UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
October 31, 2017
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)
Commission File No. 001-33378
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 36-2517428 | |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
2500 Lake Cook Road, Riverwoods, Illinois | 60015 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (224) 405-0900
(Not applicable)
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 3.03. | Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
On October 31, 2017, Discover Financial Services (the Company) issued and sold 570,000 depositary shares (Depositary Shares), each representing a 1/100th ownership interest in a share of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, $0.01 par value (the Series C Preferred Stock), with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per Depositary Share (equivalent to $100,000 per share of Series C Preferred Stock). The terms of the Depositary Shares are set forth in the Deposit Agreement, dated October 31, 2017, among the Company, Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., acting jointly as depositary, and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts issued thereunder (the Deposit Agreement) and the form of Depositary Receipt attached thereto as Exhibit A. The Company filed a Certificate of Designations (the Certificate of Designations) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, establishing the voting rights, powers, preferences and privileges, and the relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the Series C Preferred Stock on October 30, 2017. Holders of the Depositary Shares will be entitled to all proportional rights and preferences of the Series C Preferred Stock (including dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights).
Under the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock, the ability of the Company to pay dividends on, make distributions with respect to, or to repurchase, redeem or acquire its common stock or any preferred stock ranking on parity with or junior to the Series C Preferred Stock, is subject to restrictions in the event that the Company does not declare and either pay or set aside a sum sufficient for payment of dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock for the immediately preceding dividend period.
The description of the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Certificate of Designations, which is included as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8K and is incorporated by reference herein.
The description of the terms of the Depositary Shares is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Deposit Agreement and the form of Depositary Receipt attached thereto, which are included as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference herein.
Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year |
The Certificate of Designations became effective upon filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and it amends the Companys Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The terms of the Series C Preferred Stock are more fully described in Item 3.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and the Certificate of Designations which is included as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8K, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Item 8.01 | Other Events |
On October 26, 2017, the Company entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) with Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and RBC Capital Markets, LLC, as the representatives of the several underwriters named therein (collectively, the Underwriters), pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell to the Underwriters 570,000 Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/100th ownership interest in a share of Series C Preferred Stock.
The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, conditions to closing, indemnification rights and obligations of the parties, and termination provisions. Under the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain specified types of liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make in respect of these liabilities.
The net proceeds of the offering of the 570,000 Depositary Shares were approximately $562.5 million, after deducting underwriting commissions and estimated offering expenses. The offering was made pursuant to the prospectus supplement dated October 26, 2017 and the accompanying prospectus dated June 26, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Companys effective registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-205280) (the Registration Statement). The following documents are being filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement: (a) the Underwriting Agreement, (b) the Certificate of Designations, (c) the Deposit Agreement and the Form of Depositary Receipt attached as Exhibit A thereto and (d) a validity opinion with respect to the Depositary Shares and the Series C Preferred Stock.
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES | ||||||
Dated: October 31, 2017 | ||||||
By: |
/s/ D. Christopher Greene |
|||||
Name: | D. Christopher Greene | |||||
Title: | Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary |
Exhibit 1.1
570,000 Depositary Shares
Each Representing a 1/100th Interest in a Share of
Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C
of
Discover Financial Services
Underwriting Agreement
October 26, 2017
Barclays Capital Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
As Representatives of the
several Underwriters listed
in Schedule 1 hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Discover Financial Services, a Delaware corporation (the Company ), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the Underwriters ), for whom you are acting as representatives (the Representatives ), an aggregate of 570,000 depositary shares (the Shares ), each such share representing ownership of 1/100 th of a share of the Companys Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share (the Preferred Stock ). The Preferred Stock will, when issued, be deposited by the Company against delivery of Depositary Receipts ( Depositary Receipts ) to be issued by Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., acting jointly (the Depositary ), under a Deposit Agreement (the Deposit Agreement ), to be dated as of the Closing Date (as hereafter defined), among the Company, the Depositary and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts issued thereunder. Each Depositary Receipt will evidence one or more depositary shares. The terms of the Preferred Stock will be set forth in a certificate of designations (the Certificate of Designations ) to be filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. For purposes of this Agreement, depositary shares means the depositary shares, each such share representing ownership of a 1/100 th of a share of Preferred Stock.
The Company and the several Underwriters hereby confirm their agreement concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares, as follows:
1. Registration Statement . The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission ) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Securities Act ), a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-205280), including a prospectus (the Basic Prospectus ), relating to, among other things, the Shares and the Preferred Stock. Such registration statement, as amended at the time of this Agreement, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness ( Rule 430 Information ), is referred to herein as the Registration Statement; and as used herein, the term Preliminary Prospectus means the preliminary prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Shares, together with the Basic Prospectus, and the term Prospectus means the Basic Prospectus as supplemented by the prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Shares in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Shares. Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to amend, amendment or supplement with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed by the Company after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Exchange Act ) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
At or prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 26, 2017 (the Time of Sale ), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively, the Time of Sale Information ): a Preliminary Prospectus, dated October 26, 2017, and each free-writing prospectus (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex C hereto.
2. Purchase of the Shares by the Underwriters . (a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective number of Shares set forth opposite such Underwriters name in Schedule 1 hereto at a price equal to $987.50 per share. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any of the Shares except upon payment for all Shares to be purchased as provided herein.
(b) The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Shares as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable, and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Prospectus. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter and that any such affiliate may offer and sell Shares purchased by it to or through any Underwriter.
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(c) Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives, at the offices of Mayer Brown LLP, Chicago, Illinois at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on October 31, 2017, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the third business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment and delivery is referred to herein as the Closing Date.
(d) Payment for the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date shall be made against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Shares to be purchased on such date, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of the Shares duly paid by the Company. Delivery of the Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company ( DTC ) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct. The certificates for the Depositary Receipts will be made available for inspection by the Representatives not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date.
(e) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arms length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter that:
(a) Preliminary Prospectus . No order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and the Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of an Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
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(b) Time of Sale Information . The Time of Sale Information at the Time of Sale did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Time of Sale Information, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of an Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus . The Company (including its agents and Representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, use, authorize, approve or refer to any written communication (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares (each such communication by the Company or its agents and Representatives (other than a communication referred to in clauses (i) (ii) and (iii) below) an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus, (iii) the Prospectus, (iv) the documents listed on Annex C hereto as constituting the Time of Sale Information and (v) any electronic road show or other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus filed prior to the first use of such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of an Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus . The Registration Statement is an automatic shelf registration statement as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and, to the Companys knowledge, no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Shares has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
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omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any information or statements contained therein or omitted therefrom in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of an Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(e) Incorporated Documents . The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information, when they (or any amendments thereto) were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and none of such documents contained, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information, when such documents are filed with the Commission will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and will not contain, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(f) Financial Statements . The financial statements and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, except as described in the notes to such financial statements, and any supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly, in all material respects, the information required to be stated therein; any selected financial data and the summary financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus fairly present in all material respects, the information included therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commissions rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
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(g) No Material Adverse Change . Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants described as outstanding in, and the grant of options and awards under existing equity incentive plans described in, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus), or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial condition, stockholders equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) as otherwise disclosed in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(h) Organization and Good Standing . Each of the Company and Discover Bank have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, are duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business and are in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the ownership or leasing of their respective property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified, in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a Material Adverse Effect ), or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Deposit Agreement or this Agreement (collectively, the Transaction Documents ). Discover Bank is the only subsidiary of the Company that is a significant subsidiary within the meaning of Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the Commission.
(i) Capitalization . The Company has an authorized capitalization as of June 30, 2017 as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company and Discover Bank have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the capital stock of the Company conforms in
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all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Discover Bank is owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any material lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, equities or any other claim, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus.
(j) Due Authorization . The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby has been duly and validly taken.
(k) The Deposit Agreement . The Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and, when validly executed and delivered by the Company and the Depositary, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability; such Deposit Agreement will conform to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(l) The Shares . The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued, will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus; upon deposit of the Preferred Stock with the Depositary pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, and the due execution of the Deposit Agreement and the Depositary Receipts by the Depositary, the Shares will be entitled to the rights under, and the benefits of, the Deposit Agreement; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
(m) The Preferred Stock . The Preferred Stock represented by the Shares has been duly authorized and, when the Shares are issued and delivered and paid for as provided herein, the Preferred Stock will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and will have the rights set forth in the Certificate of Designations for the Preferred Stock; and the issuance of the Preferred Stock is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
(n) Underwriting Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(o) No Violation or Default . (i) Neither the Company nor Discover Bank is in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; (iii) neither the Company nor any of its
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subsidiaries is in violation of any law, statute, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or regulation to which it is subject; and (iv) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any decree, judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents.
Except as described in, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and-desist or other order or enforcement action issued by, or is a party to any written agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any order or directive by, or has been ordered to pay any civil money penalty by, or has been a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request or suggestion of, any Bank Regulatory Authority, as defined below (each item in this sentence, a Regulatory Agreement ), nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries been advised by any Bank Regulatory Authority, that it is considering issuing in writing, initiating, ordering or requesting any such Regulatory Agreement, other than in each case Regulatory Agreements that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents, the issuance and sale of the Shares and compliance by the Company with the terms of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or Discover Bank or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any decree, judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents.
(q) No Consents Required . No consent, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or Discover Bank is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents, the issuance and sale of the Shares and compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for the registration of the Shares and the Preferred Stock under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may have been obtained or made prior to the Closing Date or as may be required under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters.
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(r) Legal Proceedings . Except as described in, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents; to the best knowledge of the Company, no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others; and there are no statutes, regulations or contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(s) Independent Accountants . Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have audited certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and delivered their reports with respect thereto, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.
(t) Title to Intellectual Property . Except in all cases as described in, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, license or have adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) (the Intellectual Property ) reasonably necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted; and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement or conflict with any such rights of others, except for notices the content of which, if accurate, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(u) Investment Company Act . The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an investment company or an entity controlled by an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, Investment Company Act ).
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(v) Taxes . Except as described in, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes (other than those which are being contested in good faith, for which appropriate reserves have been established or which, if not paid, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect) and filed all material tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof; and there is no tax deficiency in excess of the Companys reserves for uncertain tax positions that has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, except for such tax deficiencies which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(w) Licenses and Permits and Bank Regulatory Compliance . Except in all cases as described in, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries possess all permits, licenses, certificates, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, Permits ) issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental and regulatory agencies or bodies reasonably necessary to conduct their businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, except where the failure to obtain or possess any Permit or have made such declarations or filings would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Permits and all applicable laws and regulations (including, without limitation, all applicable banking laws and regulations), and all of the Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except, in each case, where the failure so to comply or where the invalidity of such Permits or the failure of such Permits to be in full force and effect, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its subsidiaries have timely filed all reports, registrations, documents, filings, statements and submissions, together with any amendments thereto required to be filed with any Bank Regulatory Authority (as defined below), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or material modification of any such Permits, except such revocations or modifications which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(x) No Labor Disputes . Except in all cases as described in, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, no labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(y) Disclosure Controls . The Company and its subsidiaries maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Companys principal executive officer and principal financial officer as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure; the Companys principal executive officer and principal financial officer carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act as of September 30, 2017 and concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date.
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(z) Accounting Controls . The Company and its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with managements general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with managements general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. There are no material weaknesses in the Companys internal controls. The Companys auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Companys ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Companys internal controls over financial reporting.
(aa) No Unlawful Payments . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign government official or employee from corporate funds; (ii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, or to the extent applicable, the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, each as amended, or similar applicable law of any other relevant jurisdiction, or the rules or regulations thereunder (and the Company and its subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures to ensure compliance therewith); or (iii) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment that would result in a material violation of any applicable law or regulation. No part of the proceeds of the offering will be used, directly or indirectly, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or to the extent applicable, the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, each as amended, or similar applicable law of any other relevant jurisdiction, or the rules or regulations thereunder.
(bb) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws . Except as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus, or except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to be material to the general affairs, management, financial condition, results of operations, stockholders equity, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries or the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents, (i) the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, and the rules and regulations thereunder issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency
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(collectively, the Money Laundering Laws ) and (ii) no material action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(cc) Compliance with OFAC . None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury ( OFAC ) or any other applicable sanctions authority, including, without limitation, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majestys Treasury (collectively, Sanctions ), or (ii) is located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions that broadly prohibit dealings with that country or territory (collectively, Sanctioned Countries and each, a Sanctioned Country ); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person or entity that, at the time of such financing, is subject to any Sanctions, or would result in a violation of any Sanctions by, any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).
(dd) No Registration Rights . No person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Shares or the issuance of the Preferred Stock.
(ee) No Stabilization . The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares.
(ff) Margin Rules . Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.
(gg) Forward-Looking Statements . No forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus was made by the Company without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
(hh) Status under the Securities Act . The Company is not an ineligible issuer and is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case as defined under the Securities Act, in each case at the times specified in the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Shares. The Company will pay the registration fees for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.
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(ii) Bank Holding Company; Banking Regulatory Authorities . The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and meets in all material respects the applicable requirements for qualification as such. Discover Bank holds the requisite authority from all applicable bank regulatory authorities to conduct business as a bank. Each of the Company and Discover Bank are well-capitalized as set forth under all applicable laws and regulations.
(jj) FDIC . Except as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus, (i) the Company and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance with all laws administered by the Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC, the Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner and any other federal or state bank regulatory authorities (together with the Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC and the Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner, the Bank Regulatory Authorities ) with jurisdiction over the Company and its subsidiaries, except for such failures to be in compliance as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (ii) the deposit accounts of Discover Bank are insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC and no proceedings for the termination or revocation of such insurance are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
4. Further Agreements of the Company . The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:
(a) Required Filings . The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including the Term Sheet in the form of Annex D hereto) to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the registration fees for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.
