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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2021

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM F-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

BARCLAYS PLC

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

N/A

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

 

 

England   None
(State or Other Jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)   Identification No.)

1 Churchill Place

London E14 5HP, United Kingdom

Tel. No: 011-44-20-7116-1000

(Address and Telephone Number of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Barclays Bank PLC

745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019

Tel. No: 212-526-7000

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copies to:

David I. Gottlieb

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

2 London Wall Place

London EC2Y 5AU, United Kingdom

Tel. No: 011-44-20-7614-2200

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:

From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐


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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.

† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

  Amount To Be Registered / Proposed
Maximum Aggregate Price per Unit /
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering
Price (1)(2)
  Amount of
Registration Fee

Senior Debt Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . .

       

Dated Subordinated Debt Securities . .

       

Contingent Capital Securities . . . .

       

Ordinary Shares, nominal value 25p per share (3)

       

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  Indeterminate (1)(2)   $0 (1)(2)

 

 

(1)

An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price and number or amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon conversion of, or in exchange for, or upon exercise of, convertible or exchangeable securities. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee, except that $148,970.00 of unused filing fees previously paid in connection with the Registration Statement (No. 333-216377) filed on March 1, 2017, as amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed on February 22, 2018, and that remain unused under the Registrant’s subsequent Registration Statement (No. 333-223156), as amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed on March 27, 2018 and by Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 filed on April 4, 2018, may be offset against any filing fees payable in connection with this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act.

(2)

This Registration Statement also covers such indeterminate principal amount, liquidation amount or number of identified classes of securities as may be issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of other securities and an undeterminable amount of the registered securities that may be reoffered and resold on an ongoing basis after their initial sale in market-making transactions by affiliates of the Registrant. Pursuant to Rule 457(q) under the Securities Act, no separate registration fee is required for the registration of an indeterminate amount of securities to be offered solely for market-making purposes by affiliates of the Registrant.

(3)

A portion of the ordinary shares, nominal value 25p per share, of the Registrant may be represented by the Registrant’s American depositary shares, each of which represents four ordinary shares, evidenced by American depositary receipts. American depositary shares issuable upon deposit of the ordinary shares registered hereby have been registered pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-190612).

 

 

 


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BARCLAYS PLC

Debt Securities

Contingent Capital Securities

Ordinary Shares

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to the securities described herein (the “securities”) and the general manner in which they may be offered.

We will give you the specific terms of the securities, and the manner in which they are offered, in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the prospectus supplements carefully before you invest. We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, including our subsidiary Barclays Capital Inc., or directly to purchasers, on a delayed or continuous basis. We will indicate the names of any underwriters in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may use this prospectus to offer and sell from time to time senior and dated subordinated debt securities, contingent capital securities and ordinary shares (including the ordinary shares into which the contingent capital securities may under certain circumstances convert). In addition, Barclays Capital Inc. or another of our affiliates may use this prospectus in market-making transactions in certain of these securities after their initial sale. Unless we or our agent informs you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this prospectus is being used in market-making transactions.

Our ordinary shares are admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “BARC.” Our American depositary shares, each currently representing four of our ordinary shares, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “BCS.”

The securities are not deposit liabilities of Barclays PLC and are not covered by the U.K. Financial Services Compensation Scheme or insured by the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency of the United States, the United Kingdom or any other jurisdiction.

Each holder or beneficial owner of senior debt securities, dated subordinated debt securities or contingent capital securities acknowledges and agrees that the rights of the holders or beneficial owners of such securities are subject to, and will be varied, if necessary, solely to give effect to, the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power (as defined herein) by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority (as defined herein). For more information, see the sections entitled “Description of Debt Securities—Agreement with Respect to the Exercise of U.K. Bail-in Power” and “Description of Contingent Capital Securities—Agreement with Respect to the Exercise of U.K. Bail-in Power” in this prospectus.

