Form S-3ASR HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA
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E-mailAs filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2022
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 42-1405748 | ||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S Employer Identification No.) | ||||
1398 Central Avenue
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
(563) 589-2100
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Bryan R. McKeag
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
1398 Central Avenue
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
(563) 589-2100
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With copies to:
| Jay L. Kim Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer Heartland Financial USA, Inc. 700 Locust Street, Suite 400 Dubuque, Iowa 52001 (563) 589-2100 | Cam C. Hoang Partner Dorsey & Whitney LLP 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500 Minneapolis, MN 55402 (612) 340-2600 | ||||
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. x
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨ Emerging growth company ¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ¨ ¨
__________________________
PROSPECTUS
Debt Securities
Subordinated Notes
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Rights
Units
________________
We may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, together or separately, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. Before investing, you should carefully read this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “HTLF.”
________________
Investing in our securities involves risks. You should refer to the risk factors included in our periodic reports and other information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and carefully consider that information before buying our securities. See “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus.
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Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
These securities are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
________________
The date of this prospectus is August 8, 2022.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page # | |||||
| ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS | 2 | ||||
| CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | 3 | ||||
| RISK FACTORS | 3 | ||||
| ABOUT HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC | 3 | ||||
| USE OF PROCEEDS | 4 | ||||
| DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES | 4 | ||||
| DESCRIPTION OF SUBORDINATED NOTES | 12 | ||||
| DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK | 20 | ||||
| DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK | 22 | ||||
| DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES | 25 | ||||
| DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS | 28 | ||||
| DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS | 29 | ||||
| DESCRIPTION OF UNITS | 29 | ||||
| PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | 29 | ||||
| VALIDITY OF SECURITIES | 31 | ||||
| EXPERTS | 31 | ||||
| WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | 31 | ||||
____________________________
All references in this prospectus to “HTLF,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and “our company” are to Heartland Financial USA, Inc. and not to our consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires. In this prospectus, we refer to debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, rights and units collectively as “securities.”
All references in this prospectus to “$,” “U.S. Dollars” and “dollars” are to United States dollars.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a shelf registration process on Form S‑3. Under this shelf registration, we may sell the securities described in this prospectus, which include debt securities, subordinated notes, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, rights and units. The registration statement that contains this prospectus (including the exhibits to the registration statement) contains additional information about us and the securities we are offering under this prospectus. You can read that registration statement at the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell any of these securities, we will provide one or more prospectus supplements containing specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If information in the prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the information in this prospectus, then the information in the prospectus supplement will apply and will supersede the information in this prospectus. You should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” before you invest.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it.
You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on its front cover.
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Neither we nor anyone acting on our behalf is making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Any statements about HTLF's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "project," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "opportunity," "potential" or other similar or negative expressions of these words or phrases. Although HTLF has made these statements based on management's experience, beliefs, expectations, assumptions and best estimate of future events, the ability of the company to predict results or the actual effect or outcomes of plans or strategies is inherently uncertain, and there may be events or factors that management has not anticipated. Therefore, the accuracy and achievement of such forward-looking statements and estimates are subject to a number of risks, many of which are beyond the ability of management to control or predict, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in its forward-looking statements. These factors, which the company currently believes could have a material effect on its operations and future prospects include, among others, those described below and in the risk factors in HTLF's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"), including the "Risk Factors" section under Item 1A of Part I of the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements made by HTLF or on its behalf, and undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. There can be no assurance that other factors not currently anticipated by HTLF will not materially and adversely affect the company's business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, many of these risks and uncertainties are currently amplified by and may continue to be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of varying governmental responses that affect HTLF’s employees, customers and the economies where they operate. All statements in this prospectus, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made. HTLF does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions which may be made or to correct or update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or to otherwise update any statement in light of new information or future events. Further information concerning HTLF and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect HTLF’s financial results, is included in the company’s filings with the SEC.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities is subject to risks inherent in our business. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully read and consider the risk factors incorporated by reference in this prospectus from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10‑K, as well as those contained in any applicable prospectus supplement, as the same may be updated from time to time by our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10‑Q and other future filings with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). You should also refer to other information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, including our financial statements and the related notes incorporated by reference herein. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us at this time or that we currently deem immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business and operations. If any of the events described in the risk factors should actually occur, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the value of our securities could decline significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
ABOUT HTLF
HTLF conducts a community banking business through eleven independently branded and chartered community banks (collectively, the "Banks") operating in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and California. Each Bank serves a separate state banking market, with the exception of Kansas and Missouri which constitute a single banking market (collectively the "Bank Markets"). In the fourth quarter of 2021, HTLF completed evaluating the consolidation of its eleven bank charters as part of its ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency. As a result, the HTLF Board of Directors approved a plan to consolidate its eleven bank charters into a single Colorado based charter, named "HTLF Bank," that will continue to operate under separate bank brands in each Bank Market.
The principal business of our Banks consists of making loans to and accepting deposits from businesses and consumers. Our Banks provide full service commercial and consumer banking in their communities. Both our loans and our deposits are generated primarily through strong banking knowledge and customer relationships, guided by management that is actively involved in the community. Our lending and investment activities are funded primarily by core deposits. This stable source of funding is achieved by developing banking relationships with customers through value-added product offerings,
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competitive market pricing, convenience and high-touch personal service. Deposit products, which are insured by the FDIC to the full extent permitted by law, include checking and other demand deposit accounts, NOW accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts and other time deposits. Loan products include commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, small business, agricultural, real estate mortgage, consumer, and credit cards for commercial, business and personal use.
We enhance the customer-centric local services in our Bank Markets with a full complement of value-added services, including wealth management, investment, retirement plan and insurance services. We provide contemporary technology solutions that provide our customers convenient electronic banking services and client access to account information through business and personal online banking, mobile banking, bill payment, remote deposit capture, treasury management services, credit and debit cards and automated teller machines.
Dubuque Bank and Trust Company, Heartland's oldest bank subsidiary, was originally incorporated in Iowa in 1935. HTLF was formed as an Iowa corporation to serve as its holding company in 1981, and HTLF reincorporated in Delaware on June 30, 1993.
Our principal executive offices are located at 1398 Central Avenue, Dubuque, Iowa 52001. Our telephone number is (563) 589‑2100. Our website address is www.htlf.com. The information on our website is not part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
We refer you to the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as described in the section “Where You Can Find More Information,” for more information about us and our businesses.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, we will use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, working capital, capital expenditures, stock repurchases, debt repayment or the financing of possible acquisitions. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering of securities by us will identify the use of proceeds for that offering.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may issue under the Indenture (as defined below) and offer under this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the prospectus supplement whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities. To the extent the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.
We may issue debt securities either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of or in exchange for, other securities described in this prospectus. Debt securities may be our senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations and, unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and may be issued in one or more series.
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee (the “Indenture”). We have summarized the general features of the debt securities to be governed by the Indenture below. The summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indenture. The Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. We encourage you to read the Indenture for provisions that may be important to you.
General
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors, or a committee thereof, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a resolution of our board of directors, in an officers’ certificate or by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series, including any pricing supplement or term sheet.
We may issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the Indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement, including any
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pricing supplement or term sheet, relating to any debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities, if applicable:
•the title and ranking of the debt securities (including the terms of any subordination provisions);
•the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities;
•any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;
•the date or dates on which the principal of the securities is payable;
•the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
•the place or places where principal of, and interest on, the debt securities will be payable (and the method of such payment), where the debt securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to us in respect of the debt securities may be delivered;
•the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities;
•any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
•the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations;
•the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;
•whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities;
•the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount;
•the currency of denomination of the debt securities, which may be U.S. Dollars or any foreign currency, and, if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;
•the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities will be made;
•if payments of principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;
•the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;
•any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities;
•any addition to, deletion of or change in the events of default described in this prospectus or in the Indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the Indenture with respect to the debt securities;
•any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the Indenture with respect to the debt securities;
•any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities;
•the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities, including, if applicable, the conversion or exchange price and period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange if such debt securities are redeemed;
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•any other terms of any series of debt securities, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the Indenture as it applies to such series, including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of such debt securities; and
•whether any of our direct or indirect subsidiaries will guarantee the debt securities, including the terms of subordination, if any, of such guarantees.
All debt securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of the Indenture.
We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the Indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to the debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Ranking
Debt securities may be our senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations and, unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and may be issued in one or more series. As of June 30, 2022, excluding deposit liabilities, we had approximately $470.3 million of borrowings on a consolidated basis, of which approximately $89.1 million was secured. The debt securities will be subordinated to all of our secured debt (as to the collateral pledged to secure this debt). Except to the extent we have a priority or equal claim against our subsidiaries as a creditor, the debt securities are effectively subordinated to all of the existing and future liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries, including the deposit liabilities and claims of other creditors of our subsidiary banks. Furthermore, in the event that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) incurs a loss in connection with one of our subsidiary banks, each of our other subsidiary banks may be liable to the FDIC for such loss, and the FDIC’s claim will be superior to any unsecured or secured obligations owed to us by our subsidiary banks. As of June 30, 2022, our subsidiaries had approximately $17.6 billion of deposits and other borrowings outstanding. The Indenture does not restrict the amount of secured or unsecured debt that we or our subsidiaries may incur.
Transfer and Exchange
Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of a depository, or a nominee of the depositary (we herein refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a “book-entry debt security”), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we herein refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a “certificated debt security”) as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Certificated Debt Securities. You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.
You may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing such certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.
Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System. Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the depositary, and registered in the name of the depositary or a nominee of the depositary.
The global debt security will not be registered in the name of any person, or exchanged for debt securities that are registered in the name of any person, other than the depositary or its nominee, unless one of the following occurs:
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•the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such global debt security or if at any time the depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, we fail to appoint a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event; or
•we execute and deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate to the effect that such global debt security shall be so exchangeable.
Any global debt security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for securities registered in such names as the depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the global debt security with like tenor and terms.
We will not be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange debt securities for the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days immediately preceding the sending of a notice of redemption of those debt securities and ending at the close of business on the day such notice is sent, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange debt securities, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such debt securities, called or being called for redemption in part.
No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions which may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control), which could adversely affect holders of debt securities.
Covenants
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
We may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”), unless:
•we are the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than our company) is organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the Indenture; and
•immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Notwithstanding the above, any of our subsidiaries may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to us.
Events of Default
Event of default means, with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement:
•default in the payment of any interest upon such debt securities of such series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of the payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the 30-day period);
•default in the payment of principal of any debt security at its maturity;
•default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty by us in the Indenture (other than a default in payment as described above or default on a covenant or warranty that has been included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than such series), which default continues uncured for a period of 90 days after we receive written notice from the trustee or we and the trustee receive written notice from the
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holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series as provided in the Indenture;
•certain voluntary or involuntary events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of our company; and
•any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of such series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus.
No event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of an event of default may constitute an event of default under our bank credit agreements in existence from time to time. In addition, the occurrence of certain events of default or an acceleration under the Indenture may constitute an event of default under certain of our other indebtedness outstanding from time to time.
We will provide the trustee written notice of any default or event of default within 30 days of becoming aware of the occurrence of such default or event of default, which notice will describe in reasonable detail the status of such default or event of default and what action we are taking or propose to take in respect thereof.
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal of (or, if the debt securities of such series are discount securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of such series. In the case of an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of such series, have been cured or waived as provided in the Indenture. We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an event of default.
The Indenture provides that the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request of any holder of outstanding debt securities, unless the trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any cost, liability or expense which might be incurred by it in exercising such right or power. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series.
No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the Indenture, unless:
•such holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to debt securities of such series; and
•the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity or security, to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee, and the trustee has not received from the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series a direction inconsistent with that request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days.
Notwithstanding any other provision in the Indenture, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in such debt security, and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such holder.
The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past default with respect to such series and its
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consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any debt security of such series (provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration).
If any debt securities are outstanding under the Indenture, the Indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the Indenture. If a default or event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to the securities of any series and if it is known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee shall deliver to each holder of debt securities of such series notice of a default or event of default within 90 days after it occurs. the Indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any default or event of default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of such series if it in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of such series of debt securities.
Modification and Waiver
We and the trustee may modify and amend the Indenture or the debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder of any debt security of such series to:
•cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
•comply with covenants in the Indenture described above under the heading “Description of Debt Securities-Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”;
•to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities;
•to add guarantees with respect to debt securities of any series or secure debt securities of such series;
•to surrender any of our rights or powers under the Indenture;
•to add covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of such series;
•to comply with the applicable procedures of the Depositary;
•to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities;
•to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of such series as permitted by the Indenture;
•to effect the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture to provide for or facilitate administration by more than one trustee; or
•to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
We may also modify and amend the Indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments. We may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:
•reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
•reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt securities;
•reduce the principal of or premium, if any, on or change the fixed maturity of any debt securities or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to such series of debt securities;
•reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity;
•waive a default in the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any debt securities (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of such series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
•make the principal of or premium or interest on any debt securities payable in currency other than that stated in the debt securities;
•make any change to certain provisions of the Indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such debt securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers or amendments; or
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•waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt securities, if the redemption is at our option.
Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of such series waive our compliance with provisions of the Indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past default under the Indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or any interest on any debt securities of such series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration.
Satisfaction and Discharge
The Indenture shall be satisfied and discharged with respect to the debt securities of a series when, among other things, all debt securities of that series have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation, or those debt securities not delivered to the trustee for cancellation:
•have become due and payable by reason of sending a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year;
•have been called for redemption or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the trustee in our name, and at our expense, or
•are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to the provisions on legal defeasance described below,
and in the first three cases listed above, we shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee an amount of money or U.S. government obligations or foreign government obligations, which amount shall be sufficient to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest on all the debt securities of such series on the due dates. Furthermore, we shall have paid all other sums payable by us under the Indenture.
Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances
Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (subject to certain exceptions). We will be so discharged upon the 91st day after the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. Dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money or U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of such series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such series of debt securities.
This discharge may occur only if, among other things:
• such deposit will not result in a breach or violation, or constitute a default under, the Indenture or any of our other agreements;
•no default or event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending in the 91st day after the deposit;
•we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred; and
• we shall have delivered to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that the deposit was not made by us with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors.