(b) Delivery of Copies . The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) upon request, to the Representatives, two conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith and documents incorporated by reference therein; and (ii) to the Representatives for each other Underwriter (A) upon request, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith, and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto) and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term Prospectus Delivery Period means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.
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(c) Amendments or Supplements; Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . Unless the Company obtains the Representatives prior written consent, before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.
(d) Notice to the Representatives . The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (ii) when any supplement or amendment to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been filed; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (v) of the occurrence of any event within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Shares and, if any such order is issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
(e) Time of Sale Information . If at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Information as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Information to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers
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as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Information as may be necessary so that the statements in the Time of Sale Information as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Information will comply with law.
(f) Ongoing Compliance . If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law.
(g) Blue Sky Compliance . The Company will use its reasonable best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.
(h) Earning Statement . The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the effective date (as defined in Rule 158 under the Securities Act) of the Registration Statement.
(i) Clear Market . For a period of 30 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any Preferred Stock or depositary shares, any other preferred stock of the Company (or depositary shares in respect thereof), or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Preferred Stock, depositary shares or any other preferred stock of the Company (or depositary shares in respect thereof), or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of Preferred Stock or depositary shares or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Preferred Stock or depositary shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, other than the Preferred Stock and depositary shares to be sold hereunder.
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(j) Use of Proceeds . The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the heading Use of proceeds.
(k) No Stabilization . The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the Company from filing or submitting reports under the Exchange Act or issuing press releases in the ordinary course of business.
(l) Record Retention . The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.
5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters . Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that
(a) It has not used, authorized use of, referred to or participated in the planning for use of, and will not use, authorize use of, refer to, or participate in the planning for use of, any free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company (other than any press release that complies with Rule 134 under the Securities Act)) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that, solely as a result of use by such underwriter, would not trigger an obligation to file such free writing prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex C or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus ). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of Annex D hereto.
(b) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).
(c) It has not and will not distribute any Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus referred to in clause (a)(i) in a manner reasonably designed to lead to its broad unrestricted dissemination.
(d) It will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of, and comply with legending requirements applicable to, each Underwriting Free Writing Prospectus used or referred to by it, in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.
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6. Conditions of Underwriters Obligations . The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase Shares on the Closing Date as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order . No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.
(b) Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.
(c) No Downgrade . Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Time of Sale and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Shares or any other debt securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, as such term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of the Shares or of any other debt securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).
(d) No Material Adverse Change . Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, no event or condition of a type described in Section 3(g) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Time of Sale Information (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(e) Officers Certificate . The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above.
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(f) Comfort Letters . On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants comfort letters to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a cut-off date no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.
(g) Opinion of Counsel for the Company . Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex A hereto.
(h) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters . The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date an opinion and 10b-5 statement of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(i) Opinion of In-House Counsel for the Company . D. Christopher Greene, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary for the Company or another counsel acceptable to the Representatives, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, her or his written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex B hereto.
(j) No Legal Impediment to Issuance . No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares or the issuance of the Preferred Stock; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares or the issuance of the Preferred Stock.
(k) Good Standing . The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and Discover Bank in the State of Delaware, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.
(l) Certificate of Designations Filing . The Certificate of Designations shall have been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
(m) Evidence of Deposit . The Representatives shall have received from the Depositary a copy of the certificate evidencing the deposit of the Shares delivered on the Closing Date.
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(n) Additional Documents . On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters . The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of an Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(b) Indemnification of the Company . Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, it being understood and agreed that such information consists only of the following: (x) the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the fourth paragraph and (y) the information contained in the ninth and tenth paragraphs, under the heading Underwriting in the Prospectus.
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(c) Notice and Procedures . If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the Indemnified Person ) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the Indemnifying Person ) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 7 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided , further , that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 7. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 7 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request, (ii) such Indemnifying Person shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior
20
to the date of such settlement; provided that an Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any such settlement effected without its consent if such Indemnifying Person, prior to the date of such settlement, (1) reimburses such Indemnified Person in accordance with such request for the amount of such fees and expenses of counsel as the Indemnifying Person believes in good faith to be reasonable and (2) provides written notice to the Indemnified Person that the Indemnifying Person disputes in good faith the reasonableness of the unpaid balance of such fees and expenses. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(d) Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Shares and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) Limitation on Liability . The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any
21
amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.
(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies . The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
8. Effectiveness of Agreement . This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
9. Termination . This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
10. Defaulting Underwriter . (a) If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within thirty-six hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Shares on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, a non-defaulting Underwriter notifies the Company that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, or the Company notifies the non-defaulting Underwriter that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term Underwriter includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
22
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder plus such Underwriters pro rata share (based on the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of Shares to be purchased, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.
(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.
11. Payment of Expenses . (a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Shares and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing the Transaction Documents; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Companys counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Shares under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (vi) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Preferred Stock and the Shares; (vii) the cost of preparing and filing the Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the cost of preparing the Shares, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters; (viii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and registrar; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Depositary and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Depositary; (x) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; and (xi) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any road show presentation to potential investors.
23
(b) If (1) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9(ii), (2) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriters or (3) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.
12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.
13. Survival . The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties, agreements and other statements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters.
14. Certain Defined Terms . For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term affiliate has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term business day means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term subsidiary has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
15. Miscellaneous . (a) Authority of the Representatives . Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by the Representatives shall be binding upon the Underwriters.
(b) Notices . All statements, requests, notices and other agreements hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives c/o Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Syndicate Registration, fax: (646) 834-8133; Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, fax: (646) 291-1469, Attention: General Counsel; Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Debt Capital Markets, fax: (212) 797-4869; Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, NY1-050-12-01, New York, New York 10020, Attention: High Grade Debt Capital Markets Transaction Management/Legal, fax: (212) 901-7881; and RBC Capital Markets, LLC, 200 Vesey Street New York, New York 10281, Attention: Debt Capital Markets, fax: (212) 428-6260. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at 2500 Lake Cook Road, Riverwoods, Illinois 60015, fax: (224) 405-4584, Attention: Kelly McNamara Corley.
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(c) Patriot Act . In accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.
(d) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflict of laws that would result in the application of any law other than the laws of the State of New York.
(e) Arms-Length . The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is an arms-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.
(f) Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(g) Trial by Jury . The Company and each of the Underwriters 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 Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(h) Amendments or Waivers . No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
(i) Headings . The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
[ Signature pages follow ]
25
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.
Very truly yours, | ||
Discover Financial Services | ||
By |
/s/ Timothy J. Schmidt |
|
Name: | Timothy J. Schmidt | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Accepted: October 26, 2017
For themselves and on behalf of the several
Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto.
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
By |
/s/ Faizal Sayani |
|
Name: | Faizal Sayani | |
Title: | Managing Director |
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By |
/s/ Jack D. McSpadden, Jr. |
|
Name: | Jack D. McSpadden, Jr. | |
Title: | Managing Director |
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
By |
/s/ Mary Hardgrove |
|
Name: | Mary Hardgrove | |
Title: | Managing Director | |
By |
/s/ Anguel Zaprianov |
|
Name: | Anguel Zaprianov | |
Title: | Managing Director |
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
By |
/s/ Robert J. Little |
|
Name: | Robert J. Little | |
Title: | Managing Director |
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By |
/s/ Laura Drumm |
|
Name: | Laura Drumm | |
Title: | Managing Director |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Schedule 1
Underwriter |
Number of Shares | |||
Barclays Capital Inc. |
100,320 | |||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
100,320 | |||
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. |
100,320 | |||
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated |
100,320 | |||
RBC Capital Markets, LLC |
100,320 | |||
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
14,250 | |||
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
14,250 | |||
MUFG Securities Americas Inc. |
14,250 | |||
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC |
14,250 | |||
Mischler Financial Group, Inc. |
3,800 | |||
Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc. |
3,800 | |||
The Williams Capital Group, L.P. |
3,800 | |||
|
|
|||
Total |
570,000 |
Annex A
Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Company
Annex B
Form of In-House Counsel Opinion
Annex C
Time of Sale Information
The term sheet substantially in the form set forth in Annex D hereto.
Annex D
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
[see attached]
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration No. 333-205280
TERM SHEET
Dated October 26, 2017
Depositary Shares, Each Representing a 1/100 th Interest in a Share of
Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C
This term sheet relates only to the securities described below and supplements and should be read together with the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated October 26, 2017 (including the documents incorporated by reference therein), relating to these securities.
Issuer: | Discover Financial Services | |
Security: | Depositary shares (the Depositary Shares), each representing a 1/100 th interest in a share of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, of the Issuer (the Preferred Stock) | |
Currency: | USD | |
Size: | $570,000,000 (570,000 Depositary Shares) | |
Liquidation Preference: | $1,000 per Depositary Share (equivalent to $100,000 per share of Preferred Stock) | |
Dividend Rate (Non-Cumulative): | At a rate per annum equal to 5.500% from, and including, the original issue date to, but excluding, October 30, 2027, and, thereafter, at a floating rate per annum equal to three-month LIBOR on the related dividend determination date plus a spread of 3.076% per annum. | |
Dividend Payment Dates: | Semi-annually in arrears on April 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on April 30, 2018 and ending on October 30, 2027, and thereafter, quarterly in arrears on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on January 30, 2028. | |
Day Count: | From the issue date, but excluding October 30, 2027, 30/360; from and including October 30, 2027, Actual/360. | |
Optional Redemption: | The Issuer may redeem the Preferred Stock at its option, subject to regulatory approval, (1) in whole or in part, from time to time, on any dividend payment date on or after October 30, 2027 or (2) in whole but not in part, at any time within 90 days following a regulatory capital treatment event (as defined in the preliminary prospectus supplement dated October 26, 2017), in each case at a redemption price equal to $100,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000 per Depositary Share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to any undeclared dividends to, but excluding the redemption date. |
It is expected that delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefore on or about October 31, 2017, which is the third business day following the date hereof (such settlement cycle being referred to as T+3). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes prior to the second business day before the delivery of the notes will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+3, to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent failed settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes on the date of pricing should consult their own advisors.
Discover Financial Services has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus dated as of June 26, 2015) and a preliminary prospectus supplement dated as of October 26, 2017 with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the preliminary prospectus supplement and other documents Discover Financial Services has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus and the preliminary prospectus supplement may be obtained from (i) Barclays Capital Inc. by calling toll-free at 1-888-603-5847 or by emailing Barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com; (ii) Citigroup Global Markets Inc. by calling toll-free at 1-800-831-9146; (iii) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. by calling toll-free at 1-800-503-4611 or by emailing prospectus.cpdg@db.com; (iv) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated by calling toll-free at 1-800-294-1322; and (v) RBC Capital Markets, LLC by calling toll-free at (866) 375-6829.
Any disclaimer or other notice that may appear below is not applicable to this communication and should be disregarded. Such disclaimer or notice was automatically generated as a result of this communication being sent by Bloomberg or another email system.
Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
OF
FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES C
OF
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES
Discover Financial Services, a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the Corporation ), in accordance with the provisions of Sections 103, 141 and 151 thereof, does hereby certify:
On August 18, 2017, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board ) duly adopted resolutions (a) authorizing the issuance and sale by the Corporation of one or more series of the Corporations authorized and unissued preferred stock ( Preferred Stock ), and (b) appointing a Preferred Stock Financing Committee (the Preferred Stock Financing Committee ) of the Board to act on behalf of the Board in, without limitation, approving the terms and conditions of, and authorizing the execution, filing and recording of, any certificate of designations relating to any such series of Preferred Stock fixing the designations, powers, preferences, rights, privileges, qualifications, limitations, restrictions, terms and conditions of such series of Preferred Stock;
Thereafter, on October 26, 2017, the Preferred Stock Financing Committee duly adopted the following resolution creating a series of 5,700 shares of Preferred Stock of the Corporation designated as Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended (the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ), and the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Corporation and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:
Part 1. Designation and Number of Shares . There is hereby created out of the authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock a series of Preferred Stock designated as the Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C (hereinafter called Series C Preferred Stock ). The authorized number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be 5,700 shares, $0.01 par value per share, having a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share. The number of shares constituting Series C Preferred Stock may be increased from time to time in accordance with law up to the maximum number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be issued under the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, less all shares at the time authorized of any other Series of Preferred Stock, and any such additional shares of Series C Preferred Stock would form a single series with the Series C Preferred Stock. Shares of Series C Preferred Stock will be dated the date of issue, which shall be referred to herein as the original issue date. Shares of outstanding Series C Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, or converted into another Series of Preferred Stock, shall be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock undesignated as to series.
Part 2. Standard Provisions . The Standard Provisions contained in Annex A attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Certificate of Designations to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.
Part 3. Definitions . The following terms are used in this Certificate of Designations (including the Standard Provisions in Annex A hereto) as defined below:
(a) | Common Stock means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation. |
(b) | Original issue date means the date of issue of the Series C Preferred Stock. |
(c) | Preferred Stock means any and all series of preferred stock of the Corporation, including the Series C Preferred Stock. |
Part 4. Certain Voting Matters . Holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each such share on any matter on which holders of Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, including any action by written consent.
[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Discover Financial Services has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by the undersigned as of this 30th day of October, 2017.
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES | ||
By: |
/s/ Timothy Schmidt |
|
Name: Timothy Schmidt | ||
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer |
[Certificate of Designations]
Annex A
STANDARD PROVISIONS
Section 1. Definitions .
(a) Board means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(b) Business Day means any weekday that is not a legal holiday in New York, New York, and is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York, are closed.
(c) Calculation Agent means, at any time, the person or entity appointed by the Corporation and serving as such agent at such time. The Corporation may terminate any such appointment and may appoint a successor agent at any time and from time to time, provided that the Corporation shall use its best efforts to ensure that there is, at all relevant times when the Series C Preferred Stock is outstanding, a person or entity appointed and serving as such agent.