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

LOGO

The date of this prospectus is March 1, 2021


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    1  

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

    2  

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

    3  

THE BARCLAYS GROUP

    5  

USE OF PROCEEDS

    6  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

    7  

DESCRIPTION OF CONTINGENT CAPITAL SECURITIES

    26  

DESCRIPTION OF ORDINARY SHARES

    47  

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO DEBT SECURITIES AND CONTINGENT CAPITAL SECURITIES

    49  

CLEARANCE AND SETTLEMENT

    52  

TAX CONSIDERATIONS

    58  

EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT

    79  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    81  

SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF LIABILITIES

    86  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

    87  

FURTHER INFORMATION

    88  

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

    89  

EXPERTS

    90  

EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

    91  


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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and certain documents incorporated by reference herein contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the Group (as defined below). We caution readers that no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and that actual results or other financial condition or performance measures could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as “may,” “will,” “seek,” “continue,” “aim,” “anticipate,” “target,” “projected,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “believe,” “achieve” or other words of similar meaning. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements or guidance regarding or relating to the Group’s future financial position, income growth, assets, impairment charges, provisions, business strategy, capital, leverage and other regulatory ratios, capital distributions (including dividend payout ratios and expected payment strategies), projected levels of growth in the banking and financial markets, projected costs or savings, any commitments and targets, estimates of capital expenditures, plans and objectives for future operations, projected employee numbers, International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) impacts and other statements that are not historical fact. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances. The forward-looking statements speak only as at the date on which they are made. Forward-looking statements may be affected by: changes in legislation; the development of standards and interpretations under IFRS, including evolving practices with regard to the interpretation and application of accounting and regulatory standards; the outcome of current and future legal proceedings and regulatory investigations; future levels of conduct provisions; the policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities; the Group’s ability along with government and other stakeholders to manage and mitigate the impacts of climate change effectively; geopolitical risks; and the impact of competition. In addition, factors including (but not limited to) the following may have an effect: capital, leverage and other regulatory rules applicable to past, current and future periods; United Kingdom (“U.K.”), United States (“U.S.”), Eurozone and global macroeconomic and business conditions; the effects of any volatility in credit markets; market related risks such as changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates; effects of changes in valuation of credit market exposures; changes in valuation of issued securities; volatility in capital markets; changes in credit ratings of any entity within the Group or any securities issued by such entities; direct and indirect impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; instability as a result of the U.K.’s exit from the European Union (the “EU”), the effects of the EU-U.K. Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the disruption that may subsequently result in the U.K. and globally; the risk of cyber-attacks, information or security breaches or technology failures on the Group’s business or operations; and the success of future acquisitions, disposals and other strategic transactions. A number of these influences and factors are beyond the Group’s control. As a result, the Group’s actual financial position, future results, capital distributions, capital, leverage or other regulatory ratios or other financial and non-financial metrics or performance measures may differ materially from the statements or guidance set forth in the Group’s forward-looking statements. Additional risks and factors which may impact the Group’s future financial condition and performance are identified in our filings with the SEC (including, without limitation, our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 18, 2021 (the “2020 Form 20-F”)), which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Subject to our obligations under the applicable laws and regulations of any relevant jurisdiction, (including, without limitation, the U.K. and the U.S.), in relation to disclosure and ongoing information, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus is an important part of this prospectus. The most recent information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes earlier information.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-3 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and omits some of the information contained in the registration statement in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. You should review the information in, and exhibits to, the registration statement for further information on us and the securities we are offering. Statements in this prospectus concerning any document we have filed or will file as an exhibit to the registration statement or that we have otherwise filed with the SEC are not intended to be comprehensive and are qualified in their entirety by reference to these filings. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s internet site, as described under “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.

We filed the 2020 Form 20-F with the SEC on February 18, 2021 (Film No. 21648757). We are incorporating the 2020 Form 20-F by reference into this prospectus.

In addition, we incorporate by reference into this prospectus any future documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this prospectus until the offering contemplated in this prospectus is completed. Reports on Form 6-K we may furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus (or portions thereof) are incorporated by reference in this prospectus only to the extent that the report expressly states that it is (or such portions are) incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

We will provide to you, upon your written or oral request, without charge, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which we have incorporated in this prospectus by reference. You should direct your requests to Barclays Treasury, Barclays PLC, 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP, United Kingdom (telephone: 011-44-20-7116-1000).

 

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CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this prospectus:

 

   

“Capital Regulations” means, at any time, the laws, regulations, requirements, standards, guidelines and policies relating to capital adequacy and/or minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities and/or loss absorbing capacity for credit institutions of either (i) the PRA and/or (ii) any other national or European authority, in each case then in effect in the United Kingdom (or in such other jurisdiction in which the Issuer may be organized or domiciled) and applicable to the Group including U.K. CRD;

 

   

“EU CRD” means:

 

  (i)

Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investments firms, as amended before IP completion day; and

 

  (ii)

Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC, as amended before IP completion day;

 

   

“Group” refers to Barclays PLC (or any successor entity) and its consolidated subsidiaries;

 

   

“IP completion day” has the meaning given in the U.K. European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020;

 

   

“PRA” shall mean the Prudential Regulation Authority of the United Kingdom or such other governmental authority in the United Kingdom (or if Barclays PLC becomes domiciled in a jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom, such other jurisdiction) having primary responsibility for the prudential supervision of Barclays PLC;

 

   

“The Depository Trust Company” or “DTC” shall include any successor clearing system;

 

   

“Tier 1 Capital” means Tier 1 Capital for the purposes of the Capital Regulations;

 

   

“Tier 2 Capital” means Tier 2 Capital for the purposes of the Capital Regulations;

 

   

“U.K. CRD” means the legislative package consisting of:

 

  (i)

the U.K. CRD Regulation;

 

  (ii)

the law of the U.K. or any part of it (as amended or replaced in accordance with domestic law from time to time), which immediately before IP completion day implemented Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC and its implementing measures, such Directive as amended before IP completion day; and

 

  (iii)

direct EU legislation (as defined in the Withdrawal Act), which immediately before IP completion day implemented EU CRD as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the Withdrawal Act and as the same may be amended or replaced in accordance with domestic law from time to time;

 

   

“U.K. CRD Regulation” means Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investments firms, as amended before IP completion day, as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the Withdrawal Act and as the same may be further amended or replaced in accordance with domestic law from time to time;

 

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“Withdrawal Act” means the U.K. European Union (Withdrawal Act) 2018;

 

   

“we,” “us,” “our,” “Barclays” and the “Issuer” refer to Barclays PLC (or any successor entity), unless the context requires otherwise;

 

   

“£” and “sterling” shall refer to the lawful currency for the time being of the United Kingdom; and

 

   

“US$,” “$” and “U.S. dollars” shall refer to the lawful currency for the time being of the United States.