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Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The Indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, upon compliance with certain conditions:
•we may omit to comply with the covenant described under the heading above “Description of Debt Securities-Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” and certain other covenants set forth in the Indenture, as well as any additional covenants which may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement; and
•any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series, or covenant defeasance.
The conditions include, among other things:
•depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. Dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of such series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such debt securities;
•that such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which we are a party or by which we are bound;
•that no default or event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit; and
•delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred.
Covenant Defeasance and Events of Default. In the event we exercise our option to effect covenant defeasance with respect to any series of debt securities and the debt securities of such series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default, the amount of money and/or U.S. government obligations or foreign government obligations on deposit with the trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of such series at the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of such series at the time of the acceleration resulting from the event of default. In such a case, we would remain liable for those payments.
Redemption
Any terms for the optional or mandatory redemption of the debt securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The debt securities will be redeemable only upon notice in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of the debt securities to be redeemed. We will provide notice to the trustee at least 20 days before the redemption date, unless a shorter notice period is satisfactory to the trustee. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated for a particular series, a notice of redemption will be sent at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, by first-class mail or electronically, to each holder whose debt securities are to be redeemed.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular series, if less than all the debt securities of a series are to be redeemed, the particular debt securities to be redeemed will be selected in accordance with the procedures of the depositary (for global securities), in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange (for listed securities), or otherwise, in the manner that the trustee deems fair and appropriate, including by lot or other method, unless otherwise required by law. Debt securities to be redeemed will be selected from those securities not previously called for redemption. Portions of the principal amount of debt securities that have denominations larger than $1,000 may be selected for redemption. Otherwise, debt securities selected for redemption will be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to debt securities of any series issuable in other denominations, the minimum principal denomination for each series and the authorized integral multiples thereof. Upon surrender of a debt security that is redeemed in part, the trustee will issue to the holder a new debt security of the same series and maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the surrendered debt security. Unless otherwise indicated for a particular series, a notice of redemption may not be conditional.
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Upon surrender to the paying agent, debt securities called for redemption will be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.
Governing Law
The Indenture and the debt securities, including any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to the Indenture or the debt securities, will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
DESCRIPTION OF SUBORDINATED NOTES
The following description of the subordinated notes, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes certain general terms and provisions of the subordinated notes that we may issue under the Subordinated Note Indenture (as defined below) and offer under this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of subordinated notes, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the prospectus supplement whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of subordinated notes. To the extent the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.
General
Subordinated notes may be issued in one or more series of our subordinated debt securities and will be issued under a subordinated debt indenture, dated as of December 17, 2014, as amended and supplemented by supplemental indentures, dated as of December 17, 2014 and September 8, 2021, between us and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, which together we refer to in this description as the “Subordinated Note Indenture.” On September 8, 2021, we issued $150 million aggregate principal amount of 2.75% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2031 pursuant to the Subordinated Note Indenture.
The subordinated notes will be our general unsecured subordinated obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured subordinated obligations from time to time outstanding. The subordinated notes will rank junior to all of our existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Subordinated Note Indenture. The subordinated notes will rank senior to our obligations under junior subordinated debt securities issued to our capital trust subsidiaries. In addition, the subordinated notes are effectively subordinated to all of the existing and future liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries, including the deposit liabilities and claims of other creditors of our subsidiary banks. See “-Subordination.”
The terms of each series of subordinated notes will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors, or a committee thereof, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a resolution of our board of directors, in an officers’ certificate or by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of subordinated notes will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series, including any pricing supplement or term sheet.
We may issue an unlimited amount of subordinated notes under the Subordinated Note Indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement, including any pricing supplement or term sheet, relating to any subordinated notes being offered, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the subordinated notes, if applicable:
•the title of the subordinated notes;
•any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the subordinated notes;
•the date or dates on which the principal of any subordinated notes is payable;
•the rate or rates at which any subordinated notes shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the regular record date for any such interest payable on any interest payment date;
•the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on any subordinated notes shall be payable, the place or places where the subordinated notes may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange, and the place or places where notices or demands to or upon us in respect of the subordinated notes may be made;
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•the period or periods within which the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any subordinated notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option and, if other than by a board resolution, the manner in which any election by us to redeem the subordinated notes shall be evidenced;
•our obligation, if any, to redeem or purchase any subordinated notes pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the holder of subordinated notes thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any subordinated notes shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
•if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any subordinated notes shall be issuable;
•if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any subordinated notes may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
•if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units (which, in each instance, shall be acceptable to the trustee) in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any subordinated notes shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose;
•if the principal of or any premium or interest on any subordinated notes is to be payable, at our election or the holder of subordinated notes, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such subordinated notes are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on subordinated notes as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);
•if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any subordinated notes which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;
•if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of any subordinated notes will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such subordinated notes as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which shall be deemed to be outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);
•if applicable, that the subordinated notes, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible;
•if applicable, that any subordinated notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such global securities;
•any addition to or change in the events of default which applies to any subordinated notes and any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of subordinated notes to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable;
•any addition to or change in the covenants which applies to the subordinated notes; and
•any other terms of the subordinated notes (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture.
Ranking
The subordinated notes are our general unsecured subordinated obligations and are:
•subordinated in right of payment to the payment of any of our existing and future Senior Indebtedness;
•equal in right of payment with any of our existing and future unsecured subordinated indebtedness;
•rank senior to our obligations relating to the junior subordinated debt securities issued to our capital trust subsidiaries; and
•effectively subordinated to any existing and future liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries, including the deposit liabilities and claims of other creditors of our subsidiary banks.
As of June 30, 2022, excluding deposit liabilities, we had approximately $470.3 million of borrowings on a consolidated basis, of which none was Senior Indebtedness, and $222.5 million was outstanding under the Subordinated Note Indenture. Except to the extent we have a priority or equal claim against our subsidiaries as a creditor, the debt securities are effectively subordinated to all of the existing and future liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries, including the deposit
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liabilities and claims of other creditors of our subsidiary banks. Furthermore, in the event that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) incurs a loss in connection with one of our subsidiary banks, each of our other subsidiary banks may be liable to the FDIC for such loss, and the FDIC’s claim will be superior to any unsecured or secured obligations owed to us by our subsidiary banks. As of June 30, 2022, our subsidiaries had approximately $17.6 billion of deposits and other borrowings. The Indenture does not restrict the amount of secured or unsecured debt that we or our subsidiaries may incur.
No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the subordinated notes will not contain any provisions which may afford holders of the subordinated notes protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control), which could adversely affect holders of subordinated notes.
Subordination
The subordinated notes are subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all our Senior Indebtedness. This means that, in certain circumstances where we may not be making payments on all of our debt obligations as they become due, the holders of all of our Senior Indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts that are due or will become due on their debt securities before the holders of the subordinated notes will be entitled to receive any amounts under the subordinated notes. These circumstances include when we make a payment or distribute assets to creditors upon our liquidation, dissolution, winding up or reorganization.
These subordination provisions mean that if we are insolvent, a direct holder of a specific amount of our Senior Indebtedness may ultimately receive more of our assets than a direct holder of the same amount of subordinated notes, and our creditor that is owned a specific amount may ultimately receive more of our assets than a direct holder of the same amount of subordinated notes. The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit our ability to incur Senior Indebtedness or general obligations, including indebtedness ranking equally with the notes or secured debt.
Holders of the subordinated notes may not accelerate the maturity of the notes, except upon an event of default. See “-Events of Default” below.
The Subordinated Note Indenture provides that, unless all principal of and any premium or interest on Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full, no payment or other distribution may be made in respect of any subordinated notes in the following circumstances:
•in the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors or other similar proceedings or events involving us or our assets;
•in the event and during the continuation of any default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Indebtedness beyond any applicable grace period with respect thereto, or, in the event any judicial proceeding shall be pending with respect to any such default; or
•in the event that any subordinated notes have been declared due and payable before their stated maturity.
If the trustee or any holders of subordinated notes receive any payment or distribution that is prohibited under the subordination provisions, and if this fact is made known to the trustee or subordinated holders at or prior to the time of such payment or distribution, then the trustee or the holders will have to pay over that money to us.
Further, in the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors or other similar proceedings or events involving us or our assets, any creditors in respect of general obligations will be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of such general obligations, before any amount is made available for payment or distribution to the holders of the subordinated notes.
Even if the subordination provisions prevent us from making any payment when due on the subordinated notes, we will be in default on our obligations under the subordinated notes if we do not make the payment when due. This means that the trustee and the holders of subordinated notes can take action against us, but they will not receive any money until the claims of the holders of Senior Indebtedness have been fully satisfied.
The Subordinated Note Indenture allows the holders of Senior Indebtedness to obtain a court order requiring us and any holder of subordinated notes to comply with the subordination provisions.
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The Subordinated Note Indenture defines Senior Indebtedness to include, without limitation:
•the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest in respect of our indebtedness for purchased or borrowed money, whether or not evidenced by securities, notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments issued by us, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses;
•our capital lease obligations;
•our obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, our conditional sale obligations and our obligations under any conditional sale or title retention agreement, but excluding trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business;
•our obligations arising from off-balance sheet guarantees and direct credit substitutes, including obligations in respect of any letters of credit, bankers’ acceptance, security purchase facilities and similar credit transactions;
•our obligations associated with derivative products, including obligations in respect of interest rate swap, cap or other agreements, interest rate future or options contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements;
•any of the above listed obligations of other persons the payment of which we are responsible or liable for, either directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise;
•any of the above listed obligations of other persons secured by any lien on any of our property or assets whether or not we assume that obligation; and
•any deferrals, renewals or extensions of any of the above listed obligations.
However, Senior Indebtedness does not include:
•the subordinated notes;
•trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business; and
•any indebtedness that by its terms is subordinated to, or ranks on an equal basis with, the subordinated notes, including: any indebtedness issued to any statutory trust created by us for the purpose of issuing trust securities in connection with such issuance of indebtedness, which shall in all cases be junior to the notes.
The Subordinated Note Indenture does not contain any limitation on the amount of Senior Indebtedness that we may incur in the future. Furthermore, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the trustee or the holders of the subordinated notes, among other things, change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Indebtedness is outstanding.
Because we are a holding company, our right and the rights of our creditors, including holders of the subordinated notes, to participate in any distribution of assets of any of our subsidiaries upon their liquidation, reorganization or otherwise would be subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary (except to the extent that we are a creditor with a recognized claim of equal priority). In the event of any such distribution of assets of any of our bank subsidiaries due in part to their status as insured depository institutions, the claims of depositors and other general or subordinated creditors of the bank subsidiary would be entitled to priority over claims of shareholders of the bank subsidiary, including any claim we might have as the parent holding company of the subsidiary and any claim that one of our creditors might have, such as holders of the subordinated notes.
Events of Default
The only “events of default” with respect to the notes under the Subordinated Note Indenture are certain events related to our bankruptcy or insolvency, whether voluntary or involuntary, or certain events related to the insolvency of any principal subsidiary bank. If an event of default with respect to the subordinated notes occurs and is continuing, the principal amount of all of the subordinated notes shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder of the subordinated notes. If an event of default with respect to the notes occurs and is continuing, the trustee may enforce its rights and the rights of the holders of the subordinated notes by any judicial proceedings that the trustee deems to be most effectual to do so.
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The maturity of the notes may only be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default described above. There is no right of acceleration of the payment of principal of the subordinated notes upon a “default” in the payment of principal of or interest on the subordinated notes or in the performance of any of our covenants or agreements contained in the subordinated notes, in the Subordinated Note Indenture or any of our other obligations or liabilities. For purposes of the subordinated notes, “default” means (i) a default in the payment of principal of the subordinated notes when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration of maturity or otherwise; and (ii) a default in the payment of interest on the subordinated notes when due, which continues for 30 days. If a default in the payment of principal of or interest on the subordinated notes occurs and is continuing under the Subordinated Note Indenture, the trustee and holders of notes will have a right to institute suit directly against us for the collection of such overdue payment. Other than upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest on the subordinated notes, the holders of the subordinated notes will have limited rights to institute proceedings to enforce the terms of the Subordinated Note Indenture or subordinated notes.
Modification
From time to time, we, together with the trustee, may, without the consent of the holders of subordinated notes, amend the Subordinated Note Indenture for one or more of the following purposes:
•to provide for the assumption by a successor corporation of our obligations under the Subordinated Note Indenture and the subordinated notes;
•to add to our covenants and the default provisions for the benefit of the holders of subordinated notes or to surrender our rights under the Subordinated Note Indenture;
•to permit or facilitate the issuance of subordinated notes in bearer form or in uncertificated form;
•to cure ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies, so long as the amendment does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of subordinated notes;
•to make any other change to the Subordinated Note Indenture that neither applies to any subordinated note of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor modifies the rights of any subordinated holder with respect to such provision;
•to secure subordinated notes;
•to establish forms and terms of subordinated notes; or
•to provide for a successor trustee or to facilitate the administration of the trusts by more than one trustee.
The Subordinated Note Indenture permits us and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of each series of subordinated notes affected thereby, to modify the Subordinated Note Indenture in a manner affecting the rights of the holders of the subordinated notes of such series; provided, that no modification may, without the consent of the holders of each outstanding subordinated note affected:
•change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any subordinated note;
•reduce the principal amount of or the rate of interest on any subordinated note, or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof;
•reduce the amount of the principal of any subordinated note which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration;
•change the place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any subordinated note principal or interest is payable;
•impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such due and payable obligation;
•modify the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the subordination of the subordinated notes in a manner adverse to the subordinated note holders;
•reduce the percentage in principal amount of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver provided for in the Subordinated Note Indenture;
•modify any of the above provisions, or provisions on the waiver of past defaults and waiver of covenants, or reduce the percentage in principal amount of subordinated notes that must approve such modifications or waivers;
•provide that certain other provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture can be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each subordinated note affected thereby.
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Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions
We will not consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person, unless:
•we are the surviving person or we consolidate with or merge into another person or sell, convey, transfer or lease substantially all of our properties and assets to any person, that is organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State or the District of Columbia, that if not us expressly assumes our obligations relating to the notes and the Subordinated Note Indenture;
•immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no “event of default,” and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an “event of default” shall have occurred and be continuing; and
•certain other conditions described in the Subordinated Note Indenture are met.