(d) DTC means The Depository Trust Company.
(e) Fixed Rate Period has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
(f) Floating Rate Period has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
(g) Three-month LIBOR has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
(h) London Banking Day is any day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.
(i) Regulatory Capital Treatment Event means the good faith determination by the Corporation that, as a result of (1) any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective after the initial issuance of any share of Series C Preferred Stock; (2) any proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective after the initial issuance of any share of Series C Preferred Stock; or (3) any official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced after the initial issuance of any share of Series C Preferred Stock, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation value of the shares of Series C Preferred Stock then outstanding as additional Tier 1 Capital (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of Federal Reserve Regulation Q (or, as and if applicable, the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of any successor appropriate federal banking regulator or agency), as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series C Preferred Stock is outstanding.
(j) Series B Preferred Stock means the Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, of the Corporation.
(k) Series C Dividend Determination Date means, for each Series C Dividend Period during the Floating Rate Period, the second London Banking Day immediately preceding the first day of such Series C Dividend Period.
(l) Series C Dividend Payment Date means a Series C Fixed Rate Dividend Payment Date or a Series C Floating Rate Dividend Payment Date, as applicable.
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(m) Series C Dividend Period means the period from and including a Series C Dividend Payment Date to but excluding the next Series C Dividend Payment Date, except that the initial Series C Dividend Period will commence on and include the original issue date of the Series C Preferred Stock.
(n) Series C Fixed Rate Dividend Payment Date has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).
(o) Series C Floating Rate Dividend Payment Date has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).
(p) Series C Junior Securities has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
(q) Series C Parity Securities has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
Section 2. Ranking . The shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall rank:
(a) senior, as to dividends and, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, in the distribution of assets, to the Common Stock, and to any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation now or hereafter authorized, issued or outstanding that, by its terms, does not expressly provide that it ranks pari passu with the Series C Preferred Stock as to dividends and, upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Corporation, in the distribution of assets, as the case may be (collectively, Series C Junior Securities ); and
(b) on a parity, as to dividends and, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, in the distribution of assets, with the Series B Preferred Stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation now or hereafter authorized, issued or outstanding that, by its terms, expressly provides that it ranks pari passu with the Series C Preferred Stock as to dividends and, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, in the distribution of assets, as the case may be (collectively, Series C Parity Securities ).
(c) The Corporation may authorize and issue additional shares of Series C Junior Securities and Series C Parity Securities without the consent of the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock.
Section 3. Dividends .
(a) Holders of Series C Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board, out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends under Delaware law, non-cumulative cash dividends based on the liquidation preference of the Series C Preferred Stock at a rate equal to 5.500% per annum for each Series C Dividend Period from, and including, the original issue date of the Series C Preferred Stock to, but excluding, October 30, 2027 (the Fixed Rate Period ). From and including October 30, 2027 and thereafter, dividends will accrue and be payable at a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 3.076% per annum (the Floating Rate Period ). If the Corporation issues additional shares of the Series C Preferred Stock after the original issue date, dividends on such shares will accrue from the later of such original issue date or the Series C Dividend Payment Date, if any, immediately prior to the original issue date of such additional shares are issued.
The dividend rate for each Series C Dividend Period in the Floating Rate Period will be determined by the Calculation Agent using three-month LIBOR as in effect on the Series C Dividend Determination Date for the dividend period. The Calculation Agent then will add three-month LIBOR as determined on the Series C Dividend Determination Date and the spread of 3.076% per annum.
The term three-month LIBOR means the London interbank offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having an index maturity of three months in amounts of at least $1,000,000, as that rate appears on Reuters screen page LIBOR01, or any successor or replacement page ( Reuters Page LIBOR01 ), at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the relevant Series C Dividend Determination Date. If three-month LIBOR has been discontinued, then the Calculation Agent will consult with an investment bank of national standing to determine whether there is an industry accepted substitute or successor base rate to three-month LIBOR. If, after such consultation, the Calculation Agent determines that there is an industry accepted substitute or successor base rate, the Calculation Agent shall use such substitute or successor base rate. In such case, the Calculation Agent in its sole
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discretion may (without implying a corresponding obligation to do so) also implement changes to the business day convention stated in the last two sentences of Section 3(b), the definition of Business Day, the Series C Dividend Determination Date and any method for obtaining the substitute or successor base rate if such rate is unavailable on the relevant Business Day, in a manner that is consistent with industry accepted practices for such substitute or successor base rate. Unless the Calculation Agent determines that there is an industry accepted substitute or successor base rate as so provided above, the following will apply: If no offered rate appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 on the relevant Series C Dividend Determination Date at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, then the Calculation Agent, after consultation with the Corporation, will select four major banks in the London interbank market and will request each of their principal London offices to provide a quotation of the rate at which three-month deposits in U.S. dollars in amounts of at least $1,000,000 are offered by it to prime banks in the London interbank market, on that date and at that time, that is representative of single transactions at that time. If at least two quotations are provided, three-month LIBOR will be the arithmetic average (rounded upward if necessary to the nearest .00001 of 1%) of the quotations provided. Otherwise, the Calculation Agent, after consultation with the Corporation, will select three major banks in New York City and will request each of them to provide a quotation of the rate offered by it at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Series C Dividend Determination Date for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks having an index maturity of three months for the applicable dividend period in an amount of at least $1,000,000 that is representative of single transactions at that time. If three quotations are provided, three-month LIBOR will be the arithmetic average (rounded upward if necessary to the nearest .00001 of 1%) of the quotations provided. Otherwise, three-month LIBOR for the next Series C Dividend Period will be equal to three-month LIBOR in effect for the then current Series C Dividend Period, or, in the case of the first Series C Dividend Period in the Floating Rate Period, the most recent dividend rate that would have been determined based on the last available Reuters Page LIBOR01 had the Floating Rate Period been applicable prior to the first Series C Dividend Period in the Floating Rate Period.
Absent manifest error, the Calculation Agents determination of the dividend rate for a Series C Dividend Period will be binding and conclusive on holders of the Series C Preferred Stock, the transfer agent for the Series C Preferred Stock, and the Corporation.
(b) If declared by the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board, dividends payable on the Series C Preferred Stock for any Series C Dividend Period during the Fixed Rate Period will be paid semi-annually, in arrears, on April 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on April 30, 2018 and ending on October 30, 2027 (each such date, a Series C Fixed Rate Dividend Payment Date ). Dividends payable on the Series C Preferred Stock for any Series C Dividend Period during the Floating Rate Period will be paid quarterly, in arrears, on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on January 30, 2028 (each such date, a Series C Floating Rate Dividend Payment Date ). If any Series C Fixed Rate Dividend Payment Date up to and including the scheduled October 30, 2027 Series C Fixed Rate Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day, then the payment will be made on the next Business Day without any adjustment to the amount of dividends paid. If any Series C Floating Rate Dividend Payment Date thereafter is not a Business Day, then such Series C Floating Rate Dividend Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day, unless that day falls in the next calendar month, in which case the Series C Floating Rate Dividend Payment Date will be brought forward to the immediately preceding Business Day, and, in either case, dividends will accrue to, but excluding, the actual payment date.
(c) Dividends will be payable to holders of record of Series C Preferred Stock as they appear on the Corporations stock register on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15th calendar day before the applicable Series C Dividend Payment Date, or such other record date, no earlier than 30 calendar days before the applicable Series C Dividend Payment Date, as shall be fixed by the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board.
(d) Dividends payable on Series C Preferred Stock during the Fixed Rate Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Dividends payable on Series C Preferred Stock during the Floating Rate Period will be computed based on the actual number of days in a Series C Dividend Period and a 360-day year. Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upwards. Dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock will cease to accrue on the redemption date, if any, unless the Corporation defaults in the payment of the redemption price of the Series C Preferred Stock called for redemption.
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(e) Dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock will not be cumulative. If the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board does not declare a dividend on the Series C Preferred Stock in respect of a Series C Dividend Period, then no dividend shall be deemed to have accrued for such dividend period, be payable on the applicable Series C Dividend Payment Date or be cumulative, and the Corporation will have no obligation to pay any dividend for that Series C Dividend Period, whether or not the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board declares a dividend for any future Series C Dividend Period with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock, the Corporations Common Stock, or any other class or series of the Corporations Preferred Stock.
(f) So long as any share of Series C Preferred Stock remains outstanding:
(1) no dividend shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared or made or set aside for payment on any Series C Junior Securities (other than (i) a dividend payable solely in Series C Junior Securities or (ii) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a shareholders rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under any such plan);
(2) no shares of Series C Junior Securities shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly (other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Series C Junior Securities for or into other Series C Junior Securities, (ii) the exchange or conversion of one share of Series C Junior Securities for or into another share of Series C Junior Securities, (iii) through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Series C Junior Securities, (iv) purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of Series C Junior Securities in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of employees, officers, directors or consultants, (v) purchases of shares of Series C Junior Securities pursuant to a contractually binding requirement to buy Series C Junior Securities existing prior to the preceding Series C Dividend Period, including under a contractually binding stock repurchase plan, (vi) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of Series C Junior Securities pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such stock or the security being converted or exchanged, or (vii) the acquisition by the Corporation or any of the Corporations subsidiaries of record ownership in Series C Junior Securities for the beneficial ownership of any other persons (other than for the beneficial ownership by the Corporation or any of the Corporations subsidiaries), including as trustees or custodians, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation); and
(3) no shares of Series C Parity Securities, if any, shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, during a Series C Dividend Period (other than (i) pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series C Preferred Stock and such Series C Parity Securities, if any, (ii) as a result of a reclassification of Series C Parity Securities for or into other Series C Parity Securities, (iii) the exchange or conversion of Series C Parity Securities for or into other Series C Parity Securities or Series C Junior Securities, (iv) through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Series C Parity Securities, (v) purchases of shares of Series C Parity Securities pursuant to a contractually binding requirement to buy Series C Parity Securities existing prior to the preceding dividend period, including under a contractually binding stock repurchase plan, (vi) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of Series C Parity Securities pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such stock or the security being converted or exchanged, or (vii) the acquisition by the Corporation or any of the Corporations subsidiaries of record ownership in Series C Parity Securities for the beneficial ownership of any other persons (other than for the beneficial ownership by the Corporation or any of the Corporations subsidiaries), including as trustees or custodians, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation);
unless, in each case, the full dividends for the preceding Series C Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside.
(g) The Corporation will not declare or pay or set apart funds for the payment of dividends on any Series C Parity Securities, if any, unless the Corporation has paid or set apart funds for the payment of dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock. When dividends are not paid in full upon the shares of Series C Preferred Stock and
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Series C Parity Securities, if any, all dividends declared upon shares of Series C Preferred Stock and Series C Parity Securities, if any, will be declared on a proportional basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the then-current Series C Dividend Period per share on Series C Preferred Stock, and accrued dividends, including any accumulations, if any, on Series C Parity Securities, if any, bear to each other.
(h) Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise), as may be determined by the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board, may be declared and paid on the Common Stock and any Series C Junior Securities or Series C Parity Securities from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the holders of Series C Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.
(i) Dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock will not be declared, paid or set aside for payment to the extent such act would cause the Corporation to fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including applicable capital adequacy guidelines.
Section 4. Liquidation .
(a) Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, holders of Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to receive out of assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors and subject to the rights of holders of any securities ranking senior to Series C Preferred Stock, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Stock or any Series C Junior Securities, a liquidating distribution in the amount of the liquidation preference of $100,000 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to any undeclared dividends. Holders of Series C Preferred Stock will not be entitled to any other amounts from the Corporation after they have received their full liquidating distribution.
(b) In any such distribution, if the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay the liquidation preferences plus declared and unpaid dividends in full to all holders of Series C Preferred Stock and all holders of Series C Parity Securities, if any, as to such distribution with the Series C preferred Stock the amounts paid to the holders of Series C Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Series C Parity Securities, if any, will be paid pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidating distribution owed to those holders. If the liquidation preference plus declared and unpaid dividends has been paid in full to all holders of Series C Preferred Stock and Series C Parity Securities, if any, the holders of the Corporations Series C Junior Securities shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.
(c) For purposes of this section, the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Series C Preferred Stock receive cash, securities or property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation for cash, securities or other property, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
Section 5. Redemption .
(a) The Series C Preferred Stock is perpetual and has no maturity date. The Series C Preferred Stock is not subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions. The Series C Preferred Stock will be redeemable at the option of the Corporation, in whole or in part, from time to time, on any Series C Dividend Payment Date on or after October 30, 2027 (or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day), at a redemption price equal to $100,000 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to any undeclared dividends, on the shares of Series C Preferred Stock called for redemption to, but excluding, the redemption date. Holders of Series C Preferred Stock will have no right to require the redemption or repurchase of Series C Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days following the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, the Corporation, at its option, may redeem at any time all (but not less than all) of the shares of the Series C Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at a redemption price equal to $100,000 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to any undeclared dividends, on the shares of Series C Preferred Stock called for redemption to, but excluding, the redemption date, upon notice given as provided in Subsection (b) below.
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(b) If shares of Series C Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall be given by first class mail to the holders of record of Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed, mailed not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof (provided that, if the depositary shares representing Series C Preferred Stock are held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC). Each notice of redemption will include a statement setting forth: (1) the redemption date; (2) the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (3) the redemption price; and (4) the place or places where the certificates evidencing shares of Series C Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price. On and after the redemption date, dividends will cease to accrue on shares of Series C Preferred Stock, and such shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of such shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to any undeclared dividends, on such shares of Series C Preferred Stock to but excluding the redemption date.
(c) In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series C Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata , by lot or in such other manner as the Corporation may determine to be equitable. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.