 

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THE BARCLAYS GROUP

Barclays is a British universal bank with a diversified and connected portfolio of businesses, serving retail and wholesale customers and clients globally. The Group’s businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank. The Group operates as two operating divisions—the Barclays UK (“Barclays UK”) division and the Barclays International (“Barclays International”) division—which are supported by Barclays Execution Services Limited. Barclays UK consists of UK Personal Banking, UK Business Banking and Barclaycard Consumer UK businesses. These businesses are carried on by Barclays Bank UK PLC and certain other entities within the Group. Barclays International consists of Corporate and Investment Bank and Consumer, Cards and Payments businesses. These businesses are carried on by Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiaries, as well as by certain other entities within the Group. Barclays Execution Services Limited is the Group-wide service company providing technology, operations and functional services to businesses across the Group.

The Issuer is the ultimate holding company of the Group.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated in the accompanying prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the offering of the securities will be used for general corporate purposes of the Issuer and its subsidiaries and/or the Group and may be used to strengthen further the capital base of the Issuer and its subsidiaries and/or the Group.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following is a summary of the general terms of the debt securities (as defined below). It sets forth possible terms and provisions for each series of debt securities. Each time that we offer debt securities, we will prepare and file a prospectus supplement with the SEC, which you should read carefully. The prospectus supplement may contain additional terms and provisions of those securities. If there is any inconsistency between the terms and provisions presented here and those in the prospectus supplement, those in the prospectus supplement will apply and will replace those presented here.

The debt securities of any series will be either our senior obligations (the “Senior Debt Securities”) or our dated subordinated obligations (the “Dated Subordinated Debt Securities” and, together with the Senior Debt Securities, the “debt securities”). Neither the Senior Debt Securities nor the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities will be secured by any assets or property of Barclays PLC or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (including Barclays Bank PLC, its subsidiary).

We will issue Senior Debt Securities and Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, respectively, under the Senior Debt Securities Indenture dated as of January 17, 2018, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as trustee (as heretofore supplemented and amended, the “Senior Debt Securities Indenture”) and the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture dated as of May 9, 2017, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as trustee (as heretofore supplemented and amended, the “Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture”). The terms of the debt securities include those stated in the relevant indenture and any supplements thereto, and those terms made part of the relevant indenture by reference to the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). The Senior Debt Securities Indenture and Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture and any supplements thereto are sometimes referred to in this section of the prospectus individually as an “indenture” and collectively as the “indentures.” We have filed the indentures as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities in detail. This summary is subject to, and qualified by reference to, all of the definitions and provisions of the relevant indenture, any supplement to the relevant indenture and the form of the instrument representing each series of debt securities. Certain terms, unless otherwise defined here, have the meaning given to them in the relevant indenture.

References to “you” and “holder” in the subsections to this section “Description of Debt Securities,” entitled “—Ranking,” “—No Set-off,” “—Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies; Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies; Limitation on Suits—Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies—Limited remedies for breach of obligations (other than non-payment),” “—Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies; Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies; Limitation on Suits —Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies—No other remedies,” “—Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies; Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies; Limitation on Suits—Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies—Limited remedies for breach of obligations (other than non-payment),” “—Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies; Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies; Limitation on Suits —Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies—No other remedies,” “—Agreement with Respect to the Exercise of U.K. Bail-in Power,” “—Subsequent Holders’ Agreement” and “—Payment of Debt Security Additional Amounts” below, include beneficial owners of the debt securities.

General

The debt securities are not deposit liabilities of Barclays PLC and are not insured by any regulatory body of the United States or the United Kingdom.

Because we are a holding company, our rights to participate in the assets of any of our subsidiaries upon its liquidation will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiaries’ creditors, including, in the case of our bank

 

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subsidiaries, their respective depositors, except, in our case, to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the relevant subsidiary.

The indentures do not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. We may issue the debt securities in one or more series, or as units comprised of two or more related series. The prospectus supplement will indicate for each series or of two or more related series of debt securities:

 

   

the issue date;

 

   

the maturity date;

 

   

the specific designation and aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

   

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities that may be authenticated or delivered;

 

   

the person to whom any interest on a debt security may be payable, if other than the holder on the relevant record date;

 

   

the prices at which we will issue the debt securities;

 

   

if interest is payable, the interest rate or rates, or how to calculate the interest rate or rates, and under what circumstances interest is payable;

 

   

whether we will issue the Senior Debt Securities as Discount Senior Debt Securities, as explained in this section below, and the amount of the discount;

 

   

provisions, if any, for the discharge and defeasance of debt securities of any series;

 

   

any condition applicable to payment of any principal, premium or interest on debt securities of any series;

 

   

the dates and places at which any payments are payable;

 

   

the places where notices, demands to or upon us in respect of the debt securities may be served and notice to holders may be published;

 

   

the terms of any mandatory or optional redemption;

 

   

the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, which may be an integral multiple of either $1,000, $25 or any other specified amount;

 

   

the amount, or how to calculate the amount, that we will pay to the debt security holder, if the debt security is redeemed before its stated maturity or accelerated, or for which the trustee shall be entitled to file and prove a claim;

 

   

whether and how the debt securities may or must be converted into any other type of securities, or their cash value, or a combination of these;

 

   

the currency or currencies in which the debt securities are denominated, and in which we make any payments;

 

   

whether we will issue the debt securities wholly or partially as one or more global debt securities;

 

   

what conditions must be satisfied before we will issue the debt securities in definitive form (“definitive debt securities”);

 

   

any reference asset we will use to determine the amount of any payments on the debt securities;

 