The general provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture do not limit our rights to enter into transactions, such as a highly-leveraged transaction, that may adversely affect the holders of the notes.
Satisfaction and Discharge
The Subordinated Note Indenture provides that when, among other things, all subordinated notes have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation, or those notes not delivered to the trustee for cancellation:
•have become due and payable,
•will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, or
•are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the trustee in our name, and at our expense,
and we deposit or cause to be deposited with the trustee, in trust, for the purpose and in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the subordinated notes not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for the principal and interest, then, upon our request, the Subordinated Note Indenture will cease to be of further effect, and we will be deemed to have satisfied and discharged the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the subordinated notes. However, we will continue to be obligated to pay all other sums due under the Subordinated Note Indenture, including all trustee fees and expenses.
Defeasance
We may at any time terminate all of our obligations under the subordinated notes, except for certain obligations including those respecting the defeasance trust, or omit to comply with certain covenants applicable to the subordinated notes. Our obligations will be deemed to have been discharged on and after the date the following applicable conditions have been satisfied:
•we have irrevocably deposited in trust with the trustee or the defeasance agent, if any, money or U.S. government obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the subordinated notes to maturity;
•if the subordinated notes are then listed on any securities exchange, we have delivered to the trustee or defeasance agent an officer’s certificate to the effect that such defeasance will not cause the subordinated notes to be delisted from such exchange;
•such defeasance will not cause the trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all subordinated notes are in default within the meaning of the Act);
•such defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which we are a party;
•such defeasance will not result in the defeasance trust constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust will be registered under the Act or exempt from registration thereunder;
•we have delivered to the trustee and the defeasance agent, if any, an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders of the subordinated notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same
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amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred;
•no event or condition exists that would prevent us from making payments of the principal of or interest on the notes on the date we deposit funds or any time during the 90 days thereafter; and
•certain other conditions set forth in the Subordinated Note Indenture.
Form, Denomination, Transfer, Exchange and Book-Entry Procedures
The subordinated notes will be issued only in fully registered form, without interest coupons, and in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
The subordinated notes will be evidenced by a global note which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary, or any successor thereto, and registered in the name of a nominee of the depositary. Except as set forth below, record ownership of the global note may be transferred, in whole or in part, only to another nominee of the depositary or to a successor of the depositary or its nominee.
The global note will not be registered in the name of any person, or exchanged for notes that are registered in the name of any person, other than the depositary or its nominee, unless certain circumstances such as one of the following occurs:
•the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue acting as the depositary for the global note, or the depositary has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and in either case we fail to appoint a successor depositary; or
•an event of default with respect to the subordinated notes represented by the global note has occurred and is continuing, and we or the depositary requests an exchange.
In those circumstances, the depositary will determine in whose names any securities issued in exchange for the global note will be registered. Any such notes in certificated form will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and may be transferred or exchanged only in such minimum denominations.
Redemption
Any terms for the optional or mandatory redemption of the subordinated notes will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the subordinated notes will be redeemable only upon notice by mail not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date to each holder at the address appearing in the security register for such subordinated notes.
If less than all the subordinated notes of a series, or any tranche thereof, are to be redeemed, the particular subordinated notes to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the trustee, from the outstanding subordinated notes of such series not previously called for redemption, pro rata, by lot or by such method as the trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any subordinated notes of such series all in accordance with the procedures of the depositary, provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any subordinated notes shall be in an authorized denomination of or any integral multiples thereof (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such subordinated notes.
If less than all the subordinated notes of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single note), the particular subordinated notes to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the trustee or by the depositary, as applicable, from the outstanding subordinated notes of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding paragraph.
If any subordinated notes called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any interest shall, until paid, bear interest from the redemption date at the rate prescribed therefore in the subordinated notes.
The Trustee
The trustee for the holders of subordinated notes issued under the Subordinated Note Indenture will be U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association. If an event of default with respect to the subordinated notes occurs, and is not cured, the
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trustee will be required to use the degree of care of a prudent person in the conduct of his or her own affairs in the exercise of its powers. Subject to the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Subordinated Note Indenture at the request of any holders of the subordinated notes, unless they have offered to the trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee.
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association is the trustee of the subordinated debentures that support several series of trust preferred securities issued by our capital trust subsidiaries and, in the future, may be the trustee under other indentures pursuant to which we issue debt. Pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, if a default occurs with respect to the securities of any series, the trustee will be required to eliminate any conflicting interest as defined in the Trust Indenture Act or resign as trustee with respect to the securities of that series within 90 days of such default, unless such default were cured, duly waived or otherwise eliminated.
Payment and Paying Agents
The paying agent for subordinated notes issued under the Subordinated Note Indenture will be U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association. We will pay principal and interest on your subordinated notes at the office of the trustee in Indianapolis, Indiana, or in the City of New York, or at the office of any paying agent that we may designate. Unless otherwise provided, principal and interest will be considered paid on the date due if the paying agent holds as of 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the due date money deposited by us in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.
We will pay any interest on the subordinated notes to the registered owner of the subordinated notes at the close of business on the record date for the interest, except in the case of defaulted interest. Interest payable at maturity of the subordinated notes will be paid to the registered holder to whom principal is payable. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent.
Any moneys deposited with the trustee or any paying agent, or then held by us in trust, for the payment of the principal of and interest on any subordinated note that remains unclaimed for two years after the principal or interest has become due and payable will, at our request, be repaid to us. After repayment to us, you are entitled to seek payment only from us as a general unsecured creditor.
Governing Law
The Subordinated Note Indenture and the notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Outstanding Subordinated Notes
On September 8, 2021, we issued $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.75% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2031 (the “Securities”) pursuant to the Subordinated Note Indenture.
Unless earlier redeemed, the Securities will mature on September 15, 2031. From and including the date of issuance to, but excluding September 15, 2026 or any earlier redemption date, the Securities will bear interest at a fixed annual interest rate equal to 2.75%, payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on March 15, 2022, and ending on September 15, 2026. From and including September 15, 2026 to, but excluding, the maturity date or the date of earlier redemption, the interest rate will reset quarterly to an annual interest rate equal to a benchmark rate, which is expected to be three-month term SOFR plus a spread of 210 basis points, payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2026.
The Securities are our unsecured, subordinated obligations and shall rank junior in right of payment to all of our existing or future senior indebtedness, whether secured or unsecured, including claims of depositors and creditors. The Securities shall (i) rank equally in right of payment with any unsecured, subordinated indebtedness currently outstanding or that we incur in the future that ranks equally with the Securities; (ii) rank senior in right of payment to (A) our existing junior subordinated debentures and (B) any indebtedness the terms of which provide that such indebtedness ranks junior to the Securities; and (iii) be structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and liabilities of our existing and future subsidiaries, including without limitation our bank subsidiaries’ depositors. It is intended that the Securities qualify as and are Tier 2 capital or the equivalent for all regulatory purposes.
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The Securities may be redeemed at our option under certain circumstances, as described in the Subordinated Note Indenture.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
This section summarizes the terms of the common stock that we may offer using this prospectus. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to our certificate of incorporation, as restated and amended (the “certificate of incorporation”), and bylaws, which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies.
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of 60,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and 200,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. As of June 30, 2022, we had 42,439,439 shares of our common stock outstanding. Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “HTLF.” We had previously designated the terms of 16,000 shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred Stock"), 81,698 shares of Series B Perpetual Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”), 81,698 shares of Series C Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”), 3,000 shares of 7.0% Senior Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Series D (“Series D Preferred Stock”) and 11,500 shares of 7.00% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E ("Series E Preferred Stock"), but all of those shares except for the Series E Preferred Stock have been redeemed and resumed the status of authorized but unissued shares. As a result, we have 6,104 shares of authorized but undesignated preferred stock.
Our board of directors is authorized to designate the rights and preferences of additional series of preferred stock out of the 6,104 shares that are authorized but undesignated, to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series and to issue and sell shares of any such series without approval of stockholders. Shares of preferred stock that our board creates and issues could have dividend or redemption rights that could adversely affect the availability of earnings for distribution to the holders of our common stock, or voting, conversion or other rights that could proportionately reduce, minimize or otherwise adversely affect the voting power and other rights of holders of our common stock.
Our common stock is not entitled to any conversion rights or any preemptive rights to subscribe for additional securities we may issue. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock which we may issue. All shares of outstanding common stock are, and all shares of common stock issued using the prospectus will be, fully paid and nonassessable.
Dividend Rights
Subject to the prior dividend rights of the holders of any preferred stock, dividends may be declared by our board of directors and paid from time to time on outstanding shares of our common stock from any funds legally available therefor and subject to regulatory restriction. As a Delaware corporation, we may pay dividends only out of surplus or if we have no such surplus, out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. In addition, policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board caution that a bank holding company should not pay cash dividends unless its net income available to common stockholders over the past year has been sufficient to fully fund the dividends and the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with its capital needs, asset quality, and overall financial condition. The Federal Reserve possesses enforcement powers over bank holding companies and their bank and non-bank subsidiaries to prevent or remedy actions that represent unsafe or unsound practices or violations of applicable statutes and regulations. Among these powers is the ability to proscribe the payment of dividends by banks and bank holding companies.
Voting Rights
Subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred stock, only the holders of our common stock have voting rights and are entitled to one vote for each share held. The board is classified into three classes of directors. Holders of common stock are not entitled to cumulative voting of their shares in the election of directors. The directors are elected by a plurality vote, which means that the individuals receiving the highest number of votes cast “FOR” their election are elected to the available board seats. Except as described below under “Certain Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws” or as provided by law, all other matters are decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote.
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Liquidation Rights
Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, the holders of our common stock are entitled to share in our assets remaining after the payment of liabilities and the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to debt holders and the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Certain Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Some provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make the acquisition of control of our company and/or the removal of our existing board of directors and management more difficult, including the following:
•we do not provide for cumulative voting for our directors;
•we have a classified board of directors with each class serving a staggered three-year term;
•at least two-thirds of our board of directors must approve any changes to the size of the board;
•a vote of 70% of the outstanding shares of voting stock is required to remove directors, and such directors may only be removed for cause;
•unless approved by at least two-thirds of the number of members of our board of directors fixed from time to time, a vote of 70% of the outstanding shares of voting stock is required to amend, alter or repeal certain sections of our bylaws and certain sections of our certificate of incorporation and a majority vote of the outstanding shares of voting stock may also be required to amend, alter or repeal certain sections of our bylaws and certificate of incorporation even if approved by at least two-thirds of the members of the board of directors;
•unless approved by at least two-thirds of the number of members of our board of directors fixed from time to time, a vote of 70% of the outstanding shares of voting stock is required to effect any merger or consolidation of our company or any of our subsidiaries with or into another corporation; effect any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition by us or any of our subsidiaries of all or substantially all of our assets in a single transaction or series of related transactions; effect any issuance or transfer by us or any of our subsidiaries of any of our voting securities (except as issued pursuant to a stock option, purchase or bonus plan); or effect our voluntary dissolution;
•a majority of stockholders representing 75% of the outstanding shares of stock, or a class of stock, may bind all stockholders or a class of stockholders, to certain compromises or arrangements with creditors, subject to approval by a court of equitable jurisdiction;
•our board of directors may create new directorships and may appoint new directors to serve for the full term of the class of directors in which the new directorship was created and may fill vacancies on the board of directors occurring for any reason for the remainder of the term of the class of director in which the vacancy occurred;
•our board of directors may issue preferred stock without any vote or further action by the stockholders;
•our board of directors retains the power to designate series of preferred stock and to determine the powers, rights, preferences, qualifications and limitations of each class of preferred stock;
•all stockholder actions must be taken at a regular or special meeting of the stockholders and cannot be taken by written consent without a meeting; and
•we have advance notice procedures which generally require that stockholder proposals and nominations be provided to us not less than 30 days and not more than 75 days before the date of the originally scheduled annual meeting in order to be properly brought before a stockholder meeting.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) regulates corporate acquisitions. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in various business combinations with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless:
•prior to such time, the board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction in which the stockholder became an interested stockholder;
•upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding shares owned by directors, officers and employee stock plans; or
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•at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder at a stockholder meeting, and not by written consent.
A “business combination” is defined to include mergers, asset sales and other transactions. In general, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years, did own) 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change-in-control attempts with respect to the company and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us even though such a transaction may offer our stockholders an opportunity to sell their stock at a price above the prevailing market price.
Banking Laws
Certain federal banking laws, including regulatory approval requirements, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire Heartland. For example, the federal Change in Bank Control Act, Bank Merger Act, and Bank Holding Company Act, as well as certain similar state laws, require bank regulatory approvals for acquisitions of direct or indirect control of banks and bank holding companies, mergers of banks and other transactions that may result in a company becoming a bank holding company or where an existing banking holding company seeks to invest in another banking organization.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
This section summarizes the terms of the preferred stock that we may offer using this prospectus. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to our certificate of incorporation, as restated and amended (the “certificate of incorporation”), and bylaws, which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies.
General
We currently have authorized 200,000 shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value per share. As discussed above under the heading “Description of Common Stock-General,” we have 6,104 shares of authorized but undesignated preferred stock. As of the date of this prospectus, 11,500 shares of Series E Preferred Stock were outstanding, the terms of which we summarize below.
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to create and provide for the issuance of one or more series of preferred stock, without the approval of our stockholders. Prior to the issuance of each series of our undesignated preferred stock, our board of directors is required by the DGCL and our certificate of incorporation to adopt resolutions and file a certificate of designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, fixing for each such series the designations, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the shares of such series.