(d) Any redemption of the Preferred Stock is subject to our receipt of any required prior approval from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and to the satisfaction of any conditions set forth in the capital guidelines or regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System applicable to redemption of the Preferred Stock.
Section 6. Voting Rights .
(a) Except as provided below or as expressly required by law, the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall have no voting power, and no right to vote on any matter at any time, either as a separate Series or class or together with any other Series or class of shares of capital stock, and shall not be entitled to call a meeting of such holders for any purpose, nor shall they be entitled to participate in any meeting of the holders of the Common Stock.
(b) So long as any shares of Series C Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of all of the shares of Series C Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, shall be required to: (1) authorize or increase the authorized amount of, or issue shares of, any class or series of stock ranking senior to the Series C Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase, any class or series of stock ranking senior to Series C Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation; (2) amend the provisions of the Corporations Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation so as to adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges or rights of Series C Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of the authorized or issued shares of Series C Preferred Stock or authorized Common Stock or Preferred Stock or the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, of other series of Preferred Stock ranking equally with or junior to Series C Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation will not be deemed to adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges or rights of Series C Preferred Stock; and (3) consummate a binding share-exchange or reclassification involving the Series C Preferred Stock, or a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another entity unless (i) the shares of the Series C Preferred Stock remain outstanding or are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the new surviving entity and (ii) the shares of the remaining Series C Preferred Stock or new preferred securities have terms that are not materially less favorable than the Series C Preferred Stock. The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed.
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(c) If the Corporation fails to pay, or declare and set apart for payment, dividends on outstanding shares of the Series C Preferred Stock for six quarterly dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the number of directors on the Board shall be increased by two at the Corporations first annual meeting of the shareholders held thereafter, and at such meeting and at each subsequent annual meeting until continuous noncumulative dividends for at least one year on all outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock entitled thereto shall have been paid, or declared and set apart for payment, in full, the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class together with holders of any other equally ranked series of Preferred Stock that have similar voting rights, if any, to elect such two additional members of the Corporations Board to hold office for a term of one year. Upon such payment, or such declaration and setting apart for payment, in full, the terms of the two additional directors so elected shall forthwith terminate, and the number of directors shall be reduced by two, and such voting right of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall cease, subject to increase in the number of directors as described above and to revesting of such voting right in the event of each and every additional failure in the payment of dividends for six quarterly dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, as described above.
(d) Without the consent of the holders of Series C Preferred Stock, so long as such action does not adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions of the Series C Preferred Stock, the Corporation may amend, alter, supplement or repeal any terms of the Series C Preferred Stock: (i) to cure any ambiguity, or to cure, correct or supplement any provision contained in this Certificate of Designations that may be defective or inconsistent; or (ii) to make any provision with respect to matters or questions arising with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Certificate of Designations.
Section 7. Conversion Rights . The holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall not have any rights to convert such shares into shares of any other class or series of securities of the Corporation.
Section 8. Preemptive Rights . The holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock will have no preemptive rights with respect to any shares of the Corporations capital stock or any of its other securities convertible into or carrying rights or options to purchase any such capital stock.
Section 9. Certificates . The Corporation may at its option issue shares of Series C Preferred Stock without certificates.
Section 10. Transfer Agent . The duly appointed transfer agent for the Series C Preferred Stock shall be Computershare Inc. The Corporation may, in its sole discretion, remove the transfer agent in accordance with the agreement between the Corporation and the transfer agent; provided that the Corporation shall appoint a successor transfer agent who shall accept such appointment prior to the effectiveness of such removal. Upon any such removal or appointment, the Corporation shall send notice thereof by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock.
Section 11. Registrar . The duly appointed registrar for the Series C Preferred Stock shall be Computershare Inc. The Corporation may, in its sole discretion, remove the registrar in accordance with the agreement between the Corporation and the registrar; provided that the Corporation shall appoint a successor registrar who shall accept such appointment prior to the effectiveness of such removal.
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Exhibit 4.1
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
among
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES,
COMPUTERSHARE INC. AND COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
and
THE HOLDERS FROM TIME TO TIME OF
THE DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS DESCRIBED HEREIN
Dated as of October 31, 2017
Table of Contents
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I | DEFINED TERMS | 1 | ||||
Section 1.1 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
ARTICLE II | FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER, SURRENDER AND REDEMPTION OF RECEIPTS | 3 | ||||
Section 2.1 |
Appointment of Depositary | 3 | ||||
Section 2.2 |
Form and Transfer of Receipts | 4 | ||||
Section 2.3 |
Deposit of Series C Preferred Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof | 5 | ||||
Section 2.4 |
Registration of Transfer of Receipts | 6 | ||||
Section 2.5 |
Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Series C Preferred Stock | 6 | ||||
Section 2.6 |
Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts | 7 | ||||
Section 2.7 |
Lost Receipts, etc. | 8 | ||||
Section 2.8 |
Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts | 8 | ||||
Section 2.9 |
Redemption of Series C Preferred Stock | 8 | ||||
Section 2.10 |
Receipt of Funds | 9 | ||||
Section 2.11 |
Receipts Issuable in Global Registered Form | 10 | ||||
ARTICLE III | CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF RECEIPTS AND THE CORPORATION | 11 | ||||
Section 3.1 |
Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information | 11 | ||||
Section 3.2 |
Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges | 11 | ||||
Section 3.3 |
Warranty as to Series C Preferred Stock | 12 | ||||
Section 3.4 |
Warranty as to Receipts | 12 | ||||
ARTICLE IV | THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES; NOTICES | 12 | ||||
Section 4.1 |
Cash Distributions | 12 | ||||
Section 4.2 |
Distributions Other than Cash, Rights, Preferences or Privileges | 12 | ||||
Section 4.3 |
Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges | 13 | ||||
Section 4.4 |
Notice of Dividends, etc.; Fixing Record Date for Holders of Receipts | 14 | ||||
Section 4.5 |
Voting Rights | 14 |
i
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | ||||||
Section 4.6 |
Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc. | 15 | ||||
Section 4.7 |
Delivery of Reports | 15 | ||||
Section 4.8 |
Lists of Receipt Holders | 16 | ||||
ARTICLE V |
THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARYS AGENTS, THE REGISTRAR AND THE CORPORATION | 16 | ||||
Section 5.1 |
Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer Books by the Depositary; Registrar | 16 | ||||
Section 5.2 |
Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositarys Agents, the Registrar or the Corporation | 17 | ||||
Section 5.3 |
Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositarys Agents, the Registrar and the Corporation | 17 | ||||
Section 5.4 |
Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary | 21 | ||||
Section 5.5 |
Corporate Notices and Reports | 22 | ||||
Section 5.6 |
Indemnification by the Corporation | 22 | ||||
Section 5.7 |
Fees, Charges and Expenses | 23 | ||||
ARTICLE VI |
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION | 23 | ||||
Section 6.1 |
Amendment | 23 | ||||
Section 6.2 |
Termination | 24 | ||||
ARTICLE VII |
MISCELLANEOUS | 24 | ||||
Section 7.1 |
Counterparts | 24 | ||||
Section 7.2 |
Exclusive Benefit of Parties | 24 | ||||
Section 7.3 |
Invalidity of Provisions | 24 | ||||
Section 7.4 |
Notices | 24 | ||||
Section 7.5 |
Depositarys Agents | 25 | ||||
Section 7.6 |
Appointment of Registrar, Dividend Disbursing Agent, Transfer Agent and Redemption Agent in Respect of Receipts | 26 | ||||
Section 7.7 |
Holders of Receipts Are Parties | 26 | ||||
Section 7.8 |
Governing Law | 26 | ||||
Section 7.9 |
Inspection of Deposit Agreement | 26 | ||||
Section 7.10 |
Headings | 26 |
ii
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | ||||||
Section 7.11 |
Force Majeure | 26 | ||||
Section 7.12 |
Further Assurances | 27 | ||||
Section 7.13 |
Confidentiality | 27 |
iii
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | ||||
EXHIBIT A |
Form of Receipt |
|||
EXHIBIT B |
Form of Officers Certificate |
iv
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of October 31, 2017, among (i) Discover Financial Services, a Delaware corporation, (ii) Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, and (iii) the Holders from time to time of the Receipts described herein.
WHEREAS, it is desired to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of shares of Series C Preferred Stock of the Corporation from time to time with the Depositary for the purposes set forth in this Deposit Agreement and for the issuance hereunder of Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares in respect of the Series C Preferred Stock so deposited; and
WHEREAS, the Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Deposit Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS
Section 1.1 Definitions.
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:
Certificate of Designations shall mean the relevant Certificate of Designations with respect to Series C Preferred Stock filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware establishing the Series C Preferred Stock as a series of preferred stock of the Corporation.
Computershare shall mean Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors.
Corporation shall mean Discover Financial Services, a Delaware corporation, and its successors.
Deposit Agreement shall mean this Deposit Agreement, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
Depositary shall mean Computershare and the Trust Company, acting jointly, and any successor as Depositary hereunder.
Depositary Shares shall mean the depositary shares, each representing 1/100th of one share of the Series C Preferred Stock, and the same proportionate interest in any and all other property received by the Depositary in respect of such share of Series C Preferred Stock and held under this Deposit Agreement, all as evidenced by the Receipts issued hereunder. Subject to the terms of this Deposit Agreement, each owner of a Depositary Share is entitled, proportionately, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of the Series C Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Share (including the dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights contained in the Certificate of Designations).
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Depositarys Agent shall mean an agent appointed by the Depositary pursuant to Section 7.5 .
Depositarys Office shall mean the principal office of the Depositary at which at any particular time its depositary receipt business shall be administered, which is currently located at 480 Washington Blvd., 29th Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07310.
DTC shall mean The Depository Trust Company.
Effective Date shall mean the date first stated above.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Event shall mean with respect to any Global Registered Receipt:
(1) (A) the Global Receipt Depository which is the Holder of such Global Registered Receipt or Receipts notifies the Corporation that it is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities under any Letter of Representations or that it is no longer eligible or in good standing under the Exchange Act, and (B) the Corporation has not appointed a qualified successor Global Receipt Depository within 90 calendar days after the Corporation received such notice, or
(2) the Corporation in its sole discretion notifies the Depositary in writing that the Receipts or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Registered Receipts shall no longer be represented by such Global Receipt or Receipts.
Global Receipt Depository shall mean, with respect to any Receipt issued hereunder, DTC or such other entity designated as Global Receipt Depository by the Corporation in or pursuant to this Deposit Agreement, which entity must be, to the extent required by any applicable law or regulation, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act.
Global Registered Receipts shall mean a global registered Receipt, in definitive or book-entry form, registered in the name of a nominee of DTC.
Letter of Representations shall mean any applicable agreement among the Corporation, the Depositary and a Global Receipt Depository with respect to such Global Receipt Depositorys rights and obligations with respect to any Global Registered Receipts, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time and any successor agreement thereto.
Officers Certificate shall mean a certificate in substantially the form set forth as Exhibit B hereto, which is signed by an officer of the Corporation and which shall include the terms and conditions of the Series C Preferred Stock to be issued by the Corporation and deposited with the Depositary from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
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Receipt shall mean one of the depositary receipts issued hereunder, substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit A hereto, whether in definitive or temporary form, and evidencing the number of Depositary Shares with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock held of record by the Record Holder of such Depositary Shares.
Record Holder or Holder as applied to a Receipt shall mean the person in whose name such Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.
Redemption Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9 .
Registrar shall mean Computershare or such other successor bank or trust company which shall be appointed by the Corporation to register ownership and transfers of Receipts as herein provided; and if a successor Registrar shall be so appointed, references herein to the books of or maintained by Computershare shall be deemed, as applicable, to refer as well to the register maintained by such Registrar for such purpose.
Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Series C Preferred Stock shall mean the shares of the Corporations Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, $0.01 par value, with a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share, designated in the Certificate of Designations and described in the Officers Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof.
Transfer Agent shall mean Computershare or such other successor bank or trust company which shall be appointed by the Corporation to transfer the Receipts, as herein provided.
Trust Company shall mean Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, and its successors.
ARTICLE II
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK, EXECUTION
AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER, SURRENDER AND REDEMPTION OF RECEIPTS
Section 2.1 Appointment of Depositary
The Corporation hereby appoints the Depositary as depositary for the Series C Preferred Stock, and the Depositary hereby accepts such appointment, on the express terms and conditions set forth in this Deposit Agreement.
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Section 2.2 Form and Transfer of Receipts.
The definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided. Pending the preparation of definitive Receipts, the Depositary, upon the written order of the Corporation, delivered in compliance with Section 2.3 , shall execute and deliver temporary Receipts which may be printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise substantially of the tenor of the definitive Receipts in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the persons executing such Receipts may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Receipts. If temporary Receipts are issued, the Corporation and the Depositary will cause definitive Receipts to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Receipts, the temporary Receipts shall be exchangeable for definitive Receipts upon surrender of the temporary Receipts at an office described in the penultimate paragraph of Section 2.3 , without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Receipts, the Depositary shall execute and deliver in exchange therefor definitive Receipts representing the same number of Depositary Shares as represented by the surrendered temporary Receipt or Receipts. Such exchange shall be made at the Corporations expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Receipts shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Deposit Agreement as definitive Receipts.
Receipts shall be executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless it shall have been executed manually or by facsimile signature by a duly authorized officer of the Depositary or, if a Registrar for the Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, by manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary and countersigned by manual or facsimile signature by a duly authorized officer of such Registrar. The Depositary shall record on its books each Receipt so signed and delivered as hereinafter provided. Receipts bearing the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary who was at any time a proper signatory of the Depositary shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding that such signatory ceased to hold such office prior to the execution and delivery of such Receipts by the Registrar or did not hold such office on the date of issuance of such Receipts.
