shares reserved for
issuance under the Plans as a result of any future stock split, stock dividend
or similar adjustment. Includes as to each share of Common Stock a right, not
currently exercisable or separately tradable, to purchase additional securities
pursuant to the Registrant's Shareholders Protection Rights Agreement.
(2)
The registration fee has been computed
pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h)(1) under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, based on the average of the high and low prices per share
for the Registrant's common stock ($52.36), as reported on The Nasdaq National
Market System on May 19, 2005.
PART I
Documents
containing the information specified in Part I of this Form S-8 have
been and/or will be sent or given to Plan participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of
the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"). In accordance with the
instructions to Part I of Form S-8, such documents will not be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") either as part
of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements
pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These documents and the
documents incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this
Registration Statement, taken together, constitute the prospectus as required
by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
PART II
Item 3.
Incorporation
of Documents by Reference.
The following
documents previously filed with the Commission by Mercantile Bankshares
Corporation (the "Company" or "Registrant") are incorporated herein by
reference to the extent such documents are filed, not furnished: (a) the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2004; (b) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 2005; (c) the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K
filed on January 14, 2005, January 25, 2005, March 8, 2005, March 14,
2005, March 15, 2005, March 31, 2005, April 27, 2005, May 6,
2005, May 16, 2005 and May 19, 2005; and (d) the description of
the Company's Common Stock contained in the Company's Registration Statement on
Form 8-B under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"),
including any amendment or report filed to update the description.
All documents
filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered have been sold or deregisters all securities then remaining unsold
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement
and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Item 4.
Description
of Securities.
Not
applicable.
Item 5.
Interests
of Named Experts and Counsel.
Certain legal
matters in connection with this Registration Statement will be passed upon for
the Registrant by Venable LLP, Baltimore, Maryland. James L. Shea, a partner of
Venable LLP, is a director of the Company.
Item 6.
Indemnification
of Directors and Officers.
The Maryland
General Corporation Law ("MGCL") provides that a corporation may indemnify any
director made a party to a proceeding by reason of service in that capacity
unless it is established that: (1) the act or omission of the director was
material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (a) was committed
in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, or
(2) the director actually received an improper personal benefit in money,
property or services, or (3) in the case of any criminal  proceeding, the director had reasonable cause
to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. To the extent that a director
has been successful in defense of any proceeding, the MGCL provides that he
shall be indemnified against reasonable expenses incurred in connection
therewith. A Maryland corporation may indemnify its officers to the same extent
as its directors and to such further extent as is consistent with law.
The Registrant's
Charter provides, as to indemnification:
(a) The
liability of directors and officers to the Registrant or its stockholders for
money damages shall be limited to the maximum extent that the liability of
directors and officers of Maryland corporations is permitted to be limited by
Maryland law. This limitation on liability shall apply to events occurring at
the time a person serves as a director or officer of the Registrant whether or
not such person is a director or officer at the time of any proceeding in which
liability is asserted.
(b) To
the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, the Registrant shall indemnify
its currently acting and its former directors against any and all liabilities
and expenses incurred in connection with their services in such capacities,
shall indemnify its currently acting and its former officers to the full extent
that indemnification shall be provided to directors, and shall indemnify, to
the same extent, its employees and agents and persons who serve and have
served, at its request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture or other
enterprise.  The Registrant shall advance
expenses to its directors, officers and other person referred to above to the
extent permitted by Maryland law.  The
Registrant's Board of Directors may by By-law, resolution or other agreement
make further provision for indemnification of directors, officers, employees
and agents to the extent permitted by Maryland law.
(c) References
to Maryland law shall include the MGCL as from time to time amended. Neither
the repeal or amendment of this paragraph, nor any other amendment to the
Articles of Incorporation, shall eliminate or reduce the protection afforded to
any person by the foregoing provisions of this paragraph with respect to any
act or omission which shall have occurred prior to such repeal or amendment.
Item 7.
Exemption
from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8.
Exhibits.
4.1 -
Articles of Incorporation
A.
Articles of Incorporation
effective May 27, 1969 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 2-39545, Exhibit 3-A(1)).
B.
Articles of Amendment effective
June 6, 1969 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form S-1, File No. 2-39545, Exhibit 3-A(2)).
C.
Articles Supplementary effective
August 28, 1970 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 2-39545, Exhibit 3-A(3)).