   

any other or different Senior Enforcement Events, in the case of Senior Debt Securities, or any other or different Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events, in the case of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, or category of defaults or covenants applicable to any of the debt securities, and the relevant terms if they are different from the terms in the Senior Debt Securities Indenture or the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, as applicable;

 

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in the case of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, any other applicable subordination provisions if different from the subordination provisions in the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture;

 

   

any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale and delivery of the debt securities;

 

   

whether we will pay Debt Security Additional Amounts, as defined below, on the debt securities;

 

   

whether we will issue the debt securities in registered form (“registered debt securities”) or in bearer form (“bearer debt securities”) or both;

 

   

for registered debt securities, the record date for any payment of principal, interest or premium;

 

   

any listing of the debt securities on a securities exchange;

 

   

the extent to which holders of the debt securities may exercise, claim or plead any right of set-off, compensation or retention in respect of any amount owed to it by us arising under, or in connection with, the debt securities, if different from the waiver of set-off provisions in the Senior Debt Securities Indenture or the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, as applicable;

 

   

the names and duties of any co-trustees, depositaries, authenticating agents, paying agents, calculation agents, transfer agents or registrars of any series;

 

   

any applicable additional or alternative provision or provisions related to the U.K. Bail-in Power (as defined below);

 

   

any other or different terms of the debt securities; and

 

   

what we believe are any additional material U.S. federal and U.K. tax considerations.

If we issue debt securities in bearer form, the special restrictions and considerations relating to such bearer debt securities, including applicable offering restrictions and U.S. tax considerations, will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement.

Debt securities may bear interest at a fixed rate or a floating rate or we may sell debt securities that bear no interest or that bear interest at a rate below the prevailing market interest rate or we may sell Senior Debt Securities at a discount to their stated principal amount (“Discount Senior Debt Securities”). The relevant prospectus supplement will describe special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to Discount Senior Debt Securities or to debt securities issued at par that are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having been issued at a discount.

Holders of debt securities have no voting rights except as explained in this section below under “—Modification and Waiver” and “—Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies; Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies; Limitation on Suits.”

If we issue Senior Debt Securities designed to count towards any minimum requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities and/or loss absorbing capacity for the purposes of the Capital Regulations, the terms of such Senior Debt Securities may differ from those described in this prospectus and will be set out in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

If we issue Dated Subordinated Debt Securities that qualify as Tier 2 Capital or other capital for the purposes of the Capital Regulations, the terms may vary from those described in this prospectus and will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

Market-Making Transactions. If you purchase your debt security in a market-making transaction, you will receive information about the price you pay and your trade and settlement dates in a separate confirmation of sale. A market-making transaction is one in which Barclays Capital Inc. or another of our affiliates resells a security that it has previously acquired from another holder. A market-making transaction in a particular debt security occurs after the original issuance and sale of the debt security.

 

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Payments

The relevant prospectus supplement will specify the date on which we will pay interest, if any, the date for payments of principal and any premium, on any particular series of debt securities. The prospectus supplement will also specify the interest rate or rates, if any, or how the rate or rates will be calculated.

Ranking

Senior Debt Securities. Senior Debt Securities constitute our direct, unconditional, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations ranking pari passu without any preference among themselves. In the event of our winding-up or administration, the Senior Debt Securities will rank pari passu with all our other outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, present and future, except such obligations as are preferred by operation of law.

Pursuant to the U.K. Banks and Building Societies (Priorities on Insolvency) Order 2018, as may be amended or replaced from time to time (the “Order”), the Senior Debt Securities will constitute ordinary non-preferential debt of the Issuer and will rank in priority to secondary non-preferential debts and tertiary non-preferential debts. The terms “ordinary non-preferential debt,” “secondary-non preferential debt” and “tertiary non-preferential debt” shall have the meanings given to each of them in such Order and any other law or regulation applicable to the Issuer which is amended by such Order, as each may be amended or replaced from time to time.

Dated Subordinated Debt Securities. Dated Subordinated Debt Securities constitute our direct, unsecured and subordinated obligations ranking pari passu without any preference among themselves.

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, in the event of our winding-up or administration, the claims of the trustee (on behalf of the holders of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities but not the rights and claims of the trustee in its personal capacity under the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture) and the holders of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities against us, in respect of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities (including any damages or other amounts (if payable)) shall:

(i) be subordinated to the claims of all Senior Creditors;

(ii) rank at least pari passu with the claims in respect of Parity Obligations and with the claims of all other subordinated creditors of the Issuer which in each case by law rank, or by their terms are expressed to rank, pari passu with the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities; and

(iii) rank senior to the Issuer’s ordinary shares, preference shares and any junior subordinated obligations (including Junior Obligations) or other securities which in each case either by law rank, or by their terms are expressed to rank, junior to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities.

“Senior Creditors” with respect to a particular series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, means creditors of the Issuer (i) who are unsubordinated creditors; (ii) who are subordinated creditors (whether in the event of a winding-up or administration of the Issuer or otherwise) other than (x) those whose claims by law rank, or by their terms are expressed to rank, pari passu with or junior to the claims of the holders of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or (y) those whose claims are in respect of Parity Obligations or Junior Obligations; or (iii) who are creditors in respect of any secondary non-preferential debts.

“Secondary non-preferential debts” shall have the meaning given to it in the Order and any other law or regulation applicable to the Issuer which is amended by the Order, as each may be amended or replaced from time to time.