Receipts shall be in denominations of any number of whole Depositary Shares. All receipts shall be dated the date of their issuance.
Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement all as may be required by the Depositary and approved by the Corporation or required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which the Series C Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject.
Title to Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt which is properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer, shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument in accordance with the Depositarys procedures; provided, however, that until transfer of any particular Receipt shall be registered on
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the books of the Depositary as provided in Section 2.4 , the Depositary may, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, treat the Record Holder thereof at such time as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distributions of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes.
The Corporation shall provide an opinion of counsel to the Depositary at the Effective Date in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary.
Section 2.3 Deposit of Series C Preferred Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Corporation may from time to time deposit shares of Series C Preferred Stock under this Deposit Agreement by delivering to the Depositary, including via electronic book-entry, such shares of Series C Preferred Stock to be deposited, properly endorsed or accompanied, if applicable and required by the Depositary, by a duly executed instrument of transfer or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Depositary, together with all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and an executed Officers Certificate attaching the Certificate of Designations and all other information required to be set forth therein, and together with a written order of the Corporation directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in such order a Receipt or Receipts evidencing in the aggregate the number of Depositary Shares representing such deposited Series C Preferred Stock. Each Officers Certificate delivered to the Depositary in accordance with the terms of this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed to be incorporated into this Deposit Agreement and shall be binding on the Corporation, the Depositary and the Holders of Receipts to which such Officers Certificate relates.
The Series C Preferred Stock that is deposited shall be held by the Depositary at the Depositarys Office or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine. The Depositary shall not lend any Series C Preferred Stock deposited hereunder.
Upon receipt by the Depositary of Series C Preferred Stock deposited in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.3 , together with the other documents required as above specified, and upon recordation of the Series C Preferred Stock on the books of the Corporation (or its duly appointed transfer agent) in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and deliver to or upon the order of the person or persons named in the written order delivered to the Depositary referred to in the first paragraph of this Section 2.3 , a Receipt or Receipts evidencing in the aggregate the number of Depositary Shares representing the Series C Preferred Stock so deposited and registered in such name or names as may be requested by such person or persons. The Depositary shall execute and deliver such Receipt or Receipts at the Depositarys Office or such other offices, if any, as the Depositary may designate. Delivery at other offices shall be at the risk and expense of the person requesting such delivery.
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Section 2.4 Registration of Transfer of Receipts.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall register on its books from time to time transfers of Receipts upon any surrender thereof by the Holder in person or by duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer which shall be affixed with the signature guarantee of a guarantor institution which is a participant in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, and any other reasonable evidence of authority that may be required by the Depositary, together with evidence of the payment by the applicable party of any taxes or charges as may be required by law. Thereupon, the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts evidencing the same aggregate number of Depositary Shares as those evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered and deliver such new Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto.
The Depositary shall not be required (a) to issue, transfer or exchange any Receipts for a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days next preceding any selection of Depositary Shares and Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of notice of redemption, or (b) to transfer or exchange for another Receipt any Receipt called or being called for redemption in whole or in part except as provided in Section 2.9 .
Section 2.5 Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Series C Preferred Stock.
Upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts at the Depositarys Office or at such other offices as it may designate for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts in the authorized denomination or denominations requested, evidencing the aggregate number of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered, and shall deliver such new Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the Holder of the Receipt or Receipts so surrendered.
Any Holder of a Receipt or Receipts may withdraw the number of whole shares of Series C Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby by surrendering such Receipt or Receipts at the Depositarys Office or at such other offices as the Depositary may designate for such withdrawals. Thereafter, without unreasonable delay, the Depositary shall deliver to such Holder, or to the person or persons designated by such Holder as hereinafter provided, the number of whole shares of Series C Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by the Receipt or Receipts so surrendered for withdrawal, but Holders of such whole shares of Series C Preferred Stock will not thereafter be entitled to deposit such Series C Preferred Stock hereunder or to receive a Receipt evidencing Depositary Shares therefor. If a Receipt delivered by the Holder to the Depositary in connection with such withdrawal shall evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Depositary Shares representing the number of whole shares of Series C Preferred Stock, the Depositary shall at the same time, in addition to such number of whole shares of Series C Preferred Stock and such money and other property, if any, to be so withdrawn, deliver to such Holder, or subject to Section 2.4 upon his order, a new Receipt evidencing such excess number of Depositary Shares.
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In no event will fractional shares of Series C Preferred Stock (or any cash payment in lieu thereof) be delivered by the Depositary. Delivery of the Series C Preferred Stock and money and other property, if any, being withdrawn may be made by the delivery of such certificates, documents of title and other instruments as the Depositary may deem appropriate, which, if required by the Depositary, shall be properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer including, but not limited to, a signature guarantee.
If the Series C Preferred Stock and the money and other property, if any, being withdrawn are to be delivered to a person or persons other than the Record Holder of the related Receipt or Receipts being surrendered for withdrawal of such Series C Preferred Stock, such Holder shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order so directing the Depositary and the Depositary may require that the Receipt or Receipts surrendered by such Holder for withdrawal of such shares of Series C Preferred Stock be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer in blank.
Delivery of the Series C Preferred Stock and the money and other property, if any, represented by Receipts surrendered for withdrawal shall be made by the Depositary at the Depositarys Office, except that, at the request, risk and expense of the Holder surrendering such Receipt or Receipts and for the account of the Holder thereof, such delivery may be made at such other place as may be designated by such Holder.
Section 2.6 Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts.
As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, surrender or exchange of any Receipt, the Depositary, any of the Depositarys Agents or the Corporation may require payment to it of a sum sufficient for the payment (or, in the event that the Depositary or the Corporation shall have made such payment, the reimbursement to it) of any charges or expenses payable by the Holder of a Receipt pursuant to Section 5.7 , may require the production of evidence satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature, including a signature guarantee, and any other reasonable evidence of authority that may be required by the Depositary, and may also require compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary or the Corporation may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and/or applicable law.
The deposit of the Series C Preferred Stock may be refused, the delivery of Receipts against Series C Preferred Stock may be suspended, the registration of transfer of Receipts may be refused and the registration of transfer, surrender or exchange of outstanding Receipts may be suspended (i) during any period when the register of stockholders of the Corporation is closed or (ii) if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary, any of the Depositarys Agents or the Corporation at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement.
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Section 2.7 Lost Receipts, etc.
In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary in its discretion may execute and deliver a Receipt of like form and tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, upon (i) the filing by the Holder thereof with the Depositary of evidence satisfactory to the Depositary of such destruction or loss or theft of such Receipt, of the authenticity thereof and of his or her ownership thereof, (ii) the Holder thereof furnishing the Depositary with an affidavit and a bond satisfactory to the Depositary, and (iii) the payment of any reasonable expense (including reasonable fees, charges and expenses of the Depositary) in connection with such execution and delivery. Applicants for such substitute Receipts shall also comply with such other reasonable regulations and pay such other reasonable charges as the Depositary may prescribe and as required by Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code.
Section 2.8 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.
All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary or any Depositarys Agent shall be cancelled by the Depositary. Except as prohibited by applicable law or regulation, the Depositary is authorized and directed to destroy all Receipts so cancelled.
Section 2.9 Redemption of Series C Preferred Stock.
Whenever the Corporation shall be permitted and shall elect to redeem shares of Series C Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designations (including on account of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, as described therein), it shall (unless otherwise agreed to in writing with the Depositary) give or cause to be given to the Depositary, not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (as defined below), notice of such redemption, which shall state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares of Series C Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the number of such shares of Series C Preferred Stock held by the Depositary to be so redeemed; (iii) the redemption price; and (iv) the place or places where the certificates evidencing shares of Series C Preferred Stock, if any, are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price. In case less than all the outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the shares of Series C Preferred Stock to be so redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or by lot or in such other manner determined by the Corporation to be fair and equitable. On the date of such redemption, the Depositary shall redeem the number of Depositary Shares representing such Series C Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation shall then have paid or caused to be paid in full to Computershare the redemption price of the Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed, plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends thereon, without regard to any undeclared dividends, to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designations. The Depositary shall mail notice of the Corporations redemption of Series C Preferred Stock and the proposed simultaneous redemption of the number of Depositary Shares representing the Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed by first-class mail, postage prepaid (or another reasonably acceptable transmission method), not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption of such Series C Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares (the Redemption Date), to the Record Holders of the Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed at their respective last addresses as they appear on the records of the Depositary; but neither failure to mail any such notice of redemption of Depositary Shares to one or more
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such Holders nor any defect in any notice of redemption of Depositary Shares to one or more such Holders shall affect the sufficiency of the proceedings for redemption as to the other Holders. In case less than all the outstanding Depositary Shares are to be redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or by lot or in such other manner determined by the Corporation to be fair and equitable.
Notice having been mailed or transmitted by the Depositary as aforesaid, from and after the Redemption Date (unless the Corporation shall have failed to provide the funds necessary to redeem the Series C Preferred Stock evidenced by the Depositary Shares called for redemption) (i) dividends on the shares of Series C Preferred Stock so called for Redemption shall cease to accrue from and after such date and all shares of Series C Preferred Stock called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding and any rights with respect to such shares shall cease and terminate (except for the right to receive the redemption price without interest), (ii) the Depositary Shares being redeemed from such proceeds shall be deemed no longer to be outstanding, (iii) all rights of the Holders of Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares (except the right to receive the redemption price without interest) shall, to the extent of such Depositary Shares, cease and terminate, and (iv) upon surrender in accordance with such redemption notice of the Receipts evidencing any such Depositary Shares called for redemption (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Depositary or applicable law shall so require), such Depositary Shares shall be redeemed by the Depositary at a redemption price per Depositary Share equal to 1/100th of the redemption price per share of Series C Preferred Stock so redeemed plus all money and other property, if any, represented by such Depositary Shares, including all amounts declared and paid by the Corporation in respect of dividends in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designations.
If fewer than all of the Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt are called for redemption, the Depositary will deliver to the Holder of such Receipt upon its surrender to the Depositary, together with the redemption payment, a new Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares evidenced by such prior Receipt and not called for redemption. In any such case, the Corporation shall redeem Depositary Shares only in increments of 10 Depositary Shares and any multiple thereof.
Section 2.10 Receipt of Funds.
All funds received by Computershare under this Deposit Agreement that are to be distributed or applied by Computershare in the performance of its services hereunder (the Funds) shall be held by Computershare as agent for the Corporation and deposited in one or more bank accounts to be maintained by Computershare in its name as agent for the Corporation. Until paid pursuant to this Agreement, Computershare may hold or invest the Funds through such accounts in: (i) obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States of America, (ii) commercial paper obligations rated A-1 or P-1 or better by Standard & Poors Corporation (S&P) or Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys), respectively, (iii) money market funds that comply with Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, or (iv) demand deposit accounts, short term certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements or bankers acceptances, of commercial banks with Tier 1 capital exceeding $1 billion or with an average rating above investment grade by S&P (LT Local Issuer Credit Rating), Moodys (Long Term Rating) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (LT Issuer Default Rating) (each as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P.).
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The Corporation shall have no responsibility or liability for any diminution of the Funds that may result from any deposit or investment made by Computershare in accordance with this paragraph, except for any losses resulting from a default by any bank, financial institution or other third party (but, for the avoidance of doubt, Computershare shall bear responsibility and liability for any diminution of the Funds, other than those resulting from a default by any bank, financial institution or other third party, such that Holders of Receipts receive the full amount of money and/or property under this Agreement to which they are entitled as holders fractional interests shares of the Series C Preferred Stock, and such responsibility and liability shall not be subject to Section 5.3 hereof). Computershare may from time to time receive interest, dividends or other earnings in connection with such deposits or investments. Computershare shall not be obligated to pay such interest, dividends or earnings to the Corporation, any holder or any other party.
Section 2.11 Receipts Issuable in Global Registered Form.
If the Corporation shall determine in a writing delivered to the Depositary that the Receipts are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Registered Receipts, then the Depositary shall, in accordance with the other provisions of this Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver one or more Global Registered Receipts evidencing such Receipts, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Receipts to be represented by such Global Registered Receipt or Receipts and (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Global Receipt Depository therefor or its nominee.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, unless otherwise provided in the Global Registered Receipt, a Global Registered Receipt may only be transferred in whole and only by the applicable Global Receipt Depository for such Global Registered Receipt to a nominee of such Global Receipt Depository, or by a nominee of such Global Receipt Depository to such Global Receipt Depository or another nominee of such Global Receipt Depository, or by such Global Receipt Depository or any such nominee to a successor Global Receipt Depository for such Global Registered Receipt selected or approved by the Corporation or to a nominee of such successor Global Receipt Depository. Except as provided below, owners solely of beneficial interests in a Global Registered Receipt shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of the Receipts represented by such Global Registered Receipt. Neither any such beneficial owner nor any direct or indirect participant of a Global Receipt Depository shall have any rights under this Deposit Agreement with respect to any Global Registered Receipt held on their behalf by a Global Receipt Depository and such Global Receipt Depository may be treated by the Corporation, the Depositary and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or the Depositary as the holder of such Global Registered Receipt for all purposes whatsoever. Unless and until definitive Receipts are delivered to the owners of the beneficial interests in a Global Registered Receipt, (1) the applicable Global Receipt Depository will make book-entry transfers among its participants and receive and transmit all payments and distributions in respect of the Global Registered Receipts to such participants, in each case, in accordance with its applicable procedures and arrangements, and (2) whenever any notice, payment or other communication to the holders of Global Registered Receipts is required under this Deposit Agreement, the Corporation and the Depositary shall give all such notices, payments and communications specified herein to be given to such holders to the applicable Global Receipt Depository.