D.
Articles of Amendment effective
December 14, 1970 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 2-39545, Exhibit 3-A(4)).
E.
Articles Supplementary
effective May 10, 1971 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 2-39545, Exhibit 3-A(5)).
F.
Articles Supplementary
effective July 30, 1971 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 2-41379, Exhibit 3-A(6)).
G.
Articles of Amendment effective
May 8, 1986 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993, Exhibit 3-A(7),
Commission File No. 0-5127).
2
H.
Articles of Amendment effective
April 27, 1988 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993,
Exhibit 3-A(8), Commission File No. 0-5127).
I.
Articles
Supplementary effective September 13, 1989 (Incorporated by reference to
the Registrant's Form 8-K filed September 27, 1989, Exhibit B
attached to Exhibit 4-A, Commission File No. 0-5127).
J.
Articles
Supplementary effective January 3, 1990 (Incorporated by reference to the
Registrant's Form 8-K filed January 9,1990, Exhibit B attached
to Exhibit 4-A, Commission File No. 0-5127).
K.
Articles of Amendment effective
April 26, 1990 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1990,
Exhibit 3-A(11), Commission File No. 0-5127).
L.
Articles of Amendment effective
April 30, 1997 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-43651, Exhibit 3(i)(L)).
M.
Articles Supplementary effective
June 9, 1999 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form S-8, No. 333-90307, Exhibit 4.1.M).
N.
Articles Supplementary effective
September 30, 1999 (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-8, No. 333-90307,
Exhibit 4.1.N).
O.
Certificate of Correction
effective July 3, 2002, concerning Articles of Amendment effective
May 8, 1986 (Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Quarterly Report
for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, Exhibit 3A(15), Commission
File No. 0-5127).
P.
Certificate of Correction
effective July 3, 2002, concerning Articles of Amendment effective
April 26, 1990 (Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Quarterly Report
for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, Exhibit 3A(16), Commission
File No. 0-5127).
4.2  -
Bylaws
(Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2003, Exhibit 3.B, Commission File No. 0-5127).
4.3  -
Rights
Agreement dated as of June 8, 1999, between the Company and the Rights
Agent (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K of Registrant, Exhibit (4),
filed June 11, 1999, Commission File No. 0-5127).
4.4  -
Mercantile
Bankshares Corporation Stock Retainer and Deferred Compensation Plan for
Non-Employee Directors (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K of
Registrant, Exhibit 10.1,  filed May 16,
2005, Commission File No. 0-5127.)
5.1  -
Opinion of
Venable LLP (filed herewith).
23.1  -
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP  (filed herewith).
23.2  -
Consent of
Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1  -
Power of Attorney
(filed herewith).
Item 9.
Undertakings.
The
undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
3
(1) To
file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement;
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration
Statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any
material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not
apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant
pursuant to the Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each
such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
(3) To
remove from the registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
(4) That,
for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing
of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer of controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
4
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant, Mercantile Bankshares Corporation, certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Baltimore in the State of Maryland on this 20 day of May 2005.
MERCANTILE BANKSHARES CORPORATION
By:
/S/ EDWARD J. KELLY, III
Edward J. Kelly, III
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
Chairman of the Board, President and
May 20, 2005
/S/ EDWARD J. KELLY, III
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Edward J. Kelly, III
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
May 20, 2005
/S/ TERRY L. TROUPE
(Principal Financial Officer)
Terry L. Troupe
/S/ WILLIAM T. SKINNER, JR.
Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
May 20, 2005
William T. Skinner, Jr.
A majority of the Board of Directors:
Richard O. Berndt, Howard B. Bowen, William R. Brody, Eddie C. Brown,
George L. Bunting, Jr., Anthony W. Deering, Darrell D. Friedman, Freeman
A. Hrabowski, Robert A. Kinsley, Alexander T. Mason, Jenny G. Morgan,
Morton P. Plant, Christian H. Poindexter, Clayton S. Rose, James L. Shea,
Donald L. Shepard and Jay M. Wilson.
May
20
, 2005
By:
/S/ EDWARD J. KELLY, III
Edward J. Kelly, III
for himself and as attorney-in-fact
5
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NUMBER
DESCRIPTION
5.1
Opinion of Venable LLP
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.2
Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1
Power of Attorney
6