“Parity Obligations” with respect to a particular series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, shall have the meaning set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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“Junior Obligations” with respect to a particular series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, shall have the meaning set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

In the event of our winding-up or liquidation, if any amount in respect of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities is paid to the holders of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or to the trustee (including any damages or other amounts (if payable)) before the claims of Senior Creditors, then such payment or distribution shall be held by such holders or the trustee upon trust to be applied in the following order: (i) to the amounts due to the trustee in connection with the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts under the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture; (ii) in payment of all claims of Senior Creditors outstanding at the commencement of, or arising solely by virtue of, a winding-up of the Issuer to the extent that such claims shall be admitted in the winding-up and shall not be satisfied out of the Issuer’s other resources; and (iii) in payment of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities issued under the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture. By accepting the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, each holder agrees to be bound by the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture’s subordination provisions and irrevocably authorizes the Issuer’s liquidator to perform on behalf of the holder the above subordination trust.

Pursuant to the Order, the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities will constitute tertiary non-preferential debts of the Issuer and therefore both ordinary non-preferential debts and secondary non-preferential debts will rank ahead of any claims in respect of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities.

No Set-off

Subject to applicable law and unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, no holder of debt securities may exercise, claim or plead any right of set-off, compensation or retention in respect of any amount owed to it by us arising under, or in connection with, the debt securities and the Senior Debt Securities Indenture or Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, as applicable, and each holder of debt securities shall, by virtue of its holding of any debt security, be deemed to have waived all such rights of set-off, compensation or retention. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any amounts due and payable to any holder of the debt securities by us in respect of, or arising under, the debt securities or the relevant indenture are discharged by set-off, such holder shall, subject to applicable law and unless the applicable prospectus supplement provide otherwise, immediately pay to us an amount equal to the amount of such discharge (or, in the event of our winding-up or administration, our liquidator or administrator, as the case may be) and, until such time as payment is made, shall hold an amount equal to such amount in trust for us (or our liquidator or administrator, as the case may be) and, accordingly, any such discharge shall be deemed not to have taken place. By its acquisition of debt securities, each holder agrees to be bound by these provisions relating to waiver of set-off. No holder of debt securities shall be entitled to proceed directly against us except as described in “—Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies; Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies; Limitation on Suits—Limitation on Suits” below.

Agreement with Respect to the Exercise of U.K. Bail-in Power

Notwithstanding and to the exclusion of any other term of the debt securities or any other agreements, arrangements or understandings between the Issuer and any holder of debt securities, by acquiring debt securities, each holder of debt securities acknowledges, accepts, agrees to be bound by, and consents to the exercise of, any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority that may result in (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the debt securities; (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion of, the principal amount of, or interest on, the debt securities into shares or other securities or other obligations of the Issuer or another person (and the issue to, or conferral on, the holder of the debt securities of such shares, securities or obligations); (iii) the cancellation of the debt securities and/or (iv) the amendment or alteration of the maturity of the debt securities, or amendment of the amount of interest due on the debt securities, or the dates on which interest becomes payable, including by suspending payment for a

 

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temporary period; which U.K. Bail-in Power may be exercised by means of a variation of the terms of the debt securities solely to give effect to the exercise by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority of such U.K. Bail-in Power. Each holder further acknowledges and agrees that the rights of the holders of the debt securities are subject to, and will be varied, if necessary, solely to give effect to, the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority. For the avoidance of doubt, this consent and acknowledgment is not a waiver of any rights holders of the debt securities may have at law if and to the extent that any U.K. Bail-in Power is exercised by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority in breach of laws applicable in England.

For the purposes of the debt securities, a “U.K. Bail-in Power” is any write-down, conversion, transfer, modification and/or suspension power existing from time to time under any laws, regulations, rules or requirements relating to the resolution of banks, banking group companies, credit institutions and/or investment firms incorporated in the United Kingdom in effect and applicable in the United Kingdom to the Issuer or other members of the Group, including but not limited to any such laws, regulations, rules or requirements that are implemented, adopted or enacted within the context of any applicable European Union directive or regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, and/or within the context of a U.K. resolution regime under the U.K. Banking Act 2009, as the same has been or may be amended from time to time (whether pursuant to the U.K. Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013, secondary legislation or otherwise, the “Banking Act”), pursuant to which obligations of a bank, banking group company, credit institution or investment firm or any of its affiliates can be reduced, cancelled, amended, transferred and/or converted into shares or other securities or obligations of the obligor or any other person (and a reference to the “Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority” is to any authority with the ability to exercise a U.K. Bail-in Power).

No repayment of the principal amount of the debt securities or payment of interest on the debt securities shall become due and payable after the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority unless such repayment or payment would be permitted to be made by the Issuer under the laws and regulations of the United Kingdom and the European Union applicable to the Issuer.

By its acquisition of the debt securities, each holder of debt securities, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, waives any and all claims against the trustee for, agrees not to initiate a suit against the trustee in respect of, and agrees that the trustee shall not be liable for, any action that the trustee takes, or abstains from taking, in either case in accordance with the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to the debt securities.

Upon the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to the debt securities, the Issuer shall provide a written notice to DTC as soon as practicable regarding such exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power for purposes of notifying holders of such occurrence. The Issuer shall also deliver a copy of such notice to the trustee for information purposes.

By its acquisition of the debt securities, each holder of debt securities acknowledges and agrees that the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to a particular series of debt securities shall not give rise to a default for purposes of Section 315(b) (Notice of Default) and Section 315(c) (Duties of the Trustee in Case of Default) of the Trust Indenture Act.