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If an Exchange Event has occurred with respect to any Global Registered Receipt, then, in any such event, the Depositary shall, upon receipt of a written order from the Corporation for the execution and delivery of individual definitive registered Receipts in exchange for such Global Registered Receipt, execute and deliver, individual definitive registered Receipts, in authorized denominations and of like tenor and terms in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Registered Receipt in exchange for such Global Registered Receipt.
Definitive registered Receipts issued in exchange for a Global Registered Receipt pursuant to Section 2.11 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Global Receipt Depository for such Global Registered Receipt, pursuant to instructions from its participants, shall instruct the Depositary in writing. The Depositary shall deliver such Receipts to the persons in whose names such Receipts are so registered.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement, should the Corporation determine that the Receipts should be issued as a Global Registered Receipt, the parties hereto shall comply with the terms of any Letter of Representations.
ARTICLE III
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF RECEIPTS AND THE CORPORATION
Section 3.1 Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
Any Holder of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file such proof of residence, or other matters or other information, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties as the Depositary or the Corporation may reasonably deem necessary or proper. The Depositary or the Corporation may withhold the delivery, or delay the registration of transfer or redemption, of any Receipt or the withdrawal of the Series C Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares and evidenced by a Receipt or the distribution of any dividend or other distribution or the sale of any rights or of the proceeds thereof until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties are made.
Section 3.2 Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges.
Holders of Receipts shall be obligated to make payments to the Depositary of certain charges, taxes and expenses, as provided in Section 5.7 . Registration of transfer of any Receipt or any withdrawal of Series C Preferred Stock and all money or other property, if any, represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt may be refused until any such payment due is made, and any dividends, interest payments or other distributions may be withheld or any part of or all the Series C Preferred Stock or other property represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt and not theretofore sold may be sold for the account of the Holder thereof (after attempting by reasonable means to notify such Holder prior to such sale), and such dividends, interest payments or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale may be applied to any payment of such charges or expenses, the Holder of such Receipt remaining liable for any deficiency.
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Section 3.3 Warranty as to Series C Preferred Stock.
The Corporation hereby represents and warrants that the Series C Preferred Stock, when issued, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Such representation and warranty shall survive the deposit of the Series C Preferred Stock and the issuance of the related Receipts.
Section 3.4 Warranty as to Receipts.
The Corporation hereby represents and warrants that the Receipts, when issued, will represent legal and valid interests in the Series C Preferred Stock. Such representation and warranty shall survive the deposit of the Series C Preferred Stock and the issuance of the Receipts.
ARTICLE IV
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES; NOTICES
Section 4.1 Cash Distributions.
Whenever Computershare shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on the Series C Preferred Stock, Computershare shall, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2 , distribute to Record Holders of Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.4 such amounts of such dividend or distribution as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such Holders; provided , however , that in case the Corporation or Computershare shall be required to withhold and shall withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of the Series C Preferred Stock an amount on account of taxes, the amount made available for distribution or distributed in respect of Depositary Shares shall be reduced accordingly, and such withheld cash shall be treated for all purposes of this Deposit Agreement as having been paid to the Holder of Receipts in respect of which the Corporation or Computershare made such withholding. Computershare shall distribute or make available for distribution, as the case may be, only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Holder of Receipts a fraction of one cent. Each Holder of a Receipt shall provide the Depositary with its certified tax identification number on a properly completed Form W-8 or W-9, as may be applicable. Each Holder of a Receipt acknowledges that, in the event of non-compliance with the preceding sentence, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may require withholding by the Corporation or Computershare of a portion of any of the distributions to be made hereunder.
Section 4.2 Distributions Other than Cash, Rights, Preferences or Privileges.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than cash, rights, preferences or privileges upon the Series C Preferred Stock, the Depositary shall, at the direction of the Corporation, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2 , distribute to Record Holders of Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.4 such amounts of the securities or property received by it as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary
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Shares evidenced by such Receipts held by such Holders, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution. If in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among such Record Holders in accordance with the direction of the Corporation, or if for any other reason (including any requirement that the Corporation or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes) the Depositary deems, after consultation with the Corporation, such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, with the approval of the Corporation, adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, in a commercially reasonable manner. The net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2 , be distributed or made available for distribution, as the case may be, by Computershare to Record Holders of Receipts as provided by Section 4.1 in the case of a distribution received in cash. The Corporation shall not make any distribution of such securities or property to the Depositary and the Depositary shall not make any distribution of such securities or property to the Holders of Receipts unless the Corporation shall have provided an opinion of counsel stating that such securities or property have been registered under the Securities Act or do not need to be registered in connection with such distributions.
Section 4.3 Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges.
If the Corporation shall at any time offer or cause to be offered to the persons in whose names the Series C Preferred Stock is recorded on the books of the Corporation any rights, preferences or privileges to subscribe for or to purchase any securities or any rights, preferences or privileges of any other nature, such rights, preferences or privileges shall in each such instance be communicated promptly to the Depositary and thereafter such rights, options or privileges shall be made available by the Depositary to the Record Holders of Receipts in such manner as the Corporation shall instruct the Depositary in writing, either by the issue to such Record Holders of warrants representing such rights, preferences or privileges or by such other method as may be approved by the Depositary in its discretion with the approval of the Corporation; provided , however , that (i) if at the time of issue or offer of any such rights, preferences or privileges the Depositary determines that it is not lawful or (after consultation with the Corporation) not feasible to make such rights, preferences or privileges available to Holders of Receipts by the issue of warrants or otherwise, or (ii) if and to the extent so instructed by Holders of Receipts who do not desire to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges, then the Depositary, in its discretion (with approval of the Corporation, in any case where the Depositary has determined that it is not feasible to make such rights, preferences or privileges available), may, if applicable laws or the terms of such rights, preferences or privileges permit such transfer, sell such rights, preferences or privileges at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper. The net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2 , be distributed by the Depositary to the Record Holders of Receipts entitled thereto as provided by Section 4.1 in the case of a distribution received in cash. The Depositary shall not make any distribution of such rights, preferences or privileges, unless the Corporation shall have provided to the Depositary an opinion of counsel stating that such rights, preferences or privileges have been registered under the Securities Act or do not need to be registered.
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The Corporation shall notify the Depositary whether registration under the Securities Act of the securities to which any rights, preferences or privileges relate is required in order for Holders of Receipts to be offered or sold the securities to which such rights, preferences or privileges relate, and the Corporation agrees with the Depositary that it will file promptly a registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act with respect to such rights, preferences or privileges and securities and use its best efforts and take all steps available to it to cause such registration statement to become effective sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such Holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges. In no event shall the Depositary make available to the Holders of Receipts any right, preference or privilege to subscribe for or to purchase any securities unless and until such registration statement shall have become effective, or the Corporation shall have provided to the Depositary an opinion of counsel to the effect that the offering and sale of such securities to the Holders are exempt from registration under the provisions of the Securities Act.
The Corporation shall notify the Depositary whether any other action under the laws of any jurisdiction or any governmental or administrative authorization, consent or permit is required in order for such rights, preferences or privileges to be made available to Holders of Receipts, and the Corporation agrees with the Depositary that the Corporation will use its reasonable best efforts to take such action or obtain such authorization, consent or permit sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such Holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges.
Section 4.4 Notice of Dividends, etc.; Fixing Record Date for Holders of Receipts.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or if rights, preferences or privileges shall at any time be offered, with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting at which holders of the Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to vote or of which holders of the Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to notice, or whenever the Depositary and the Corporation shall decide it is appropriate, the Depositary shall in each such instance fix a record date (which shall be the same date as the record date fixed by the Corporation with respect to or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock) for the determination of the Holders of Receipts who shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution, rights, preferences or privileges or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, or to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, or who shall be entitled to notice of such meeting or for any other appropriate reasons.
Section 4.5 Voting Rights.
Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Designations, upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Record Holders of Receipts a notice prepared by the Corporation which shall contain (i) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting and (ii) a statement that the Holders may, subject to any applicable restrictions, instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of Series C Preferred Stock represented by their respective Depositary Shares (including an express indication that instructions may be given to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Corporation) and a brief statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given. Upon the written request of the Holders of Receipts on the relevant
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record date, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted, in accordance with the instructions set forth in such requests, the maximum number of whole shares of Series C Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by all Receipts as to which any particular voting instructions are received. The Corporation hereby agrees to take all reasonable action which may be deemed necessary by the Depositary in order to enable the Depositary to vote such Series C Preferred Stock or cause such Series C Preferred Stock to be voted. In the absence of specific instructions from the Holder of a Receipt, the Depositary will not vote (but, at its discretion, may appear at any meeting with respect to such Series C Preferred Stock unless directed to the contrary by the Holders of all the Receipts) to the extent of the Series C Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt.
Section 4.6 Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc.
Upon any change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or any other reclassification of the Series C Preferred Stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Designations, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation affecting the Corporation or to which it is a party, the Depositary may in its discretion with the approval of, and shall upon the instructions of, the Corporation, and (in either case) in such manner as the Depositary may deem equitable, (i) make such adjustments as are certified by the Corporation in the fraction of an interest represented by one Depositary Share in one share of Series C Preferred Stock and in the ratio of the redemption price per Depositary Share to the redemption price per share of Series C Preferred Stock, in each case as may be necessary fully to reflect the effects of such change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or other reclassification of the Series C Preferred Stock, or of such recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation and (ii) treat any securities which shall be received by the Depositary in exchange for or upon conversion of or in respect of the Series C Preferred Stock as new deposited securities so received in exchange for or upon conversion of or in respect of such Series C Preferred Stock. In any such case the Depositary may in its discretion, with the approval of the Corporation, execute and deliver additional Receipts or may call for the surrender of all outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new deposited securities. Anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding, Holders of Receipts shall have the right from and after the effective date of any such change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or other reclassification of the Series C Preferred Stock or any such recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation to surrender such Receipts to the Depositary with instructions to convert, exchange or surrender the Series C Preferred Stock represented thereby only into or for, as the case may be, the kind and amount of shares and other securities and property and cash into which the Series C Preferred Stock represented by such Receipts might have been converted or for which such Series C Preferred Stock might have been exchanged or surrendered immediately prior to the effective date of such transaction.
Section 4.7 Delivery of Reports.
The Depositary shall furnish to Holders of Receipts any reports and communications received from the Corporation which is received by the Depositary and which the Corporation is required to furnish to the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock.
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Section 4.8 Lists of Receipt Holders.
Reasonably promptly upon request from time to time by the Corporation, at the sole expense of the Corporation, the Depositary shall furnish to it a list, as of the most recent practicable date, of the names, addresses and holdings of Depositary Shares of all registered Holders of Receipts.
ARTICLE V
THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARYS AGENTS, THE REGISTRAR AND THE
CORPORATION
Section 5.1 Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer Books by the Depositary; Registrar.
Upon execution of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall maintain at the Depositarys Office, facilities for the execution and delivery, registration and registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of Receipts, and at the offices of the Depositarys Agents, if any, facilities for the delivery, registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of Receipts, all in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The Registrar shall keep books at the Depositarys Office for the registration and registration of transfer of Receipts, which books at all reasonable times during regular business hours shall be open for inspection by the Record Holders of Receipts; provided that any such Holder requesting to exercise such right shall certify to the Registrar that such inspection shall be for a proper purpose reasonably related to such Holders interest as an owner of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts.
The Registrar may close such books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder, or because of any requirement of law or of any government, governmental body or commission, stock exchange or any applicable self-regulatory body.
The Depositary may, with the approval of the Corporation, appoint a Registrar for registration of the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby. If the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby or the Series C Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Shares shall be listed on one or more national securities exchanges, the Depositary will appoint a Registrar (acceptable to the Corporation) for registration of the Receipts or Depositary Shares in accordance with any requirements of such exchange. Such Registrar (which may be the Depositary if so permitted by the requirements of any such exchange) may be removed and a substitute registrar appointed by the Depositary upon the request or with the approval of the Corporation. If the Receipts, Depositary Shares or Series C Preferred Stock are listed on one or more other securities exchanges, the Depositary will, at the request of the Corporation, arrange such facilities for the delivery, registration or registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of the Receipts, Depositary Shares or Series C Preferred Stock as may be required by law or applicable securities exchange regulation.
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Section 5.2 Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositarys Agents, the Registrar or the Corporation.
Neither the Depositary nor any Depositarys Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Corporation shall incur any liability to any Holder of a Receipt or any beneficial owner thereof if by reason of any provision of any present or future law, or regulation thereunder, of the United States of America or of any other governmental authority or, in the case of the Depositary, the Depositarys Agent or the Registrar or any Transfer Agent, by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Corporations Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (including the Certificate of Designations), or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstance beyond the control of the relevant party, the Depositary, the Depositarys Agent, the Registrar, any Transfer Agent, or the Corporation shall be prevented or forbidden from, or subjected to any penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which the terms of this Deposit Agreement provide shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, any Registrar, any Transfer Agent, or the Corporation incur liability to any Holder of a Receipt or any beneficial owner thereof (i) by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which the terms of this Deposit Agreement shall provide shall or may be done or performed, or (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement except in the event of the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final non-appealable judgment, order, decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction) of the party charged with such exercise or failure to exercise.
Section 5.3 Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositarys Agents, the Registrar and the Corporation.
Neither the Depositary nor any Depositarys Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Corporation assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability to any Person under this Deposit Agreement to Holders of Receipts other than for its gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith (each as determined by a final non-appealable judgment, order, decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction) in the performance of the such duties as are specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, excluding the Depositarys willful misconduct or bad faith, any liability of the Depositary and any Depositarys Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent under this Deposit Agreement, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, will be limited to the amount of annual fees paid by the Corporation to the Depositary.