Subject to limitations prescribed by the DGCL and our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors is authorized to fix the number of shares constituting each series of preferred stock and the designations, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the shares of such series, including such provisions as may be desired concerning voting, redemption, dividends, dissolution or the distribution of assets, conversion or exchange, and such other matters as may be fixed by resolution of the board of directors. Each series of preferred stock that we offer under this prospectus will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable, and will not have, or be subject to, any preemptive or similar rights.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of the series of preferred stock in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
•the title and stated value of the preferred stock;
•the number of shares of the preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share and the purchase price of the preferred stock;
•the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or the method(s) of calculation for dividends;
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•whether dividends shall be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends on the preferred stock shall accumulate;
•the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any, for the preferred stock;
•the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred stock;
•the provisions for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred stock, including any restrictions on the repurchase or redemption of the preferred stock while there is any late payment of dividends or sinking fund installments;
•any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;
•the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock will be convertible into common stock or another series of our preferred stock, including the conversion price (or its manner of calculation) and conversion period;
•the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which preferred stock will be exchangeable into our debt securities, including the exchange price, or its manner of calculation, and exchange period;
•voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;
•a discussion of any material and/or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;
•whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares;
•the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;
•any limitations on issuance of any series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; and
•any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions on the preferred stock.
For a description of provisions in our certificate of incorporation or bylaws that may have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control, please refer to the section entitled “Certain Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws” under the “Description of Common Stock.”
Rank
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, the preferred stock will rank:
•senior to all classes or series of our common stock, and to all equity securities issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank junior to the preferred stock with respect to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us;
•on a parity with all equity securities issued by us that do not rank senior or junior to the preferred stock with respect to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us; and
•junior to all equity securities issued by us the terms of which do not specifically provide that such equity securities rank on a parity with or junior to the preferred stock with respect to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us (including any entity with which we may be merged or consolidated or to which all or substantially all of our assets may be transferred or which transfers all or substantially all of our assets).
As used for these purposes, the term “equity securities” does not include convertible debt securities.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar, if any, for any series of preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Outstanding Series E Preferred Stock
On June 26, 2020 we issued 11,500 shares of 7.00% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E, par value $1.00 per share with a liquidation preference of $10,000 per share. Shares of the Series E Preferred Stock are represented by depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of Series E Preferred Stock.
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No Preemptive Rights or Conversion Rights. Holders of Series E Preferred Stock will not have preemptive or subscription rights to acquire more of our stock. The Series E Preferred Stock will not be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or any other class or series of our capital stock or other securities. The Series E Preferred Stock does not have a stated maturity date, will not be subject to any sinking fund or any other obligation of us for its repurchase, redemption, or retirement, and will be perpetual unless redeemed at our option.
Ranking. Shares of the Series E Preferred Stock will rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions upon our liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up:
| • | senior to our common stock and to any class or series of our capital stock we may issue that is not expressly stated to be on parity with or senior to the Series E Preferred Stock; | ||||
| • | on parity with, or equally to, any class or series of our capital stock expressly stated to be on parity with the Series E Preferred Stock, including the Series E Preferred Stock; and | ||||
| • | junior to any class or series of our capital stock expressly stated to be senior to the Series E Preferred Stock (issued with the requisite consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Series E Preferred Stock). | ||||
Dividends. Dividends on shares of the Series E Preferred Stock are discretionary and will not be cumulative. Holders of the Series E Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, if, when, and as declared by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors, out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on October 15, 2020 (each such date being referred to herein as a “dividend payment date”) based on the liquidation preference of $10,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share) at a rate equal to:
| • | from the date of original issue to, but excluding, July 15, 2025 (the "First Reset Date"), a fixed rate per annum of 7.00%; and | ||||
| • | from, and including, the First Reset Date, during each reset period, a rate per annum equal to the five-year treasury rate as of the most recent dividend determination date (as described below) plus 6.675%. | ||||
Dividends on shares of the Series E Preferred Stock will not be cumulative. Accordingly, if our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors does not declare a full dividend on the Series E Preferred Stock payable in respect of a dividend period before the related dividend payment date, such dividend will not accrue and we will have no obligation to pay a dividend for that dividend period on the dividend payment date or at any future time, whether or not dividends on the Series E Preferred Stock are declared for any future dividend period.
Rights on Liquidation. In the event that we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve, or wind up our affairs, holders of the Series E Preferred Stock are entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to stockholders, after satisfaction of liabilities and obligations to creditors, if any, and subject to the rights of holders of any shares of capital stock then outstanding ranking senior to or on parity with the Series E Preferred Stock with respect to distributions upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of our business and affairs, including the Series E Preferred Stock, and before we make any distribution or payment out of our assets to the holders of our common stock or any other class or series of our capital stock ranking junior to the Series E Preferred Stock with respect to distributions upon our liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up, an amount per share equal to the liquidation preference of $10,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share) plus any declared and unpaid dividends prior to the payment of the liquidating distribution (but without any amount in respect of dividends that have not been declared prior to the date of payment of the liquidating distribution). After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution described above, the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of our assets.
Redemption. The Series E Preferred Stock is perpetual and has no maturity date and is not subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund, or other similar provisions. Except for the redemption upon the occurrence of a “regulatory capital treatment event” as further described below, the shares of Series E Preferred Stock are not redeemable prior to the First Reset Date. The holders of the Series E Preferred Stock will not have any right to require the redemption or repurchase of their shares of Series E Preferred Stock.
We may, at our option, redeem the Series E Preferred Stock (i) in whole or in part, from time to time, on any reset date on or after the First Reset Date or (ii) in whole but not in part at any time within 90 days following a “regulatory capital treatment event,” including prior to the First Reset Date, in each case at a redemption price equal to $10,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share), plus the per share amount of any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, on the Series E Preferred Stock to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption (the “redemption date”).
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Voting Rights. Except as provided below and as determined by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors or as otherwise expressly required by law, the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock will have no voting rights.
Whenever dividends on any shares of the Series E Preferred Stock, or any parity stock upon which similar voting rights have been conferred (“special voting preferred stock”), shall have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of dividends payable on the Series E Preferred Stock as contemplated herein for the equivalent of six or more quarterly dividend periods, whether or not consecutive (which we refer to as a “nonpayment”), the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock, voting together as a class with holders of any special voting preferred stock then outstanding, will be entitled to vote (based on respective liquidation preferences) for the election of a total of two additional members of our board of directors (which we refer to as the “preferred directors”); provided that our board of directors shall at no time include more than two preferred directors; provided, further, that the election of any such preferred directors may not cause us to violate any corporate governance requirement of Nasdaq (or any other exchange on which our securities may be listed). In that event, the number of directors on our board of directors shall automatically increase by two and, at the request of any holder of Series E Preferred Stock, a special meeting of the holders of Series E Preferred Stock and such special voting preferred stock, including the Series E Preferred Stock, for which dividends have not been paid shall be called for the election of the two directors (unless such request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of stockholders, in which event such election shall be held at such next annual or special meeting of stockholders), followed by such election at each subsequent annual meeting. These voting rights will continue until full dividends have been paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of such dividends has been set aside for payment) on the Series E Preferred Stock and such special voting preferred stock for four dividend periods following the nonpayment.
If and when full dividends have been paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of such dividends has been set aside for payment) for at least four dividend periods following a nonpayment on the Series E Preferred Stock and such special voting preferred stock, the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock and such special voting preferred stock shall be divested of the foregoing voting rights (subject to revesting in the event of each subsequent nonpayment) and the term of office of each preferred director so elected shall terminate and the number of directors on our board of directors shall automatically decrease by two.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
This section summarizes the general terms and provisions of the depositary shares represented by depositary receipts that we may offer using this prospectus. This section is only a summary and does not purport to be complete. You must look at the applicable forms of depositary receipt and deposit agreement for a full understanding of the specific terms of any depositary shares and depositary receipts. The forms of the depositary receipts and the deposit agreement will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement to which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies.
A prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the depositary shares and the depositary receipts offered under that prospectus supplement, including any of the terms in this section that will not apply to those depositary shares and depositary receipts, and any special considerations, including tax considerations, applicable to investing in those depositary shares.
General
We may offer fractional interests in preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do so, we will provide for the issuance to the public by a depositary of depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent a fractional interest in a share of a particular series of preferred stock.
The shares of any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. The applicable prospectus supplement will state the name and address of the depositary. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will have a fractional interest in all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying the depositary share. Those rights include any dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.
While the final depositary receipts are being prepared, we may order the depositary to issue temporary depositary receipts substantially identical to the final depositary receipts, although not in final form. The holders of temporary depositary
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receipts will be entitled to the same rights as if they held the depositary receipts in final form. Holders of temporary depositary receipts can exchange them for final depositary receipts at our expense.
Withdrawal of Preferred Stock
If you surrender depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary you will be entitled to receive at that office the number of shares of preferred stock and any money or other property then represented by the depositary shares, unless the depositary shares have been called for redemption. We will not, however, issue any fractional shares of preferred stock. Accordingly, if you deliver depositary receipts for a number of depositary shares that, when added together, represents more than a whole number of shares of preferred stock, the depositary will issue to you a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares at the same time as you receive your shares of preferred stock. You will no longer be entitled to deposit the shares of preferred stock you have withdrawn under the deposit agreement or to receive depositary shares in exchange for those shares of preferred stock. There may be no market for any withdrawn shares of preferred stock.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received with respect to the deposited preferred stock, less any taxes required to be withheld, to the record holders of the depositary receipts in proportion to the number of the depositary shares owned by each record holder on the relevant date. The depositary will distribute only the amount that can be distributed without attributing to any holder a fraction of one cent. Any balance will be added to the next sum to be distributed to holders of depositary receipts.
If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property to the holders of depositary receipts, unless the depositary determines that it is not practical to make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.
The deposit agreement will contain provisions relating to how any subscription or similar rights offered by us to holders of the preferred stock will be made available to the holders of depositary receipts.
Redemption and Repurchase of Deposited Preferred Stock
If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the redemption proceeds, in whole or in part, of the series of preferred stock held by the depositary. The depositary will mail a notice of redemption between 30 and 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the record holders of the depositary receipts to be redeemed at their addresses appearing in the depositary’s records. The redemption price per depositary share will bear the same relationship to the redemption price per share of preferred stock that the depositary share bears to the underlying preferred stock. Whenever we redeem preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same redemption date, the number of depositary shares representing the preferred stock redeemed. If less than all of the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by the depositary by lot or pro rata or other equitable method, as we determine.
After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be outstanding. If depositary shares are no longer outstanding, the holders will have no rights with regard to those depositary shares other than the right to receive money or other property that they were entitled to receive upon redemption. The payments will be made when the holder surrenders its depositary receipts to the depositary.
Depositary shares are not subject to repurchase at the option of the holders. However, if shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares become subject to repurchase at the option of the holders, the holders may surrender their depositary receipts to the depositary and direct the depositary to instruct us to repurchase the deposited preferred stock at the price specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we have sufficient funds available, we will, upon receipt of the instructions, repurchase the requisite whole number of shares of preferred stock from the depositary, which will, in turn, repurchase the depositary receipts. However, holders of depositary receipts will only be entitled to request the repurchase of a number of depositary shares that represents in total one or more whole shares of the underlying preferred stock. The repurchase price per depositary share will equal the repurchase price per share of the underlying preferred stock multiplied by the fraction of that share represented by one depositary share. If the depositary shares evidenced by any depositary receipt are repurchased in part only, the depositary will issue one or more new depositary receipts representing the depositary shares not repurchased.
Voting of Deposited Preferred Stock
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Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail information about the meeting to the record holders of the related depositary receipts. Each record holder of depositary receipts on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the holders of the related preferred stock) will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to how to vote the preferred stock underlying the holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will try, if practicable, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares according to the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all action requested and considered necessary by the depositary to enable it to vote the preferred stock in that manner. The depositary will not vote any shares of preferred stock for which it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of the depositary receipts.
Conversion and Exchange of Deposited Preferred Stock
If we provide for the exchange of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares, the depositary will exchange, as of the same exchange date, that number of depositary shares representing the preferred stock to be exchanged, so long as we have issued and deposited with the depositary the securities for which the preferred stock are to be exchanged. The exchange rate per depositary share will equal the exchange rate per share of the underlying preferred stock multiplied by the fraction of that share represented by one depositary share. If less than all of the depositary shares are exchanged, the depositary shares to be exchanged will be selected by the depositary by lot or pro rata or other equitable method, as we determine. If the depositary shares evidenced by a depositary receipt are exchanged in part only, the depositary will issue one or more new depositary receipts representing the depositary shares not exchanged.
Depositary shares may not be converted or exchanged for other securities or property at the option of the holders. However, if shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares are converted into or exchanged for other securities at the option of the holders, the holders may surrender their depositary receipts to the depositary and direct the depositary to instruct us to convert or exchange the deposited preferred stock into the whole number or principal amount of securities specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of instructions, we will cause the conversion or exchange and deliver to the holders the whole number or principal amount of our securities and cash in lieu of any fractional security. The exchange or conversion rate per depositary share will equal the exchange or conversion rate per share of the underlying preferred stock multiplied by the fraction of the cumulative preferred share represented by one depositary share. If the depositary shares evidenced by a depositary receipt are converted or exchanged in part only, the depositary will issue a new depositary receipt evidencing any depositary shares not converted or exchanged.
Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended by agreement between us and the depositary. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the existing holders of depositary receipts will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the record holders of at least a majority of the depositary receipts. A deposit agreement may be terminated only if all related outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or there has been a final distribution on the underlying preferred stock in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and the distribution has been distributed to the holders of the related depositary receipts.
Charges of Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary for the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges that are stated in the deposit agreement to be their responsibility.
Miscellaneous
The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the underlying preferred stock.
Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if the depositary is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations and the depositary’s obligations under the deposit agreement will be limited to the performance in good faith of our respective duties under the deposit agreement. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding connected with any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or
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accountants or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering notice to us. We also may at any time remove the depositary. Resignations or removals will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of the appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery to us of notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants, in one or more series, to purchase debt securities, subordinated notes, depositary shares, preferred stock or common stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other security, and may be attached to or separate from such security. We will issue the warrants under a warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all of which will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to any warrants we offer. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent and will not act as an agent for the holders or beneficial owners of the warrants.
This section summarizes the general terms and provisions of warrants that we may offer using this prospectus. We will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants that we may offer in more detail in a prospectus supplement. You should read the prospectus supplement, and refer to the applicable forms of warrant agreement and warrant certificate, for a full understanding of the specific terms of any warrant. The forms of the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement to which this prospectus is a part.