The Issuer’s obligations to indemnify the trustee in accordance with the indentures shall survive the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to the debt securities.

By its acquisition of the debt securities, each holder of debt securities acknowledges and agrees that, upon the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to the debt securities, (a) the trustee shall not be required to take any further directions from holders of the debt securities under Section 5.12 (Control by Holders) of the Senior Debt Securities Indenture or Section 5.13 (Control by Holders) of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, as applicable, which sections authorize holders of

 

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a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series of Senior Debt Securities or Dated Subordinated Debt Securities to direct certain actions relating to the relevant debt securities and (b) the Senior Debt Securities Indenture and the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, as applicable, shall impose no duties upon the trustee whatsoever with respect to the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, following the completion of the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority in respect of the debt securities, the debt securities remain outstanding (for example, if the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power results in only a partial write-down of the principal of the debt securities), then the trustee’s duties under the Senior Debt Securities Indenture or Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture shall remain applicable with respect to the debt securities following such completion to the extent that the Issuer and the trustee shall agree pursuant to a supplemental indenture to the Senior Debt Securities Indenture or the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, as applicable, or an amendment thereto.

By its acquisition of the debt securities, each holder of debt securities shall be deemed to have (a) consented to the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power as it may be imposed without any prior notice by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority of its decision to exercise such power with respect to the debt securities and (b) authorized, directed and requested DTC and any direct participant in DTC or other intermediary through which it holds such debt securities to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power with respect to the debt securities as it may be imposed, without any further action or direction on the part of such holder or the trustee.

The exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to the debt securities shall not constitute a Senior Enforcement Event or a Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event, as applicable.

The relevant prospectus supplement may describe additional or alternative related provisions with respect to the U.K. Bail-in Power, including certain waivers by the holders of debt securities of certain claims against the trustee, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.

Subsequent Holders’ Agreement

Holders of debt securities that acquire debt securities in the secondary market shall be deemed to acknowledge, agree to be bound by and consent to the same provisions specified herein and in the applicable prospectus supplement to the same extent as the holders of the debt securities that acquire the debt securities upon their initial issuance, including, without limitation, with respect to the acknowledgement and agreement to be bound by and consent to the terms of the debt securities, including in relation to the U.K. Bail-in Power, the waiver of set-off provisions described under “—No Set-off” and, for the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, the subordination provisions described under “—Ranking” and the limitations on remedies specified in “—Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies; Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies; Limitation on Suits—Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies—Limited remedies for breach of obligations (other than non-payment).”

Payment of Debt Security Additional Amounts

Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we will pay any amounts to be paid by us on any series of debt securities without deduction or withholding for, or on account of, any and all present or future income, stamp and other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings (“Taxes”) now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of the United Kingdom or any political subdivision or authority thereof or therein that has the power to tax (each, a “Taxing Jurisdiction”), unless the deduction or withholding is required by law. Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, if at any time a Taxing Jurisdiction requires us to deduct or withhold Taxes, we will pay the additional amounts of, or in respect of, the principal of, premium, if any, and any interest on, the debt securities (“Debt

 

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Security Additional Amounts”) that are necessary so that the net amounts paid to the holders, after the deduction or withholding, shall equal the amounts which would have been payable had no such deduction or withholding been required. However, we will not pay Debt Security Additional Amounts for Taxes that are payable because:

 

   

the holder of the debt securities is a domiciliary, national or resident of, or engages in business or maintains a permanent establishment or is physically present in, a Taxing Jurisdiction requiring that deduction or withholding, or otherwise has some connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction other than the holding or ownership of the debt security, or the collection of any payment of, or in respect of, principal of, and any premium, or any interest on, any debt securities of the relevant series;

 

   

except in the case of our winding-up in England, the relevant debt security is presented for payment in the United Kingdom;

 

   

the relevant debt security is presented for payment more than thirty (30) days after the date payment became due or was provided for, whichever is later, except to the extent that the holder would have been entitled to the Debt Security Additional Amounts on presenting the debt security for payment at the close of such 30-day period;

 

   

the holder of the relevant debt securities or the beneficial owner of any payment of (or in respect of) principal of, and premium, if any, or any interest on debt securities failed to make any necessary claim or to comply with any certification, identification or other requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction of such holder or beneficial owner, if such claim or compliance is required by statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the Taxing Jurisdiction as a condition to relief or exemption from such Taxes; or

 

   

if the Taxes would not have been imposed or would have been excluded under one of the preceding points if the beneficial owner of, or person ultimately entitled to obtain an interest in, the debt securities had been the holder of the debt securities.

Whenever we refer in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to the payment of the principal of, or any interest on (and premium, if any), or in respect of, any debt securities of any series, we mean to include the payment of Debt Security Additional Amounts to the extent that, in context, Debt Security Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable.

For the avoidance of doubt, unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, any amounts to be paid by us or any paying agent on the debt securities will be paid net of any deduction or withholding imposed or required pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code, or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code (or any law implementing such an intergovernmental agreement) (a “FATCA Withholding Tax”), and neither we nor any paying agent will be required to pay Debt Security Additional Amounts on account of any FATCA Withholding Tax.

Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, any paying agent shall be entitled to make a deduction or withholding from any payment which it makes under the debt securities and the relevant indenture for or on account of (i) any present or future taxes, duties or charges if and to the extent so required by any applicable law and (ii) any FATCA Withholding Tax (together, “Applicable Law”). In either case, the paying agent shall make any payment after a deduction or withholding has been made pursuant to Applicable Law and shall report to the relevant authorities the amount so deducted or withheld. In all cases, the paying agent shall have no obligation to gross up any payment made subject to any deduction or withholding pursuant to Applicable Law. In addition, amounts deducted or withheld by the paying agent under this paragraph will be treated as paid to the holder of a debt security, and we will not pay Debt Security Additional Amounts in respect of such deduction or withholding, except to the extent the provisions in this subsection “—Payment of Debt Security Additional Amounts” explicitly provide otherwise.

 

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Redemption

Redemption for Tax Reasons. Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we may, at our option, at any time, redeem the debt securities of any series, in whole but not in part, upon not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days’ notice (or the shorter or longer notice period specified in the relevant prospectus supplement) to the holders at any time, if (A) in the case of the Senior Debt Securities, we are required to issue definitive debt securities (see “Description of Certain Provisions Relating to Debt Securities and Contingent Capital Securities—Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated”) and, as a result, we are or would be required to pay Debt Security Additional Amounts with respect to the Senior Debt Securities; or (B) we determine that as a result of a change in or amendment to the laws or regulations of a Taxing Jurisdiction, including any treaty to which the relevant Taxing Jurisdiction is a party, or a change in an official application of those laws or regulations, including a decision of any court or tribunal, which becomes effective on or after the issue date of the relevant series of debt securities (and, in the case of a successor entity, which becomes effective on or after the date of that entity’s assumption of our obligations), (i) we will or would be required to pay holders Debt Security Additional Amounts; (ii) we would not be entitled to claim a deduction in respect of any payments in respect of the relevant series of debt securities in computing our taxation liabilities or the value of the deduction would be materially reduced; (iii) we would not, as a result of the relevant series of debt securities being in issue, be able to have losses or deductions set against the profits or gains, or profits or gains offset by the losses or deductions, of companies with which we are or would otherwise be so grouped for applicable United Kingdom tax purposes (whether under the group relief system current as at the issue date of the relevant series of debt securities or any similar system or systems having like effect as may from time to time exist); (iv) in the case of any Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, we would have to treat the relevant series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or any part thereof as a derivative or an embedded derivative for United Kingdom tax purposes; or (v) in the case of any Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, we would, in the future, have to bring into account a taxable credit if the principal amount of the relevant series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities were written down or converted (each such change in tax law or regulation or the official application thereof, a “Tax Event”), in each of cases (A) and (B) above, at an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the debt securities being redeemed together with accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the principal amount of the debt securities to be redeemed to (but excluding) the date fixed for redemption; or, in the case of Discount Senior Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Discount Senior Debt Securities as may be specified by their terms, provided that in the case of each Tax Event, the consequences of the Tax Event cannot be avoided by us taking reasonable measures available to us.

In each case and unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, before we give a notice of redemption (which notice shall be irrevocable), we shall be required to deliver to the trustee a written legal opinion of independent counsel of recognized standing, chosen by us, confirming that we are entitled to exercise our right of redemption. Any redemption of debt securities as a result of a Tax Event will also be subject to the provisions described under “—Notice of Redemption of Debt Securities” and “—Condition to Redemption of Debt Securities” below.

Optional Redemption. The relevant prospectus supplement will specify whether we may redeem the debt securities of any series, in whole or in part, at our option, in any additional circumstances. The prospectus supplement will also specify the notice we will be required to give, what prices and any premium we will pay, and the dates on which we may redeem the debt securities. Any notice of redemption of debt securities will state:

 

   

the date fixed for redemption;

 

   

the amount of debt securities to be redeemed if we are only redeeming a part of the series;

 

   

the redemption price;

 

   

that on the date fixed for redemption the redemption price will become due and payable on each debt security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that any interest will cease to accrue on or after the redemption date;

 

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the place or places at which each holder may obtain payment of the redemption price; and

 

   

the CUSIP number or numbers, if any, with respect to the debt securities.

In the case of a partial redemption, the trustee shall select the debt securities that we will redeem in any manner it deems fair and appropriate. Any optional redemption of debt securities will also be subject to the provisions described under “—Notice of Redemption of Debt Securities” and “—Condition to Redemption of Debt Securities” below.

Notice of Redemption of Debt Securities

Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, any redemption of the debt securities shall be subject to our giving not less than thirty (30) days’, nor more than sixty (60) days’, prior notice to the holders of such debt securities (unless a shorter or longer period is specified in the applicable prospectus supplement) via DTC or the relevant clearing system(s) (or, if the debt securities are held in definitive form, to the holders at their addresses shown on the register for the debt securities) (such notice being irrevocable except in the limited circumstances described in the following paragraph and as may be specified in the relevant prospectus supplement) specifying our election to redeem the relevant series of debt securities and the date fixed for such redemption. Notice by DTC to participating institutions and by these participants to street name holders of beneficial interests in the relevant series of debt securities will be made according to arrangements among them and may be subject to statutory or regulatory requirements.

If we have elected to redeem a particular series of debt securities but prior to the payment of the redemption amount with respect to such redemption the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority exercises its U.K. Bail-in Power in respect of such series of debt securities, the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, and no payment of the redemption amount will be due and payable.

Condition to Redemption of Debt Securities

Senior Debt Securities

Notwithstanding any other provision, and unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may redeem any series of Senior Debt Securities (and give notice thereof to the holders of the Senior Debt Securities) only if we have obtained the prior consent of the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority (if such consent is then required by the Capital Regulations) for the redemption of the Senior Debt Securities.