Notwithstanding anything in this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, neither the Depositary, nor the Depositarys Agent nor any Registrar nor the Corporation shall be liable in any event for special, punitive, incidental, indirect or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits) even if they have been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
Neither the Depositary nor any Depositarys Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Corporation shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of the Series C Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense and liability be furnished as often as may be required.
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Neither the Depositary nor any Depositarys Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Corporation shall be liable for any action or any failure to act by it in reliance upon the written advice of legal counsel or accountants, or information from any person presenting Series C Preferred Stock for deposit, any Holder of a Receipt or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such information. The Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, any Registrar or Transfer Agent and the Corporation may each rely and shall each be protected in acting upon or omitting to act upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote any of the shares of Series C Preferred Stock or for the manner or effect of any such vote made, as long as any such action or non-action is not taken in bad faith. The Depositary undertakes, and any Registrar and Transfer Agent shall be required to undertake, to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Deposit Agreement against the Depositary or any Registrar or any Transfer Agent.
The Depositary, the Depositarys Agents, and any Registrar and Transfer Agent may own and deal in any class of securities of the Corporation and its affiliates and in Receipts. The Depositary may also act as transfer agent or registrar of any of the securities of the Corporation and its affiliates.
The Depositary shall not be under any liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Deposit Agreement or of the Receipts, the Depositary Shares or the Series C Preferred Stock nor shall it be obligated to segregate such monies from other monies held by it, except as required by law. The Depositary shall not be responsible for advancing funds on behalf of the Corporation and shall have no duty or obligation to make any payments if it has not timely received sufficient funds to make timely payments.
It is intended that none of the Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, any Registrar or any Transfer Agent, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be an issuer of the securities under the federal securities laws or applicable state securities laws, it being expressly understood and agreed that the Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, any Registrar and any Transfer Agent are acting only in a ministerial capacity as Depositary, Registrar or Transfer Agent, as applicable, for the deposited Depositary Shares; provided , however , that the Depositary agrees to comply with all information reporting and withholding requirements required to be complied by it under law or this Deposit Agreement in its capacity as Depositary.
Neither the Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent (or their respective officers, directors, employees or agents) makes any representation or has any responsibility as to the validity of any registration statement pursuant to which the any securities may be registered under the Securities Act, the deposited Series C Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares, the Receipts (except its countersignature thereon) or any instruments referred to therein or herein, or as to the correctness of any statement made in any such registration statement or herein; provided , however , that the Depositary is responsible for its representations in this Deposit Agreement, and for any information provided by the Depositary to the Company in writing for the purpose of including such information in any such registration statement.
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The Depositary assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the description that appears in the Receipts. Notwithstanding any other provision herein or in the Receipts, the Depositary makes no warranties or representations as to the validity or genuineness of any Series C Preferred Stock at any time deposited with the Depositary hereunder or of the Depositary Shares, as to the validity or sufficiency of this Deposit Agreement (except as to due authorization and due execution by the Depositary), as to the value of the Depositary Shares or as to any right, title or interest of the record holders of Receipts in and to the Depositary Shares. The Depositary shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Corporation of the Depositary Shares or the Receipts or the proceeds thereof.
In the event the Depositary, the Depositarys Agent, any Registrar or any Transfer Agent believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by it hereunder, or in the administration of any of the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary, the Depositarys Agent, any Registrar or any Transfer Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, omitting or suffering to take any action hereunder, each of the Depositary, the Depositarys Agent, any Registrar or any Transfer Agent may, in its sole discretion upon written notice to the Corporation, refrain from taking any action and shall be fully protected and shall not be liable in any way to the Corporation, any Holders of Receipts or any other person or entity for refraining from taking such action, unless the Depositary, the Depositarys Agent, the Registrar or Transfer Agent, as applicable, receives written instructions or a certificate signed by the Corporation which eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty to the satisfaction of the Depositary, the Depositarys Agent, any Registrar or any Transfer Agent or which proves or establishes the applicable matter to its satisfaction.
In the event the Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, any Registrar or any Transfer Agent shall receive conflicting claims, requests or instructions from any Holders of Receipts, on the one hand, and the Corporation, on the other hand, the Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, any Registrar or any Transfer Agent, shall be entitled to act on such claims, requests or instructions received from the Corporation, and shall be entitled to the indemnification set forth in Section 5.6 hereof in connection with any action so taken.
From time to time, the Corporation may provide the Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, any Registrar or any Transfer Agent with instructions concerning the services performed by the Depositary under this Deposit Agreement. In addition, at any time, the Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, any Registrar or any Transfer Agent may apply to any officer of the Corporation for instruction, and may consult with legal counsel for the Depositary or the Corporation with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Depositary, Depositarys Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent, as applicable, under this Deposit Agreement. The Depositary, Depositarys Agent, Registrar, Transfer Agent and their respective agents and subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Corporation for any action taken or omitted by them in reliance upon any Corporation instructions or upon the advice or opinion of such counsel. None of the Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, any Registrar or any Transfer Agent shall be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Corporation.
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None of the Depositary, Depositarys Agent, Transfer Agent, or Registrar will be under any duty or responsibility to ensure compliance with any applicable federal or state securities laws in connection with the issuance, transfer or exchange of the Receipts, Series C Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares; provided , however , that subject to the foregoing limitation, each of the Depositary, the Depositarys Agent, the Transfer Agent and the Registrar agrees to comply with all federal and state securities laws required to be complied by it in its respective capacity as Depositary, Depositarys Agent, the Transfer Agent and Registrar.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no amendment to the Certificate of Designation shall affect the rights, duties, obligations or immunities of the Depositary, Transfer Agent, the Depositarys Agent or Registrar hereunder.
The Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, Transfer Agent, and Registrar hereunder:
(i) shall have no duties or obligations other than those specifically set forth herein (and no implied duties or obligations), or as may subsequently be agreed to in writing by the parties;
(ii) shall have no obligation to make payment hereunder unless the Corporation shall have provided the necessary federal or other immediately available funds or securities or property, as the case may be, to pay in full amounts due and payable with respect thereto;
(iii) shall not be obligated to take any legal or other action hereunder; if, however, the Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar determines to take any legal or other action hereunder, and, where the taking of such action might in such Persons reasonable judgment subject or expose it to any expense or liability, it shall not be required to act unless it shall have been furnished with an indemnity satisfactory to it;
(iv) may rely on and shall be authorized and protected in acting or omitting to act upon any certificate, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, facsimile transmission or other document or security delivered to it and believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper party or parties, and shall have no responsibility for determining the accuracy thereof;
(v) may rely on and shall be authorized and protected in acting or omitting to act upon the written, telephonic, electronic and oral instructions given in accordance with this Deposit Agreement, with respect to any matter relating to its actions as Depositary, Transfer Agent or Registrar covered by this Agreement (or supplementing or qualifying any such actions), of officers of the Corporation;
(vi) may consult counsel satisfactory to it (who may be an employee of the Depositary or the Registrar or counsel to the Corporation), and the advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it hereunder in accordance with the advice of such counsel;
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(vii) shall not be called upon at any time to advise any Person with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Receipts;
(viii) shall not be liable or responsible for any recital or statement contained in any documents relating hereto or to the Series C Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or Receipts; and
(ix) shall not be liable in any respect on account of the identity, authority or rights of the parties (other than the Depositary) executing or delivering or purporting to execute or deliver this Agreement or any documents or papers deposited or called for under this Agreement.
The obligations of the Corporation and the rights of the Depositary, the Depositarys Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar set forth in this Section 5.3 shall survive the replacement, removal or resignation of any Depositary, Registrar, Transfer Agent or Depositarys Agent or termination of this Deposit Agreement.
Section 5.4 Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by delivering notice of its election to do so to the Corporation, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Corporation by notice of such removal delivered to the Depositary, such removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary hereunder and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.
In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Corporation shall, within 60 days after the delivery of the notice of resignation or removal, as the case may be, appoint a successor Depositary, which shall be (i) a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States of America and having a combined capital and surplus, along with its affiliates, of at least $50,000,000 or (ii) an Affiliate of any such bank or trust company.
If no successor Depositary shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 60 days after delivery of such notice, the resigning or removed Depositary may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Depositary. Every successor Depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Corporation an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor and for all purposes shall be the Depositary under this Deposit Agreement, and such predecessor, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Corporation, shall promptly execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and
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deliver all right, title and interest in the Series C Preferred Stock and any monies or property held hereunder to such successor, and shall deliver to such successor a list of the Record Holders of all outstanding Receipts and such records, books and other information in its possession relating thereto. Any successor Depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the Record Holders of Receipts at the Corporations sole expense.
Any entity into or with which the Depositary may be merged, consolidated or converted shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act, and notice thereof shall not be required hereunder. Such successor Depositary may authenticate the Receipts in the name of the predecessor Depositary or its own name as successor Depositary.
The provisions of this Section 5.4 as they apply to the Depositary apply to the Registrar and Transfer Agent, as if specifically enumerated herein.
Section 5.5 Corporate Notices and Reports.
The Corporation agrees that it will deliver to the Depositary, and the Depositary will, promptly after receipt thereof, transmit to the Record Holders of Receipts, in each case at the addresses recorded in the Depositarys books, copies of all notices and reports (including without limitation financial statements) required by law, by the rules of any national securities exchange upon which the Series C Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts are listed or by the Corporations Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (including the Certificate of Designations), to be furnished to the Record Holders of Receipts. Such transmission will be at the Corporations expense and the Corporation will provide the Depositary with such number of copies of such documents as the Depositary may reasonably request. In addition, the Depositary will transmit to the Record Holders of Receipts at the Corporations expense such other documents as may be requested by the Corporation. Unless otherwise required by law, the requirements set forth in this Section 5.5 with respect to notice to the Record Holders of Receipts (but not to the Depositary) may be satisfied by publicly filing or furnishing such information with or to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section 5.6 Indemnification by the Corporation.
Notwithstanding Section 5.3 to the contrary, the Corporation shall indemnify the Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, any Registrar, and any Transfer Agent (including each of their officers, directors, agents and employees) against, and hold each of them harmless from, any loss, damage, cost, penalty, liability or expense (including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself) which may arise out of acts performed, suffered or omitted to be taken in connection with this Deposit Agreement and the Receipts by the Depositary, any Registrar, any Transfer Agent or any of their respective agents (including any Depositarys Agent) and any transactions or documents contemplated hereby, except for any liability arising out of gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the respective parts of any such person or persons. The obligations of the Corporation set forth in this Section 5.6 shall survive the replacement, removal, resignation or any succession of any Depositary, Registrar, Transfer Agent or Depositarys Agent, or termination of this Deposit Agreement.
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Section 5.7 Fees, Charges and Expenses.
The Corporation agrees promptly to pay the Depositary the compensation to be agreed upon with the Corporation for all services rendered by the Depositary hereunder and to reimburse the Depositary for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the Depositary without gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its part (or on the part of any agent or Depositarys Agent) in connection with the services rendered by it (or such agent or Depositarys Agent) hereunder. The Corporation shall pay all charges of the Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the Series C Preferred Stock and the initial issuance of the Depositary Shares, all withdrawals of shares of Series C Preferred Stock by owners of Depositary Shares, and any redemption or exchange of the Series C Preferred Stock at the option of the Corporation. The Corporation shall pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. All other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges shall be at the expense of Holders of Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts. If, at the request of a Holder of Receipts, the Depositary incurs charges or expenses for which the Corporation is not otherwise liable hereunder, such Holder will be liable for such charges and expenses; provided, however, that the Depositary may, at its sole option, require a Holder of a Receipt to prepay the Depositary any charge or expense the Depositary has been asked to incur at the request of such Holder of Receipts. The Depositary shall present its statement for charges and expenses to the Corporation at such intervals as the Corporation and the Depositary may agree.
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
Section 6.1 Amendment.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Corporation and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that no such amendment which shall materially and adversely alter the rights of the Holders of Receipts shall be effective against the Holders of Receipts unless such amendment shall have been approved by the Holders of Receipts representing in the aggregate at least a two-thirds majority of the Depositary Shares then outstanding. Every Holder of an outstanding Receipt at the time any such amendment becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.5 and 2.6 and Article III, of any owner of Depositary Shares to surrender any Receipt evidencing such Depositary Shares to the Depositary with instructions to deliver to the Holder the Series C Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law or the rules and regulations of any governmental body, agency or commission, or applicable securities exchange.
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Section 6.2 Termination.
This Deposit Agreement may be terminated by the Corporation or the Depositary only if (i) all outstanding Depositary Shares issued hereunder have been redeemed pursuant to Section 2.8 , (ii) there shall have been made a final distribution in respect of the Series C Preferred Stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation and such distribution shall have been distributed to the Holders of Receipts representing Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2 , as applicable or (iii) upon the consent of Holders of Receipts representing in the aggregate not less than two-thirds of the Depositary Shares outstanding.
Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Corporation shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, any Registrar, and any Transfer Agent under Sections 5.3 , 5.6 and 5.7 .
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1 Counterparts.
This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each of the parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. A signature to this Deposit Agreement transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect, and enforceability as an original signature.
Section 7.2 Exclusive Benefit of Parties.
This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim to any other person whatsoever.
Section 7.3 Invalidity of Provisions.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby ; provided, however, that if such provision affects the rights, duties, liabilities or obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary shall be entitled to resign immediately, subject to, and in accordance with Section 5.4.
Section 7.4 Notices.
Any and all notices to be given to the Corporation hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or overnight delivery service, or by facsimile transmission or electronic mail, confirmed by letter, addressed to the Corporation at:
Discover Financial Services
2500 Lake Cook Road
Riverwoods, IL 60015
Attention: General Counsel
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or at any other addresses of which the Corporation shall have notified the Depositary in writing.
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or overnight delivery service, or by facsimile transmission or electronic mail, confirmed by letter, addressed to the Depositary at:
Computershare Inc.