The prospectus supplement relating to any specific warrants that we offer using this prospectus will describe the following terms of such warrants, if applicable:
•the title and the aggregate number of warrants;
•the debt securities, depositary shares, preferred stock or common stock for which each warrant is exercisable;
•the date or dates on which the right to exercise such warrants commence and expire;
•the price or prices at which such warrants are exercisable;
•the currency or currencies in which such warrants are exercisable;
•the periods during which and places at which such warrants are exercisable;
•the terms of any mandatory or optional call provisions;
•the price or prices, if any, at which the warrants may be redeemed at the option of the holder or will be redeemed upon expiration;
•the identity of the warrant agent; and
•the exchanges, if any, on which such warrants may be listed.
Before the warrants are exercised, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities that such holders are entitled to purchase under the warrants.
Each holder of a warrant will be entitled to purchase the amount or number of securities at the exercise price described in the prospectus supplement that is used to offer the warrants. After the close of business on the day when the right to exercise the warrants terminates (or a later date if we extend the time for exercise), unexercised warrants will become void.
We will specify the place or places where, and the manner in which, warrants may be exercised in the warrant agreement and prospectus supplement that is used to offer the warrants. In general, when we or our warrant agent receive payment and the warrant certificate, endorsed in the manner described in the warrant certificate, at the address we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the securities that you purchased on exercise of warrants. If you exercise fewer than all of the warrants represented by a warrant certificate, we will issue to you a new warrant certificate for the unexercised and unexpired amount of warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS
This section describes the general terms of the rights to purchase securities that we may offer to stockholders using this prospectus. The following description is only a summary and does not purport to be complete. You must look at the applicable forms of subscription agent agreement and subscription certificate for a full understanding of all terms of any series of rights. The forms of the subscription agent agreement and the subscription certificate will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Rights may be issued independently or together with any other security and may or may not be transferable. As part of a rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement under which the underwriters or any other person would purchase any securities that are not purchased in such rights offering. If we issue rights, they will be governed by a separate subscription agent agreement that we will sign with a bank or trust company, as rights agent, that will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent and will not assume any obligation to any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.
The prospectus supplement relating to any rights we offer will describe the specific terms of the offering and the rights, including the record date for stockholders entitled to the rights distribution, the number of rights issued and the type and number of shares of securities that may be purchased upon exercise of the rights, the exercise price of the rights, the date on which the rights will become effective and the date on which the rights will expire, and any applicable U.S. Federal income tax considerations.
In general, a right entitles the holder to purchase for cash a specific number of shares of securities at a specified exercise price. The rights are normally issued to stockholders as of a specific record date, may be exercised only for a limited period of time and become void following the expiration of such period. If we determine to issue rights, we will accompany this prospectus with a prospectus supplement that will describe, among other things:
•the record date for stockholders entitled to receive the rights;
•the number of shares of common stock or other securities that may be purchased upon exercise of each right;
•the exercise price of the rights;
•whether the rights are transferable;
•the period during which the rights may be exercised and when they will expire;
•the steps required to exercise the rights;
•whether the rights include “oversubscription rights” so that a holder of the rights may purchase more securities if other holders do not purchase their full allotments; and
•whether we intend to sell the shares of common stock or other securities that are not purchased in the rights offering to an underwriter or other purchaser under a contractual “standby” commitment or other arrangement.
If fewer than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
We may, from time to time, issue units comprised of securities, warrants and rights in any combination. A prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the units offered, and any special considerations, including tax considerations, applicable to investing in those units. You must look at the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable unit agreement for a full understanding of the specific terms of any units. The form of unit agreement will be filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement to which this prospectus is a part.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may offer and sell the securities offered by this prospectus:
•through underwriters;
•through dealers;
•through agents;
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•directly to one or more purchasers; or
•through some combination of these methods.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the offering of any securities, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the price of the offered securities and the net proceeds to us from the sale of such securities, including any underwriting discounts and commissions or other items constituting underwriters’ compensation, and any discounts, commissions or fees allowed or paid to dealers or agents.
By Underwriters
If underwriters are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. If we sell securities to underwriters, we will execute an underwriting agreement with them at the time of sale and will name them in the applicable prospectus supplement. The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by one or more investment banking firms or others, as designated. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement specifies otherwise, the obligations of the underwriters or agents to purchase the securities will be subject to some conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if any of the securities are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any underwriting commissions or other items constituting underwriters’ compensation may be changed from time to time.
By Dealers
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of any securities offered by this prospectus, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. We will set forth the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction in the applicable prospectus supplement.
By Agents
We may also sell securities offered by this prospectus through agents. We will name any agent involved in the offer and sale and describe any commissions payable by us in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a reasonable efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
By Direct Sales
We may also directly sell securities offered by this prospectus. In this case, no underwriters, dealers or agents would be involved. We will describe the terms of any of those sales in the applicable prospectus supplement.
General Information
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may be deemed underwriters under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, we will authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by some specified institutions to purchase offered securities from us at the public offering price specified in the prospectus supplement under delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. These contracts will be subject only to those conditions stated in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will specify the commission payable for solicitation of the contracts.
Under agreements entered into with us, agents and underwriters who participate in the distribution of the offered securities may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution regarding payments that the agents or underwriters may be required to make. Agents and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement and other than our common stock, all securities we offer using this prospectus will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell securities for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do
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so and may discontinue any market-making at any time without notice. We cannot assure you that a secondary trading market for any of the securities will ever develop or, if one develops, that it will be maintained or provide any significant liquidity.
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third parties may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle such sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third parties in such sale transactions will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
One or more firms, referred to as “remarketing firms,” may also offer or sell the securities, if the prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with a remarketing arrangement upon their purchase of the securities. Remarketing firms will act as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These remarketing firms will offer or sell the securities in accordance with the terms of the securities. The prospectus supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us, and will describe the remarketing firm’s compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities they remarket.
In connection with an offering of our securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may purchase and sell them in the open market. These transactions may include stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of some bids or purchases for the purpose of preventing or slowing a decline in the market price of the securities, and syndicate short positions involve the sale by the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase from us in the offering. Underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, which means that the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker dealers which sell securities in the offering for their account if the syndicate repurchases the securities in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. These activities, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time without notice. These transactions may be affected on any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Dorsey & Whitney LLP.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of our company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of KPMG LLP as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public through the Internet at the SEC web site at www.sec.gov.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC. This allows us to disclose important information to you by referencing those filed documents. We have previously filed the following documents with the SEC and are incorporating them by reference into this prospectus:
•Our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2021;
•Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022
•Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 2, 2022; February 25, 2022; March 9, 2022; March 16, 2022; June 17, 2022; and July 25, 2022; and
•the description of our common stock and preferred stock included in our registration statements filed with the SEC, including any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.
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We are also incorporating by reference any future filings made by it with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and before the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement that indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold. The most recent information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes more dated information.
You can obtain a copy of any documents which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any supplement at no cost by writing or telephoning us at:
Investor Relations
Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
700 Locust Street, Suite 400
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
(563) 589-2100
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement relating to the offered securities. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not offering to sell any of the securities that may be offered hereby in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
| Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee | $ * | ||||
| Legal fees and expenses | ** | ||||
| Printing and engraving | ** | ||||
| Accountants’ fees and expenses | ** | ||||
| Miscellaneous expenses | ** | ||||
| Total | $ ** | ||||
* Deferred in reliance upon Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act. | |||||
** These fees cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement. | |||||
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
HTLF is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any persons who are, or are threatened to be made, parties to any threatened, pending or completed legal action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer or director of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided that such officer or director acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests, and, for criminal proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was illegal. A Delaware corporation may indemnify officers and directors against expenses (including attorney’s fees) in connection with the defense or settlement of an action by or in the right of the corporation under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him or her against the expenses which such officer or director actually and reasonably incurred.
Article IX of Heartland’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and restated (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), provides that any person who is or was a director or officer of Heartland, and each person who serves at the request of HTLF as a director, officer or partner of another enterprise, shall be indemnified in accordance with, and to the fullest extent authorized by, the DGCL.
Article VIII of Heartland’s Bylaws provides that HTLF is required to indemnify its directors and officers under certain circumstances, including those circumstances in which indemnification would otherwise be discretionary. Article VIII of the Bylaws also provides that HTLF may advance expenses to its directors and officers as incurred in connection with proceedings against them for which they may be indemnified.
HTLF also carries directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.
Article X of the Certificate of Incorporation provides that, to the full extent permitted by the DGCL, a director of HTLF shall not be liable to HTLF or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
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Item 16. Exhibits.
Number | Description | |||||||
1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | |||||||
| 4.1 | Form of Specimen Stock Certificate for Heartland Financial USA, Inc. Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S‑4 (File No. 33-76228) filed on May 4, 1994). | |||||||
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Item 17. Undertakings.
(a)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(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 of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act");
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(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 (a)(1)(i), (ii) and (iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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 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 the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), 424(b)(5), or 424(b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), 415(a)(1)(vii), or 415(a)(1)(x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of the securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the
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undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) 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.
(c)Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 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 of 1933 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 or 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 whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(d)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act ("Act") in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S‑3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dubuque, State of Iowa, on the 8th day of August, 2022.
| HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC. | |||||
| By: | /s/ Bruce K. Lee | ||||
| Bruce K. Lee President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 8th day of August, 2022.
| Signature | Title | |||||||
| /s/ Bruce K. Lee | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer and duly authorized officer) | |||||||
| Bruce K. Lee | ||||||||
| /s/ John K. Schmidt | Chairman | |||||||
| John K. Schmidt | ||||||||
| /s/ Bryan R. McKeag | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) | |||||||
| Bryan R. McKeag | ||||||||
| /s/ Janet M. Quick | Executive Vice President and Deputy Chief Financial Officer (principal accounting officer) | |||||||
| Janet M. Quick | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Robert B. Engel | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Thomas L. Flynn | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Lynn B. Fuller | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Jennifer K. Hopkins | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Christopher S. Hylen | ||||||||
| Director | ||||||||
| Susan G. Murphy | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Martin J. Schmitz | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Duane E. White | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Kathryn Graves Unger | ||||||||
| * /s/ Jay L. Kim | Attorney-in-Fact | |||||||
| Jay L. Kim | ||||||||
* Jay L. Kim, by signing his name hereto, does hereby sign this document on behalf of each of the above named directors of the registrant pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by such persons.
II - 7
Exhibit 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables
Form S-3
(Form Type)
Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities
| Security Type | Security Class Title | Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule | Amount Registered | Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit | Maximum Aggregate Offering Price | Fee Rate | Amount of Registration Fee | |||||||||||||||||||
| Newly Registered Securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fees to Be Paid | Debt | Debt Securities | Rule 456(b) and 457(r) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (2) | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Debt | Subordinated Notes | Rule 456(b) and 457(r) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (2) | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity | Common Stock par value $1.00 per share | Rule 456(b) and 457(r) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (2) | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity | Preferred Stock par value $1.00 per share | Rule 456(b) and 457(r) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (2) | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity | Depositary Shares | Rule 456(b) and 457(r) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (2) | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | Warrants | Rule 456(b) and 457(r) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (2) | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | Rights | Rule 456(b) and 457(r) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (2) | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | Units | Rule 456(b) and 457(r) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (2) | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total Offering Amounts | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Fee Offsets | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Fee Due | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) There is being registered hereunder such indeterminate number or amount of senior and subordinated debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, rights and units of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder.
(2) In reliance on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, Heartland USA Financial, Inc. hereby defers payment of the registration fee required in connection with this Registration Statement.
4861-8200-3750\1
Exhibit 4.7
HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC.
____________________
INDENTURE
Dated as of [__________], 20[___]
____________________
[Name of Trustee]
Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Article I. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | |||||||||||
Section 1.1 | Definitions | ||||||||||
Section 1.2 | Other Definitions | ||||||||||
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | |||||||||||
Section 1.3 | Rules of Construction | ||||||||||
Article II. THE SECURITIES | |||||||||||
Section 2.1 | Issuable in Series | ||||||||||
Section 2.2 | Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities | ||||||||||
Section 2.3 | Execution and Authentication | ||||||||||
Section 2.4 | Registrar and Paying Agent | ||||||||||
Section 2.5 | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | ||||||||||
Section 2.6 | Securityholder Lists | ||||||||||
Section 2.7 | Transfer and Exchange | ||||||||||
Section 2.8 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | ||||||||||
Section 2.9 | Outstanding Securities | ||||||||||
Section 2.10 | Treasury Securities | ||||||||||
Section 2.11 | Temporary Securities | ||||||||||
Section 2.12 | Cancellation | ||||||||||
Section 2.13 | Defaulted Interest | ||||||||||
Section 2.14 | Global Securities | ||||||||||
Section 2.15 | CUSIP Numbers | ||||||||||
Article III. REDEMPTION | |||||||||||
Section 3.1 | Notice to Trustee | ||||||||||
Section 3.2 | Selection of Securities to be Redeemed | ||||||||||
Section 3.3 | Notice of Redemption | ||||||||||
Section 3.4 | Effect of Notice of Redemption | ||||||||||
Section 3.5 | Deposit of Redemption Price | ||||||||||
Section 3.6 | Securities Redeemed in Part | ||||||||||
Article IV. COVENANTS | |||||||||||
Section 4.1 | Payment of Principal and Interest | ||||||||||
Section 4.2 | SEC Reports | ||||||||||
Section 4.3 | Compliance Certificate | ||||||||||
Article V. SUCCESSORS | |||||||||||
Section 5.1 | When Company May Merge, Etc | ||||||||||
Section 5.2 | Successor Corporation Substituted | ||||||||||
Article VI. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | |||||||||||
Section 6.1 | Events of Default | ||||||||||
Section 6.2 | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | ||||||||||
Section 6.3 | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | ||||||||||
Section 6.4 | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | ||||||||||
Section 6.5 | Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities | ||||||||||
Section 6.6 | Application of Money Collected | ||||||||||
Section 6.7 | Limitation on Suits | ||||||||||
Section 6.8 | Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest | ||||||||||
Section 6.9 | Restoration of Rights and Remedies | ||||||||||
Section 6.10 | Rights and Remedies Cumulative | ||||||||||
Section 6.11 | Delay or Omission Not Waiver | ||||||||||
Section 6.12 | Control by Holders | ||||||||||
Section 6.13 | Waiver of Past Defaults | ||||||||||
Section 6.14 | Undertaking for Costs | ||||||||||
Article VII. TRUSTEE | |||||||||||
Section 7.1 | Duties of Trustee | ||||||||||
Section 7.2 | Rights of Trustee | ||||||||||
Section 7.3 | Individual Rights of Trustee | ||||||||||
Section 7.4 | Trustee’s Disclaimer | ||||||||||
Section 7.5 | Notice of Defaults | ||||||||||
Section 7.6 | Reports by Trustee to Holders | ||||||||||
Section 7.7 | Compensation and Indemnity | ||||||||||
Section 7.8 | Replacement of Trustee | ||||||||||
Section 7.9 | Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc | ||||||||||
Section 7.10 | Eligibility; Disqualification | ||||||||||
Section 7.11 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | ||||||||||
Article VIII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE | |||||||||||
Section 8.1 | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | ||||||||||
Section 8.2 | Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification | ||||||||||
Section 8.3 | Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series | ||||||||||
Section 8.4 | Covenant Defeasance | ||||||||||
Section 8.5 | Repayment to Company | ||||||||||
Section 8.6 | Reinstatement | ||||||||||
Article IX. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS | |||||||||||
Section 9.1 | Without Consent of Holders | ||||||||||
Section 9.2 | With Consent of Holders | ||||||||||
Section 9.3 | Limitations | ||||||||||
Section 9.4 | Compliance with Trust Indenture Act | ||||||||||
Section 9.5 | Revocation and Effect of Consents | ||||||||||
Section 9.6 | Notation on or Exchange of Securities | ||||||||||
Section 9.7 | Trustee Protected | ||||||||||
Article X. MISCELLANEOUS | |||||||||||
Section 10.1 | Trust Indenture Act Controls | ||||||||||
Section 10.2 | Notices | ||||||||||
Section 10.3 | Communication by Holders with Other Holders | ||||||||||
Section 10.4 | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | ||||||||||
Section 10.5 | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | ||||||||||
Section 10.6 | Rules by Trustee and Agents | ||||||||||
Section 10.7 | Legal Holidays | ||||||||||
Section 10.8 | No Recourse Against Others | ||||||||||
Section 10.9 | Counterparts | ||||||||||
Section 10.10 | Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial | ||||||||||
Section 10.11 | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | ||||||||||
Section 10.12 | Successors | ||||||||||
Section 10.13 | Severability | ||||||||||
Section 10.14 | Table of Contents, Headings, Etc | ||||||||||
Section 10.15 | Securities in a Foreign Currency | ||||||||||
Section 10.16 | Judgment Currency | ||||||||||
Article XI. SINKING FUNDS | |||||||||||
Section 11.1 | Applicability of Article | ||||||||||
Section 11.2 | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | ||||||||||
Section 11.3 | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | ||||||||||
HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC.
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and
Indenture, dated as of [____________], 20[___]
| Section 310 | (a)(1) | 7.1 | |||||||||
| (a)(2) | 7.1 | ||||||||||
| (a)(3) | Not Applicable | ||||||||||
| (a)(4) | Not Applicable | ||||||||||
| (a)(5) | 7.1 | ||||||||||
| (b) | 7.1 | ||||||||||
| Section 311 | (a) | 7.11 | |||||||||
| (b) | 7.11 | ||||||||||
| Section 312 | (a) | 2.6 | |||||||||
| (b) | 10.3 | ||||||||||
| (c) | 10.3 | ||||||||||
| Section 313 | (a) | 7.6 | |||||||||
| (b)(1) | 7.6 | ||||||||||
| (b)(2) | 7.6 | ||||||||||
| (c)(1) | 7.6 | ||||||||||
| (d) | 7.6 | ||||||||||
| Section 314 | (a) | 4.2, 4.3, 10.5 | |||||||||
| (b) | Not Applicable | ||||||||||
| (c)(1) | 10.4 | ||||||||||
| (c)(2) | 10.4 | ||||||||||
| (c)(3) | Not Applicable | ||||||||||
| (d) | Not Applicable | ||||||||||
| (e) | 10.5 | ||||||||||
| (f) | Not Applicable | ||||||||||
| Section 315 | (a) | 7.1 | |||||||||
| (b) | 7.5 | ||||||||||
| (c) | 7.1 | ||||||||||
| (d) | 7.1 | ||||||||||
| (e) | 6.14 | ||||||||||
| Section 316 | (a) | 2.1 | |||||||||
| (a)(1)(a) | 6.12 | ||||||||||
| (a)(1)(b) | 6.13 | ||||||||||
| (b) | 6.8 | ||||||||||
| Section 317 | (a)(1) | 6.3 | |||||||||
| (a)(2) | 6.4 | ||||||||||
| (b) | 2.5 | ||||||||||
| Section 318 | (a) | 10.1 | |||||||||
| Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture. | |||||||||||
Indenture dated as of [], 20[ ] between Heartland Financial USA, a Delaware corporation (“Company”), and [Name of Trustee], a national banking association, as trustee (“Trustee”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.1 Definitions.
“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified herein or therein and which are owing to such Holders.
“Affiliate” of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York, New York (or in connection with any payment, the place of payment) on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.
“Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it and thereafter means the successor.
“Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business related to this Indenture shall be principally administered.
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company, which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such Series.
“Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
“Dollars” and “$” means the currency of The United States of America.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Foreign Currency” means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of The United States of America.
“Foreign Government Obligations” means, with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, (i) direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.
“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect as of the date of determination.
“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
“Holder” or “Securityholder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered.
“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“interest” with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.
“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by any Officer.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
“person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.
“Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office having responsibility for administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.
“Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or interest is due and payable.
“Subsidiary” of any specified person means any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote
in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.
“Trustee” means the person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of, or guaranteed by, The United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of The United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by The United States of America, and which, in either case under clauses (i) and (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
Section 1.2 Other Definitions.
| TERM | DEFINED IN SECTION | ||||
| “Bankruptcy Law” | 6.1 | ||||
| “Custodian” | 6.1 | ||||
| “DTC” | 2.14 | ||||
| “Event of Default” | 6.1 | ||||
| “Judgment Currency” | 10.16 | ||||
| “Legal Holiday” | 10.7 | ||||
| “mandatory sinking fund payment” | 11.1 | ||||
| “Market Exchange Rate” | 10.15 | ||||
| “New York Banking Day” | 10.16 | ||||
| “Notice Agent” | 2.4 | ||||
| “optional sinking fund payment” | 11.1 | ||||
| “Paying Agent” | 2.4 | ||||
| “Registrar” | 2.4 | ||||
| “Required Currency” | 10.16 | ||||
| “successor person” | 5.1 | ||||
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the SEC.
“indenture securities” means the Securities.
“indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.
Section 1.3 Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a)a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b)an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(c)“or” is not exclusive;
(d)words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and
(e)provisions apply to successive events and transactions.
ARTICLE II
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
Section 2.2 Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.
At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.23) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate:
2.2.1.the title (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series) and ranking (including the terms of any subordination provisions) of the Series;
2.2.2.the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;
2.2.3.any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);
2.2.4.the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;
2.2.5.the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
2.2.6.the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be delivered, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;
2.2.7.if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
2.2.8.the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
2.2.9.the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;
2.2.10.if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
2.2.11.the forms of the Securities of the Series and whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities;
2.2.12.if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.13.the currency of denomination of the Securities of the Series, which may be Dollars or any Foreign Currency, and, if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;
2.2.14.the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be made;
2.2.15.if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;
2.2.16.the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;
2.2.17.the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;
2.2.18.any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.19.any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV or V which applies to Securities of the Series;
2.2.20.any Depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein;
2.2.21.the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any Securities of such Series, including, if applicable, the conversion or exchange price, the conversion or exchange period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, at the option of the Holders thereof or at the option of the Company, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange if such Series of Securities are redeemed;
2.2.22.any other terms of the Series (which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series), including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that Series; and
2.2.23.whether any of the Company’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries will guarantee the Securities of that Series, including the terms of subordination, if any, of such guarantees.
All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate referred to above.
Section 2.3 Execution and Authentication.
An Officer shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication, unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.
Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officer’s Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or vice-presidents or a committee of Responsible Officers shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.4 Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”), where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be delivered (“Notice Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying agents or additional notice agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar, additional paying agent or additional notice agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar; the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent; and the term “Notice Agent” includes any additional notice agent. The Company or any of its Affiliates may serve as Registrar or Paying Agent.
The Company hereby appoints the Trustee the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.
Section 2.5 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the Trustee (or one of its Affiliates) shall serve as Paying Agent for the Securities.
Section 2.6 Securityholder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
Section 2.7 Transfer and Exchange.
Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company and the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable by the Company or the Trustee, as applicable, in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days immediately preceding the sending of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day such notice is sent, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
Section 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity bond as may be required by each of them to hold itself and any of its agents harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
Section 2.9 Outstanding Securities.
The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
The Company may purchase or otherwise acquire the Securities, whether by open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security (but see Section 2.10).
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
Section 2.10 Treasury Securities.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.11 Temporary Securities.
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon receipt of a Company Order shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
Section 2.12 Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act and the Trustee) and deliver a certificate of such cancellation to the Company upon written request of the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.13 Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the special record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
Section 2.14 Global Securities.
2.14.1.Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.
2.14.2.Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event, or (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.
Except as provided in this Section 2.14.2, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.
2.14.3.Legends. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”
In addition, so long as the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) is the Depositary, each Global Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“UNLESS THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY GLOBAL NOTE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”
2.14.4.Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.
2.14.5.Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.
2.14.6.Consents, Declaration and Directions. The Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depositary or by the applicable procedures of such Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.
Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in “CUSIP” numbers of which the Company becomes aware.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION
Section 3.1 Notice to Trustee.
The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least 20 days before the redemption date, unless a shorter period is satisfactory to the Trustee).
Section 3.2 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Securities of the Series to be redeemed will be selected as follows: (a) if the Securities are in the form of Global Securities, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, (b) if the Securities are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities are listed, or (c) if not otherwise provided for under clause (a) or (b) in the manner that the Trustee deems fair and appropriate, including by lot or other method, unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements, subject, in the case of Global Securities, to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Securities to be redeemed shall be selected from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. Portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000 may be selected for redemption. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selected for redemption shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.2.10, the minimum principal denomination for each Series and the authorized integral multiples thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.
Section 3.3 Notice of Redemption.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall send or cause to be sent by first-class mail or electronically, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.
The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:
(a)the redemption date;
(b)the redemption price;
(c)the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(d)if any Securities are being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Securities to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date and upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Security shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Security;
(e)that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(f)that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date unless the Company defaults in the deposit of the redemption price;
(g)the CUSIP number, if any; and
(h)any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.
At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense.
Section 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is sent as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. Except as otherwise provided in the supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate for a Series, a notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.
Section 3.5 Deposit of Redemption Price.
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, on or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
Section 3.6 Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Payment of Principal and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture
hereto for a particular Series, on or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable payment date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of each Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.
Section 4.2 SEC Reports.
To the extent any Securities of a Series are outstanding, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA § 314(a). Reports, information and documents filed with the SEC via the EDGAR system will be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee as of the time of such filing via EDGAR for purposes of this Section 4.2. The Trustee shall have no obligation to determine if and when the Company’s statements or reports are publicly available and accessible electronically.
Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section 4.2 are for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive or actual notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).
Section 4.3 Compliance Certificate.
To the extent any Securities of a Series are outstanding, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officer’s Certificate signed by the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his/her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which the Officer may have knowledge).
ARTICLE V
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.1 When Company May Merge, Etc.
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”) unless:
(a)the Company is the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than the Company) is organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes, pursuant to a supplemental indenture, the Company’s obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture; and
(b)immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officer’s Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and any supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.
Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to the Company. Neither an Officer’s Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection therewith.
Section 5.2 Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such
successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company in the case of a sale, conveyance or other disposition (other than a lease) shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
ARTICLE VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.1 Events of Default.
“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
(a)default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or
(b)default in the payment of principal of any Security of that Series at its Maturity; or
(c)default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than defaults pursuant to paragraphs (a) or (b) above or pursuant to a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of Series of Securities other than that Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or
(d)the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i)commences a voluntary case,
(ii)consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(iii)consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(iv)makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(v)generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or
(e)a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i)is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,
(ii)appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(iii)orders the liquidation of the Company,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or
(f)any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.2.18.
The term “Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
The Company will provide the Trustee written of notice of any Default or Event of Default within 30 days of becoming aware of the occurrence of such Default or Event of Default, which notice will describe in reasonable detail the status of such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.
Section 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(d) or (e)), then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if:
(a)default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or
(b)default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or
(c)default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, if any, when and as due by the terms of a Security,
then the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such Series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
(a)to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(b)to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 6.6 Application of Money Collected.
Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7; and
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and
Third: To the Company.
Section 6.7 Limitation on Suits.
No Holder of any Security of any Series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
(a)such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series;
(b)the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(c)such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred by the Trustee in compliance with such request;
(d)the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(e)no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series;
it being understood, intended and expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Security with every other Holder and the Trustee that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders of the applicable Series.
Section 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Maturity of such Security, including the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 6.12 Control by Holders.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that
(a)such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,
(b)the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(c)subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
Section 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its
consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Maturity of such Security, including the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE
Section 7.1 Duties of Trustee.
(a)If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
(b)Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i)The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others.
(ii)In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officer’s Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the form requirements of this Indenture.
(c)The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i)This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.
(ii)The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(iii)The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series in accordance with Section 6.12.
(d)Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
(e)The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power at the request or direction of any Holder unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in performing such duty or exercising such right or power.
(f)The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(g)No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.
(h)The Paying Agent, the Registrar and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the protections and immunities as are set forth in paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) of this Section and in Section 7.2, each with respect to the Trustee.
Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee.
(a)The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b)Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate.
(c)The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depositary shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depositary.
(d)The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers, provided that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence.
(e)The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder without willful misconduct or negligence and in good faith, and in reliance thereon.
(f)The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(g)The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(h)The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities generally or the Securities of a particular Series and this Indenture.
(i)In no event shall the Trustee be liable to any person for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage.
(j)The Trustee shall not be responsible for delays or failures in performance of its obligations hereunder resulting from acts beyond its control. Such acts shall include but not be limited to strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and
interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable best efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
(k)The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.