33 North LaSalle Street Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60602
Fax: (312) 601-4348
John.Ruocco@computershare.com
with a copy to:
Computershare Inc.
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (781) 575-2916
or at any other addresses of which the Depositary shall have notified the Corporation in writing.
Any and all notices to be given to any Record Holder of a Receipt hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission or confirmed by letter, addressed to such Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder as it appears on the books of the Depositary, or if such Holder shall have timely filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for such Holder be mailed to some other address, at the address designated in such request.
Delivery of a notice sent by mail or by facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a facsimile transmission) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office letter box. The Depositary or the Corporation may, however, act upon any facsimile transmission received by it from the other or from any Holder of a Receipt, notwithstanding that such facsimile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter or as aforesaid.
Section 7.5 Depositarys Agents.
The Depositary may from time to time appoint Depositarys Agents to act in any respect for the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement and may at any time appoint additional Depositarys Agents and vary or terminate the appointment of such Depositarys Agents. The Depositary shall notify the Corporation of any such appointment or variation or termination of such appointment. The Depositary shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such Depositarys Agent or for any loss to the Corporation or any other Person resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, absent willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith in the selection and continued employment thereof (each as determined by a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction).
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Section 7.6 Appointment of Registrar, Dividend Disbursing Agent, Transfer Agent and Redemption Agent in Respect of Receipts.
The Corporation hereby appoints Computershare as Transfer Agent, Registrar, dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent in respect of the Receipts, and Computershare hereby accepts such respective appointments, on the express terms and conditions set forth in this Deposit Agreement.
Section 7.7 Holders of Receipts Are Parties.
The Holders of Receipts from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Receipts and of the Officers Certificate by acceptance of delivery thereof.
Section 7.8 Governing Law.
This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts of each series and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to applicable conflicts of law principles.
Section 7.9 Inspection of Deposit Agreement.
Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and of any Depositarys Agents and shall be open to inspection during business hours at the Depositarys Office and the respective offices of the Depositarys Agents, if any, by any Holder of a Receipt.
Section 7.10 Headings.
The headings of articles and sections in this Deposit Agreement and in the form of the Receipt set forth in Exhibit A hereto have been inserted for convenience only and are not to be regarded as a part of this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts or to have any bearing upon the meaning or interpretation of any provision contained herein or in the Receipts.
Section 7.11 Force Majeure.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Depositary, any Depositarys Agent, any Transfer Agent, and any Registrar will not be liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of God, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, breakdowns or malfunctions, interruptions or malfunction of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems, labor difficulties, war, or civil unrest.
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Section 7.12 Further Assurances.
The Corporation agrees that it will perform, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, acknowledged or delivered, all such further and other acts, documents, instruments and assurances as the Depositary may reasonably require to perform the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
Section 7.13 Confidentiality.
The Depositary and the Corporation agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party, including inter alia, personal, non-public Holder information and the fees for services, which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Deposit Agreement, shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except as may be required by law or legal process.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation and the Depositary have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth, and all Holders of Receipts shall become parties hereto by and upon acceptance by them of delivery of Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES | ||
By: |
/s/ Timothy Schmidt |
|
Name: | Timothy Schmidt | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and Treasurer | |
COMPUTERSHARE INC., as Depositary, Transfer Agent and Registrar | ||
By: |
/s/ David L. Adamson |
|
Name: | David L. Adamson | |
Title: | Senior Vice President | |
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Depositary | ||
By: |
/s/ David L. Adamson |
|
Name: | David L. Adamson | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[Signature Page to Deposit Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF FACE OF RECEIPT]
Unless this receipt is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (DTC), to Discover Financial Services or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate 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 as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
DEPOSITARY SHARES | $ | |||
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT NO. | FOR | DEPOSITARY SHARES, |
EACH REPRESENTING 1/100 TH OF ONE SHARE OF
FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES C
OF
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
CUSIP 254709 AN8
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Dividend Payment Dates: April 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing April 30, 2018 and ending on October 30, 2027, and thereafter, on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on January 30, 2028.
COMPUTERSHARE INC. AND COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., jointly as Depositary (the Depositary), hereby certify that Cede & Co. is the registered owner of DEPOSITARY SHARES (Depositary Shares), each Depositary Share representing 1/100 th of one share of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, $0.01 par value, liquidation preference $100,000 per share, (the Series C Preferred Stock), of Discover Financial Services, a Delaware corporation (the Corporation), on deposit with the Depositary, subject to the terms and entitled to the benefits of the Deposit Agreement dated as of October 31, 2017 (the Deposit Agreement), among the Corporation, the Depositary and the Holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts. By accepting this Depositary Receipt, the Holder hereof becomes a party to and agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement. This Depositary Receipt shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose or entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement unless it shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer or, if executed in facsimile by the Depositary, countersigned by a Registrar in respect of the Depositary Receipts by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer thereof.
A-1
Dated:
Computershare Inc., as Depositary | ||
By: |
|
|
Authorized Signatory | ||
Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Depositary | ||
By: |
|
|
Authorized Signatory |
A-2
[FORM OF REVERSE OF RECEIPT]
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH RECEIPTHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS A COPY OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND A COPY OR SUMMARY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS OF FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES C OF DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES. ANY SUCH REQUEST IS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE DEPOSITARY NAMED ON THE FACE
The Corporation will furnish without charge to each receipt holder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Corporation, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Such request may be made to the Corporation or to the Registrar.
EXPLANATION OF ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations when used in the form of ownership on the face of this certificate shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations. Abbreviations in addition to those appearing below may be used.
Abbreviation |
Abbreviation |
Abbreviation |
Equivalent Word |
|||
JT TEN | As joint tenants, with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common | TEN BY ENT | As tenants by the entireties | |||
TEN IN COM | As tenants in common | UNIF GIFT MIN ACT | Uniform Gifts to Minors Act |
Abbreviation |
Equivalent Word |
Abbreviation |
Equivalent Word |
Abbreviation |
Equivalent Word |
|||||
ADM | Administrator(s), Administratrix | EX | Executor(s), Executrix | PL | Public Law | |||||
AGMT | Agreement | FBO | For the benefit of | TR | (As) trustee(s), for, of | |||||
ART | Article | FDN | Foundation | U | Under | |||||
CH | Chapter | GDN | Guardian(s) | UA | Under Agreement | |||||
CUST | Custodian for | GDNSHP | Guardianship | UW |
Under will of,
Of will of, Under last will & testament |
|||||
DEC | Declaration | MIN | Minor(s) | |||||||
EST |
Estate, of Estate of
|
PAR | Paragraph |
A-3
For value received, hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE
Depositary Shares represented by the within Depositary Receipt, and do(es) hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said Depositary Shares on the books of the within named Depositary with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:
NOTICE: The signature to the assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Receipt in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEED
NOTICE: If applicable, the signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations, and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
A-4
EXHIBIT B
I, , [title] of Discover Financial Services (the Corporation), hereby certify that pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designations, effective October 30, 2017, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 30, 2017 (the Certificate of Designations), and pursuant to resolutions adopted by Board of Directors of the Corporation on August 18, 2017 and the resolutions adopted by the Preferred Stock Financing Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Preferred Stock Committee) on October 26, 2017, the Corporation has established the Series C Preferred Stock which the Corporation desires to deposit with the Depositary for the purposes of being subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2017, by and among the Corporation, Computershare Inc., Computershare Trust Company, N.A., and the Holders of Receipts issued thereunder from time to time (the Deposit Agreement). In connection therewith, the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a duly authorized committee thereof has authorized the terms and conditions with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock as described in the Certificate of Designations attached as Annex A hereto. Any terms of the Series C Preferred Stock that are not so described in the Certificate of Designations and any terms of the Receipts representing such Series C Preferred Stock that are not described in the Deposit Agreement are described below:
Aggregate number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock issued on the day hereof: 5,700
CUSIP Number for Receipt: 254709 AN8
Denomination of Depositary Share per share of Series C Preferred Stock (if different than 1/100 th of a share of Series C Preferred Stock): N/A
Redemption Provisions (if different than as set forth in the Deposit Agreement): N/A
Name of Global Receipt Depositary: The Depository Trust Company
All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have such meaning as ascribed thereto in the Deposit Agreement.
Discover Financial Services
This certificate is dated:
By: |
Name: |
Title: |
B-1
Agreed and Accepted by Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., jointly as Depositary:
Computershare Inc. |
By: |
Name: |
Title: |
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. |
By: |
Name: |
Title: |
B-2
Exhibit 4.2
FORM OF STOCK CERTIFICATE
Certificate C-
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT ARE NOT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES
Incorporated Under the Laws of the State of Delaware
SHARES OF FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES C
This is to certify that is the registered owner of fully paid and non-assessable shares of the Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share, of Discover Financial Services, a Delaware corporation (the Corporation ), the terms of which are provided for in the Corporations Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation including the Certificate of Designations of the Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by its duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the shares represented hereby are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Corporation and any amendments thereto. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers.
Dated: ,
By: |
By: |
|
Name: |
Name: |
|
Title: |
Title: |
(SEAL)
Countersigned and Registered: Computershare Inc. as Transfer Agent and Registrar |
||
By: |
(REVERSE OF CERTIFICATE)
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES
The Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests, a full statement of the powers, designations and any preferences, conversion and other rights, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption of the stock of each class which the Corporation has authority to issue and, if the Corporation is authorized to issue any preferred or special class in series, (i) the differences in the relative rights and preferences between the shares of each series to the extent set, and (ii) the authority of the Board of Directors to set such rights and preferences of subsequent series. The foregoing summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended from time to time, a copy of which will be sent without charge to each stockholder who so requests. Such request must be made to the Secretary of the Corporation at its principal office or to the Transfer Agent.
KEEP THIS CERTIFICATE IN A SAFE PLACE. IF IT IS LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED, THE
CORPORATION WILL REQUIRE A BOND OF INDEMNITY AS A CONDITION TO THE ISSUANCE
OF A REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM - as tenants in common |
UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - Custodian (Custodian) (Minor) under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (State) |
|
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties |
||
JT TEN - as joint tenants of survivorship and not as tenants in common |
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto |
|
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) |
|
(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE) |
shares represented by this Certificate and do(es) hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint , Attorney to transfer the said shares on the books of the Corporation, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: , |
|
|
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever |
Exhibit 5.1
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SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP 787 SEVENTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10019 +1 212 839 5300 +1 212 839 5599 FAX |
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AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE |
October 31, 2017
Discover Financial Services
2500 Lake Cook Road
Riverwoods, Illinois 60015
Re: | Discover Financial Services |
Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-205280) (the Registration Statement ) filed by Discover Financial Services, a Delaware corporation (the Company ), on June 26, 2015 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the S ecurities Act ), which Registration Statement became effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act.
Pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Company is issuing 570,000 depositary shares ( Depositary Shares ), each representing a 1/100th ownership interest in a share of the Companys Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000 per Depositary Share) (the Underlying Preferred Shares ). The Depositary Shares are being issued under a deposit agreement among the Company, Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., acting jointly as depositary (the Depositary ), and the holders from time to time of depositary receipts ( Depositary Receipts ) issued thereunder (the Deposit Agreement ).
As counsel to the Company, we are familiar with (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the Companys prospectus dated June 26, 2015 included in the Registration Statement (the Base Prospectus ), (iii) the Companys prospectus supplement dated October 26, 2017 supplementing the Base Prospectus and relating to the Underlying Preferred Shares and Depositary Shares (together with the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus ), (iv) the Underwriting Agreement, dated October 26, 2017 (the Underwriting Agreement ), among the Company and Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and RBC Capital Markets, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters listed on Schedule 1 thereto, relating to the issuance and sale of the Underlying
Sidley Austin (NY) LLP is a Delaware limited liability partnership doing business as Sidley Austin LLP and practicing in affiliation with other Sidley Austin partnerships.
Preferred Shares and the Depositary Shares, (v) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted by unanimous written consent on August 18, 2017, as certified by the Assistant Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as being true, complete and correct and in full force and effect, relating to, among other things the creation, offer, issuance, sale and distribution of the Underlying Preferred Shares and Depositary Shares and the establishment of a Preferred Stock Financing Committee of the Board of Directors, (vi) certain resolutions of such Preferred Stock Financing Committee adopted on October 26, 2017, as certified by the Assistant Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as being true, complete and correct and in full force and effect, (vii) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company, in each case as currently in effect and as certified by the Assistant Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as being true, complete and correct and in full force and effect, (viii) the Certificate of Designations relating to the Underlying Preferred Shares dated October 30, 2017 (the Certificate of Designations ) and (ix) the Deposit Agreement. We have also examined originals, or copies of originals certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and other corporate documents, have examined such questions of law and have satisfied ourselves as to such matters of fact as we have considered relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinions set forth herein. We have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons and the conformity with the original documents of any copies thereof submitted to us for our examination.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Underlying Preferred Shares in respect of the Depositary Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered as contemplated by the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
2. The deposit of the Underlying Preferred Shares in respect of the Depositary Shares by the Company in accordance with the Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the Deposit Agreement by the Depositary, each Depositary Share will represent the interest described in the Prospectus in an Underlying Preferred Share; assuming due execution and delivery of the Depositary Receipts by the Depositary pursuant to such Deposit Agreement, the Depositary Receipts will entitle the holders thereof to the benefits provided therein and in the Deposit Agreement.
Our opinion in paragraph 2 is subject to: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith, fair dealing and commercial reasonableness, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought.
2
This opinion letter is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an Exhibit to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 31, 2017 and to its incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement and to all references to our firm included in or made a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act or the related rules promulgated by the SEC.
Very truly yours, |
/s/ Sidley Austin LLP |
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