Section 7.3 Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
Section 7.4 Trustee’s Disclaimer.
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.
Section 7.5 Notice of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall deliver to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.
Section 7.6 Reports by Trustee to Holders.
Within 60 days after May 15 in each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such May 15, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA § 313.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any national securities exchange.
Section 7.7 Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee (including the cost of defending itself) against any cost, expense or liability, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have one separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through willful misconduct or negligence.
To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities of that Series.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Indenture.
Section 7.8 Replacement of Trustee.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:
(a)the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(b)the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c)a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(d)the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the expense of the Company), the Company or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it for actions taken or omitted to be taken in accordance with its rights, powers and duties under this Indenture prior to such replacement.
Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.
If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee, subject to Section 7.10.
Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).
Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated.
ARTICLE VIII
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
Section 8.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall upon Company Order be discharged with respect to the Securities of any Series and cease to be of further effect as to all Securities of such Series (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
(a)either:
(i)all Securities of such Series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii)all such Securities of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(1)have become due and payable by reason of sending a notice of redemption or otherwise, or
(2)will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(3)have been called for redemption or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company; or
(4)are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.3, as applicable;
and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount of money or U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations, which amount shall be sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments) of and interest on all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of principal or interest are due;
(b)the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and
(c)the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.7 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.
Section 8.2 Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.
(a)Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4.
(b)The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.
(c)The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Order any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants or investment bank expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture.
Section 8.3 Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.
Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2, to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of any Series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, execute instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
(a)the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;
(b)the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8, 7.7, 8.2, 8.3, 8.5 and 8.6; and
(c)the rights, powers, trusts and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith;
provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(d)the Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of principal or interest and such sinking fund payments are due;
(e)such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(f)no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;
(g)the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such
deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(h)the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and
(i)the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
Section 8.4 Covenant Defeasance.
Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company may omit to comply with respect to the Securities of any Series with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 5.1 and, unless otherwise specified therein, any additional covenants specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to such Series under Section 6.1) and the occurrence of any event specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.18 and designated as an Event of Default shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series, but except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities will be unaffected thereby; provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a)with reference to this Section 8.4, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants or investment bank expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments) of and interest on all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of principal or interest are due;
(b)such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(c)no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(d)the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, covenant defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, covenant defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(e)the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and
(f)the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
Section 8.5 Repayment to Company.
Subject to applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.
Section 8.6 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money deposited with respect to Securities of any Series in accordance with Section 8.1 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series and under the Securities of such Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.1; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent after payment in full to the Holders.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders.
The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder:
(a)to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b)to comply with Article V;
(c)to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(d)to add guarantees with respect to Securities of any Series or secure Securities of any Series;
(e)to surrender any of the Company’s rights or powers under this Indenture;
(f)to add covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders of Securities of any Series;
(g)to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary;
(h)to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder;
(i)to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;
(j)to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; or
(k)to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.
Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders.
The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the
purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby, a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company to mail or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.
Section 9.3 Limitations.
Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:
(a)reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b)reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any Security;
(c)reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;
(d)reduce the principal amount of Discount Securities payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;
(e)waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(f)make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any currency other than that stated in the Security;
(g)make any change in Sections 6.8, 6.13 or 9.3 (this sentence); or
(h)waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security, provided that such redemption is at the Company’s option.
Section 9.4 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
Section 9.5 Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.
Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.
Section 9.6 Notation on or Exchange of Securities.
The Company or the Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.3 new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
Section 9.7 Trustee Protected.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures upon delivery of such Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.
Section 10.2 Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission, email or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:
if to the Company: | |||||
| Heartland Financial USA, Inc. 1398 Central Avenue Dubuque, Iowa 52001 Attention: Chief Financial Officer Telephone: (563) 589-2100 | |||||
with copies to: | |||||
| Michael J. Coyle Executive Vice President, Senior General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Heartland Financial USA, Inc. 1398 Central Avenue Dubuque, Iowa 52001 Telephone: (563) 589-2100 | |||||
| and | |||||
| Dorsey & Whitney LLP 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 Attention: Cam C. Hoang Telephone: (612) 340-2600 | |||||
if to the Trustee: | |||||
| [Name of Trustee] [_______________] [_______________] Attention: [_______________] Telephone: [______________] with copy to: [_______________] [_______________] [_______________] Attention: [_______________] Telephone: [______________] | |||||
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be sent electronically or by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
If a notice or communication is sent or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
If the Company sends a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall send a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee) pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary. The Trustee may rely upon and comply with instructions or directions sent via unsecured facsimile or email transmission and the Trustee shall not have any liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by the Company or the Holders due to the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with instructions or directions given by unsecured facsimile or email transmission; provided, however, that such losses have not arisen from the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the Trustee.
Section 10.3 Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
Section 10.4 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a)an Officer’s Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(b)an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
Section 10.5 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:
(a)a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(b)a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c)a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d)a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 10.6 Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 10.7 Legal Holidays.
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
Section 10.8 No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee or stockholder (past or present), as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
Section 10.9 Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 10.10 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY
IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 10.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 10.12 Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
Section 10.13 Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 10.14 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 10.15 Securities in a Foreign Currency.
Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in more than one currency, then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be determined by the Company by converting any such other currency into a currency that is designated upon issuance of any particular Series of Securities. Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, such conversion shall be at the spot rate for the purchase of the designated currency as published in The Financial Times in the “Currency Rates” section (or, if The Financial Times is no longer published, or if such information is no longer available in The Financial Times, such source as may be selected in good faith by the Company) on any date of determination (the “Market Exchange Rate”). The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
All decisions and determinations of the Company provided for in the preceding paragraph shall, in the absence of manifest error, to the extent permitted by law, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Trustee and all Holders.
Section 10.16 Judgment Currency.
The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the
amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing,
“New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
ARTICLE XI
SINKING FUNDS
Section 11.1 Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series, if so provided by the terms of such Securities pursuant to Section 2.2 and except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.
Section 11.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been repurchased by the Company or redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officer’s Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.
Section 11.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date will be selected in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and the Company shall send or cause to be sent a notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in and in accordance with Section 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC. | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: | |||||
Its: | |||||
[Name of Trustee], as Trustee | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: | |||||
Its: | |||||
Exhibit 5.1
[Letterhead of Dorsey & Whitney LLP]
August 8, 2022
Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
700 Locust Street, Suite 400
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Heartland Financial USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the offer and sale by the Company from time to time of an indeterminate number or amount, as applicable, of (i) shares of its common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of its preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) depositary shares representing fractional shares of the Preferred Stock evidenced by depositary receipts (the “Depositary Shares”), (iv) its debt securities (the “Debt Securities"), (v) its subordinated notes (the “Subordinated Notes”), (vi) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities or Subordinated Notes (the “Warrants”), (vii) rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities or Subordinated Notes (the “Rights”) and (viii) units consisting of any combination of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Subordinated Notes, Warrants and Rights (the “Units” and, together with the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Subordinated Notes, Warrants and Rights, the “Securities”), including any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of the Securities. The Debt Securities will be issued under an indenture (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time, the “Debt Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and a trustee to be named, as trustee (the “Debt Trustee”), the form of which is attached to the Registration Statement as Exhibit 4.7. The Subordinated Notes will be issued under an indenture (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time, the “Note Indenture”), dated as of December 17, 2014, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Note Trustee”), which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement as Exhibit 4.8.
We have examined such documents and have reviewed such questions of law as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of our opinions set forth below. In rendering our opinions set forth below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons and, with respect to all parties to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Company, that such parties had the requisite power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to execute, deliver and perform such agreements and instruments, that such agreements and instruments have been duly authorized by all requisite action (corporate or otherwise), executed and delivered by such parties and that such agreements and instruments are the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such parties. As to questions of fact material to our opinions, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and other representatives of the Company and of public officials.
Based on the foregoing, and assuming that (i) the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective under the Securities Act and will continue to be so effective, (ii) a prospectus supplement to the prospectus contained in the Registration
Statement, describing the Securities offered thereby, will have been prepared and filed with the Commission under the Securities Act, (iii) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement, (iv) with respect to any newly-issued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement, there will be sufficient shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, authorized under the organizational documents of the Company and not otherwise reserved for issuance, (v) the organizational documents of the Company, each as amended as of the date hereof, will not have been amended from the date hereof in a manner that would affect the validity of our opinions set forth below, (vi) none of the terms of any Security to be established subsequent to the date hereof, nor the issuance, sale or delivery of such Security, nor the compliance by the Company with the terms of such Security, (a) will violate (1) any applicable law or (2) the organizational documents of the Company or (b) will result in a violation or breach of (1) any provision of any instrument or agreement then binding upon the Company or any of its assets or (2) any restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets, (vii) any applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, and any other applicable agreement with respect to any Securities offered or sold, will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and (viii) any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Security being offered or sold will be duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange or exercise, we are of the opinion that:
1.With respect to any shares of Common Stock to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Common Shares”), when (a) the board of directors of the Company, a duly constituted and acting committee thereof or any officers of the Company delegated such authority (such board of directors, committee or officers being referred to herein as the “Board”) have taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the issuance and sale of the Offered Common Shares in conformity with the organizational documents of the Company and (b) certificates in the form required by the Delaware General Corporation Law representing the Offered Common Shares have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered (or, if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations in the share register of the Company have been duly made) either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Common Stock) provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Common Stock), then the Offered Common Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
2.With respect to any shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Preferred Shares”), when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to establish the applicable class or series of Preferred Stock in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (including, without limitation, by the Company properly filing a certificate of designations with respect to such class or series of Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware), (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the Offered Preferred Stock and their issuance and sale in conformity with the terms of the applicable class or series of Preferred Stock as established by the Board and (c) certificates in the form required by the Delaware General Corporation Law representing the Offered Preferred Shares have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered (or, if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations in the share register of the Company have been duly made) either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock) provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or
the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock), then the Offered Preferred Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
3.With respect to any Depositary Shares to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Depositary Shares”), when (a) a deposit agreement relating to the Offered Depositary Shares (the “Deposit Agreement”), to be entered into between the Company and the depositary named therein (the “Depositary”), has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve (i) the terms of the Offered Depositary Shares and their issuance and sale in conformity with the Deposit Agreement and (ii) the issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock represented by the Offered Depositary Shares, (c) the shares of Preferred Stock represented by the Offered Depositary Shares have been duly issued and delivered to the Depositary and (d) depositary receipts evidencing the Offered Depositary Shares have been duly executed and countersigned in accordance with the Deposit Agreement and issued against deposit of the shares of Preferred Stock (or, if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations in the share register of the Company have been duly made) as contemplated by the Deposit Agreement either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the depositary receipts evidencing the Offered Depositary Shares will be validly issued and will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in the Offered Depositary Shares and the Deposit Agreement.
4.With respect to any Debt Securities to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Debt Securities”), when (a) the Debt Trustee has been qualified to act as trustee under the Debt Indenture, (b) the Debt Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (c) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the Offered Debt Securities and their issuance and sale in conformity with the Debt Indenture and (d) the Offered Debt Securities have been issued, executed and authenticated by the Debt Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Debt Indenture and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the Offered Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
5.With respect to any Subordinated Notes to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Subordinated Notes”), when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the Offered Subordinated Notes and their issuance and sale in conformity with the Note Indenture and (b) the Offered Subordinated Notes have been issued, executed and authenticated by the Note Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Note Indenture and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the Offered Subordinated Notes
will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
6.With respect to any Warrants to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Warrants”), when (a) a warrant agreement relating to the Offered Warrants (the “Warrant Agreement”), to be entered into between the Company and the warrant agent named therein (the “Warrant Agent”), has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the Offered Warrants and their issuance and sale in conformity with the Warrant Agreement and (c) the Offered Warrants have been issued, executed and countersigned by the Warrant Agent in accordance with the terms of the Warrant Agreement and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exchange of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exchange as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the Offered Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
7.With respect to any Right to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Rights”), when (a) a rights agreement relating to the Offered Rights (the “Rights Agreement”), to be entered into between the Company and the rights agent named therein (the “Rights Agent”), has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the Offered Rights and their issuance and sale in conformity with the Rights Agreement and (c) the Offered Rights have been issued, executed and countersigned by the Rights Agent in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exchange of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exchange as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the Offered Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
8.With respect to any Units to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Units”), when (a) a unit agreement relating to the Offered Units (the “Unit Agreement”), to be entered into between the Company and the unit agent named therein (the “Unit Agent”), has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the Offered Units and their issuance and sale in conformity with the Unit Agreement and (c) the Offered Units have been issued, executed and countersigned by the Unit Agent in accordance with the terms of the Unit Agreement and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exchange of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exchange as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the Offered Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
Our opinions set forth above are subject to the following qualifications and exceptions:
(a) Our opinions set forth above are subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar law relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws).
(b) Our opinions set forth above are subject to the effect of general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(c) Our opinions set forth above are subject to limitations regarding the availability of indemnification and contribution where such indemnification or contribution may be limited by applicable law or the application of principles of public policy.
(d) We express no opinion as to the enforceability of (i) provisions that relate to choice of law, forum selection or submission to jurisdiction (including, without limitation, any express or implied waiver of any objection to venue in any court or of any objection that a court is an inconvenient forum), (ii) waivers by the Company of any statutory or constitutional rights or remedies, (iii) terms which excuse any person or entity from liability for, or require the Company to indemnify such person or entity against, such person’s or entity’s negligence or willful misconduct or (iv) obligations to pay any prepayment premium, default interest rate, early termination fee or other form of liquidated damages, if the payment of such premium, interest rate, fee or damages may be construed as unreasonable in relation to actual damages or disproportionate to actual damages suffered as a result of such prepayment, default or termination.
(e) We draw your attention to the fact that, under certain circumstances, the enforceability of terms to the effect that provisions may not be waived or modified except in writing may be limited.
We note that, as of the date of this opinion, a judgment for money in an action based on a Security denominated in a foreign currency or currency unit in a federal or state court in the United States ordinarily would be enforced in the United States only in United States dollars. The date used to determine the rate of conversion of the foreign currency or currency unit in which a particular Security is denominated into United States dollars will depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment. Under Section 27 of the New York Judiciary Law, a state court in the State of New York rendering a judgment on a Security would be required to render that judgment in the foreign currency or currency unit in which the Security is denominated, and the judgment would be converted into United States dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment. We express no opinion as to the enforceability of provisions to the extent they require that a claim with respect to a Security (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into United States dollars at a particular rate of exchange and/or on a particular date, to the extent applicable law provides otherwise.
Our opinions expressed above are limited to the laws of the State of New York, the Delaware General Corporation Law and the federal laws of the United States of America.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Validity of Securities” in the prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| /s/ Dorsey & Whitney LLP | ||
CCH/BRR
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm We consent to the use of our reports dated February 24, 2022, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the registration statement. Des Moines, Iowa August 8, 2022 KPMG LLP 2500 Ruan Center 666 Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50309 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee.
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Jay L. Kim and Janet M. Quick, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement on Form S‑3, and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments or any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) thereto, registering the offer and sale of an unspecified number of Debt Securities, Subordinated Notes, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Warrants, Rights and Units of Heartland Financial USA, Inc., and to file the same, with all exhibits and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or the substitutes for such attorneys-in-fact and agents, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney. This Power of Attorney may be signed in several counterparts.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power of Attorney has been signed below as of this 8th day of August, 2022 by the following persons:
| Signature | Title | |||||||
| /s/ Bruce K. Lee | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer and duly authorized officer) | |||||||
| Bruce K. Lee | ||||||||
| /s/ John K. Schmidt | Chairman | |||||||
| John K. Schmidt | ||||||||
| /s/ Bryan R. McKeag | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) | |||||||
| Bryan R. McKeag | ||||||||
| /s/ Janet M. Quick | Executive Vice President and Deputy Chief Financial Officer (principal accounting officer) | |||||||
| Janet M. Quick | ||||||||
| /s/ Robert B. Engel | Director | |||||||
| Robert B. Engel | ||||||||
| /s/ Thomas L. Flynn | Director | |||||||
| Thomas L. Flynn | ||||||||
| /s/ Lynn B. Fuller | Director | |||||||
| Lynn B. Fuller | ||||||||
| /s/ Jennifer K. Hopkins | Director | |||||||
| Jennifer K. Hopkins | ||||||||
| /s/ Christopher S. Hylen | Director | |||||||
| Christopher S. Hylen | ||||||||
| /s/ Susan G. Murphy | Director | |||||||
| Susan G. Murphy | ||||||||
| /s/ Martin J. Schmitz | Director | |||||||
| Martin J. Schmitz | ||||||||
| /s/ Duane E. White | Director | |||||||
| Duane E. White | ||||||||
| /s Kathryn Unger Graves | Director | |||||||
| Kathryn Unger Graves | ||||||||
_____________________________________________________________________________ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 __________________________ FORM T-1 STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) _______________________________________________________ U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter) 91-1821036 I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Linda Garcia U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association 190 S. LaSalle 10th Floor Chicago, IL 60603 (312) 332-6781 (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (Issuer with respect to the Securities) Delaware 42-1405748 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 1398 Central Avenue Dubuque, Iowa 52001 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) Subordinated Notes (Title of the Indenture Securities)
FORM T-1 Item 1. GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee. a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. Comptroller of the Currency Washington, D.C. b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. Yes Item 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation. None Items 3-15 Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee's knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee. Item 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification. 1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 1. 2. A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2. 3. A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, attached as Exhibit 3. 4. A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 4. 5. A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable. 6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6. 7. Report of Condition of the Trustee as of June 30, 2022, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7.
SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois on the 8th of August, 2022. By: /s/ Linda Garcia________ Linda Garcia Vice President
Exhibit 1 ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION For the purpose of organizing an association (the "Association) to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned enter into the following Articles of Association: FIRST. The title of this Association shall be U. S. Bank Trust Company, National Association. SECOND. The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, state of Oregon. The business of the Association will be limited to fiduciary powers and the support of activities incidental to the exercise of those powers. The Association may not expand or alter its business beyond that stated in this article without the prior approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. THIRD. The board of directors of the Association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, the exact number to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the Association or of a holding company owning the Association, with an aggregate par, fair market, or equity value of not less than $1,000, as of either (i) the date of purchase, (ii) the date the person became a director, or (iii) the date of that person's most recent election to the board of directors, whichever is more recent. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the Association or holding company may be used. Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may increase the number of directors up to the maximum permitted by law. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director's term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated. Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the Association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determined the number of directors of the Association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares. FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the Bylaws, or if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the - 1 - 80000-383/060297/XBB02E85
Association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases, at least 10 days’ advance notice of the meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first-class mail. In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her. A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date. A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal. FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock. No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix. Transfers of the Association's stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers. Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share. - 2 - 80000-383/060297/XBB02B85
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval. Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting. The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series. SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors' and shareholders' meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws. The board of directors shall have the power to: (1) Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. (2) Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. (3) Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. (4) Dismiss officers and employees. (5) Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. (6) Ratify written policies authorized by the Association's management or committees of the board. (7) Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. - 3 - 80000-383/060297/XBB02E85
(8) Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. (9) Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association. (10) Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders. (11) Make contracts. (12) Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency. EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States. NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting. TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association's activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association's board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders. - 4 - 80000-383/06fY297/XBBfY2E85
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 3
Exhibit 4 U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS ARTICLE I Meetings of Shareholders Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association. Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock. Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting. Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder. Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting. Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board. Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any
meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association. Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders. Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders. Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. ARTICLE II Directors Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board. Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal. Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law. Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five- member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board
by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law. Section 2.5. Organization Meeting. The newly elected Board shall meet for the purpose of organizing the new Board and electing and appointing such officers of the Association as may be appropriate. Such meeting shall be held on the day of the election or as soon thereafter as practicable, and, in any event, within thirty days thereafter, at such time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. If, at the time fixed for such meeting, there shall not be a quorum present, the directors present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained. Section 2.6. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held, without notice, as the Chairman or President may designate and deem suitable. Section 2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time, at any place and for any purpose by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Association, or upon the request of a majority of the entire Board. Notice of every special meeting of the Board shall be given to the directors at their usual places of business, or at such other addresses as shall have been furnished by them for the purpose. Such notice shall be given at least twelve hours (three hours if meeting is to be conducted by conference telephone) before the meeting by telephone or by being personally delivered, mailed, or electronically delivered. Such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting. Section 2.8. Quorum and Necessary Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, except when otherwise provided by law; but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles or Bylaws of this Association, once a quorum is established, any act by a majority of those directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board.
Section 2.9. Written Consent. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws and regulations, the Board may act without a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all directors, to be filed with the Secretary of the Association as part of the corporate records. Section 2.10. Remote Meetings. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, video or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. Section 2.11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, the remaining members of the Board may appoint a director to fill such vacancy at any regular meeting of the Board, or at a special meeting called for that purpose. ARTICLE III Committees Section 3.1. Advisory Board of Directors. The Board may appoint persons, who need not be directors, to serve as advisory directors on an advisory board of directors established with respect to the business affairs of either this Association alone or the business affairs of a group of affiliated organizations of which this Association is one. Advisory directors shall have such powers and duties as may be determined by the Board, provided, that the Board's responsibility for the business and affairs of this Association shall in no respect be delegated or diminished. Section 3.2. Trust Audit Committee. At least once during each calendar year, the Association shall arrange for a suitable audit (by internal or external auditors) of all significant fiduciary activities under the direction of its trust audit committee, a function that will be fulfilled by the Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association. The Association shall note the results of the audit (including significant actions taken as a result of the audit) in the minutes of the Board. In lieu of annual audits, the Association may adopt a continuous audit system in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 9.9(b). The Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association, fulfilling the function of the trust audit committee:
(1) Must not include any officers of the Association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the Association’s fiduciary activities; and (2) Must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the Association. Section 3.3. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee which shall consist of at least three directors and which shall have, and may exercise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board or otherwise when the Board is not meeting. Section 3.4. Trust Management Committee. The Board of this Association shall appoint a Trust Management Committee to provide oversight of the fiduciary activities of the Association. The Trust Management Committee shall determine policies governing fiduciary activities. The Trust Management Committee or such sub- committees, officers or others as may be duly designated by the Trust Management Committee shall oversee the processes related to fiduciary activities to assure conformity with fiduciary policies it establishes, including ratifying the acceptance and the closing out or relinquishment of all trusts. The Trust Management Committee will provide regular reports of its activities to the Board. Section 3.5. Other Committees. The Board may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more persons who need not be directors, for such purposes and with such powers as the Board may determine; however, the Board will not delegate to any committee any powers or responsibilities that it is prohibited from delegating under any law or regulation. In addition, either the Chairman or the President may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more officers, employees, agents or other persons, for such purposes and with such powers as either the Chairman or the President deems appropriate and proper. Whether appointed by the Board, the Chairman, or the President, any such committee shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board. Section 3.6. Meetings, Minutes and Rules. An advisory board of directors and/or committee shall meet as necessary in consideration of the purpose of the advisory board of directors or committee, and shall maintain minutes in sufficient detail to indicate actions taken or recommendations made; unless required by the members, discussions, votes or other specific details need not be reported. An advisory board of directors or a committee may, in consideration of
its purpose, adopt its own rules for the exercise of any of its functions or authority. ARTICLE IV Officers Section 4.1. Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint one of its members to be Chairman of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Chairman shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board. Section 4.2. President. The Board may appoint one of its members to be President of the Association. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at any meeting of the Board. The President shall have general executive powers, and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the office of President, or imposed by these Bylaws. The President shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board. Section 4.3. Vice President. The Board may appoint one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board and to perform the duties of the President on those occasions when the President is absent, including presiding at any meeting of the Board in the absence of both the Chairman and President. Section 4.4. Secretary. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, or other designated officer who shall be Secretary of the Board and of the Association, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws to be given; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the Association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the Association; shall, upon request, authenticate any records of the Association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the Secretary, or imposed by these Bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries with such powers and duties as the Board, the President or the Secretary shall from time to time determine. Section 4.5. Other Officers. The Board may appoint, and may authorize the Chairman, the President or any other officer to appoint, any officer as from time to time may appear to the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other
officer to be required or desirable to transact the business of the Association. Such officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other authorized officer. Any person may hold two offices. Section 4.6. Tenure of Office. The Chairman or the President and all other officers shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, subject to the right of the Board or authorized officer to discharge any officer at any time. ARTICLE V Stock Section 5.1. The Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. If the Board issues certificated stock, the certificate shall be signed by the President, Secretary or any other such officer as the Board so determines. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall, in proportion to such person's shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. Each certificate of stock shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the Association properly endorsed. The Board may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the Association for stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings, and related matters, and to protect it against fraudulent transfers. ARTICLE VI Corporate Seal Section 6.1. The Association shall have no corporate seal; provided, however, that if the use of a seal is required by, or is otherwise convenient or advisable pursuant to, the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the following seal may be used, and the Chairman, the President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix such seal:
ARTICLE VII Miscellaneous Provisions Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, checks, drafts, orders, indentures, notes, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, endorsements, assignments, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, guarantees, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, countersigned, executed, acknowledged, endorsed, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Association, whether in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise, by any officer of the Association, or such employee or agent as may be designated from time to time by the Board by resolution, or by the Chairman or the President by written instrument, which resolution or instrument shall be certified as in effect by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Association. The provisions of this section are supplementary to any other provision of the Articles of Association or Bylaws. Section 7.2. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws as revised or amended from time to time and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board, and standing committees of the Board, shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary, or other officer appointed to act as Secretary of the meeting. Section 7.3. Trust Files. There shall be maintained in the Association files all fiduciary records necessary to assure that its fiduciary responsibilities have been properly undertaken and discharged. Section 7.4. Trust Investments. Funds held in a fiduciary capacity shall be invested according to the instrument establishing the fiduciary relationship and according to law. Where such instrument does not specify the character and class of investments to be made and does not vest in the Association a discretion in the matter, funds held pursuant to such instrument shall be invested in investments in which corporate fiduciaries may invest under law. Section 7.5. Notice. Whenever notice is required by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws or law, such notice shall be by mail, postage prepaid, e- mail, in person, or by any other means by which such notice can reasonably be expected to be received, using the address of the person to receive such notice, or such other personal data, as may appear on the records of the Association. Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, prior notice shall be proper if given not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event for which notice is given.
ARTICLE VIII Indemnification Section 8.1. The Association shall indemnify such persons for such liabilities in such manner under such circumstances and to such extent as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as now enacted or hereafter amended. The Board may authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance and/or the execution of individual agreements for the purpose of such indemnification, and the Association shall advance all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding to all persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.1. Such insurance shall be consistent with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 7.2014 and shall exclude coverage of liability for a formal order assessing civil money penalties against an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u). Section 8.2. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, however, (a) any indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), for an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder; and (b) any indemnification payments and advancement of costs and expenses to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and consistent with safe and sound banking practices. ARTICLE IX Bylaws: Interpretation and Amendment Section 9.1. These Bylaws shall be interpreted in accordance with and subject to appropriate provisions of law, and may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed, at any regular or special meeting of the Board. Section 9.2. A copy of the Bylaws and all amendments shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during Association hours.
ARTICLE X Miscellaneous Provisions Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following. Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Association designates the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, as the governing law for its corporate governance procedures, to the extent not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and regulations or bank safety and soundness. *** (February 8, 2021)
Exhibit 6 CONSENT In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor. Dated: August 8, 2022 By: /s/ Linda Garcia_________ Linda Garcia Vice President
Exhibit 7 U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association Statement of Financial Condition as of 6/30/2022 ($000’s) 6/30/2022 Assets Cash and Balances Due From $ 616,060 Depository Institutions Securities 4,515 Federal Funds 0 Loans & Lease Financing Receivables 0 Fixed Assets 2,682 Intangible Assets 582,627 Other Assets 121,863 Total Assets $1,327,747 Liabilities Deposits $0 Fed Funds 0 Treasury Demand Notes 0 Trading Liabilities 0 Other Borrowed Money 0 Acceptances 0 Subordinated Notes and Debentures 0 Other Liabilities 95,303 Total Liabilities $95,303 Equity Common and Preferred Stock 200 Surplus 1,171,635 Undivided Profits 60,609 Minority Interest in Subsidiaries 0 Total Equity Capital $1,232,444 Total Liabilities and Equity Capital $1,327,747
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