Dated Subordinated Debt Securities

Notwithstanding any other provision, and unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may redeem the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities (and give notice thereof to the holders of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities) only if we have obtained the prior consent of the PRA and/or the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority (in either case, if such consent is then required by the Capital Regulations) for the redemption of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities.

Condition to Repurchase of Debt Securities

Senior Debt Securities

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we or any member of the Group may purchase or otherwise acquire any outstanding Senior Debt Securities of any series at any price in the open market or otherwise in accordance with the Capital Regulations, and subject to the prior consent of the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority (if such consent is then required by the Capital Regulations).

We will treat as cancelled and no longer issued and outstanding any Senior Debt Securities of any series that we purchase beneficially for our own account, other than a purchase in the ordinary course of a business dealing

 

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in securities. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, you have no right to require us to repurchase the Senior Debt Securities. Such Senior Debt Securities will stop bearing interest on the redemption date, even if you do not collect your money.

Dated Subordinated Debt Securities

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we or any member of the Group may purchase or otherwise acquire any outstanding Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of any series at any price in the open market or otherwise in accordance with the Capital Regulations, and subject to the prior consent of the PRA and/or the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority (in either case, if such consent is then required by the Capital Regulations).

We will treat as cancelled and no longer issued and outstanding any Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of any series that we purchase beneficially for our own account, other than a purchase in the ordinary course of a business dealing in securities. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, you have no right to require us to repurchase the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities. Such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities will stop bearing interest on the redemption date, even if you do not collect your money.

Description of Certain U.K. CRD Provisions Relating to Redemption and Repurchase of Debt Securities

Senior Debt Securities

The rules under U.K. CRD prescribe certain conditions for the granting of permission by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority to a request by us to redeem or repurchase a particular series of Senior Debt Securities. In this respect, the U.K. CRD Regulation provides that the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority shall grant permission to redeem or repurchase a particular series of Senior Debt Securities, provided that one of the following conditions is met, as applicable to such Senior Debt Securities:

(1) before or at the same time as such redemption or repurchase of the Senior Debt Securities, we replace such Senior Debt Securities with “own funds instruments” or “eligible liabilities instruments” (each as defined below) of equal or higher quality at terms that are sustainable for our income capacity; or

(2) we have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority that our “own funds” and “eligible liabilities” (each as defined below) would, following such redemption or repurchase, exceed the requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities laid down in U.K. CRD and in the U.K. legislation that implemented EU Directive 2014/59/EU by a margin that the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority, in agreement with the competent authority (the PRA in our case) considers necessary; or

(3) we have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority that the partial or full replacement of the Senior Debt Securities with own funds instruments is necessary to ensure compliance with the own funds requirements in U.K. CRD for continuing authorization.

The rules under U.K. CRD may be modified from time to time after the date hereof or the date of issuance of the relevant series of Senior Debt Securities.

“eligible liabilities” has the meaning given to such term in the Banking Act and “eligible liabilities instruments” means eligible liabilities instruments for the purposes of the Capital Regulations.

“own funds” has the meaning given to such term in the U.K. CRD Regulation as interpreted and applied in accordance with the Capital Regulations. Under the U.K. CRD Regulation, as at the date hereof, “own funds” means the sum of Tier 1 Capital and Tier 2 Capital.

“own funds instruments” has the meaning given to such term in the U.K. CRD Regulation as interpreted and applied in accordance with the Capital Regulations. Under the U.K. CRD Regulation, as at the date hereof, “own

 

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funds instruments” means capital instruments issued by the institution that qualify as Common Equity Tier 1, Additional Tier 1 or Tier 2 instruments.

“Common Equity Tier 1, Additional Tier 1 or Tier 2 instruments” means Common Equity Tier 1, Additional Tier 1 or Tier 2 instruments, respectively, for purposes of the Capital Regulations.

Dated Subordinated Debt Securities

The rules under U.K. CRD prescribe certain conditions for the granting of permission by the competent authority (the PRA in our case) to a request by us to redeem or repurchase a particular series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities. In this respect, the U.K. CRD Regulation provides that the PRA shall grant permission to redeem or repurchase a particular series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, provided that one of the following conditions is met, as applicable to such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities:

(1) before or at the same time as such redemption or repurchase of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, we replace such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities with “own funds instruments” of equal or higher quality at terms that are sustainable for our income capacity; or

(2) we have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the PRA that our “own funds” and “eligible liabilities” would, following such redemption or repurchase, exceed the requirements laid down in U.K. CRD and in the U.K legislation that implemented EU Directive 2014/59/EU by a margin that the PRA considers necessary.

In addition, the rules under the U.K. CRD Regulation provide that the PRA may permit us to redeem or repurchase a particular series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities before five years after the date of issuance of the relevant series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities if the conditions listed in paragraphs (1) or (2) above and one of the following conditions is met:

(1) in the case of redemption due to the occurrence of a change in the regulatory classification of the relevant Dated Subordinated Debt Securities that does or would be likely to result in their exclusion from own funds or reclassification as a lower quality form of own funds (i) the PRA considers such change to be sufficiently certain and (ii) we demonstrate to the satisfaction of the PRA that such regulatory reclassification was not reasonably foreseeable at the time of the issuance of the relevant Dated Subordinated Debt Securities; or

(2) in the case of redemption due to the occurrence of a Tax Event, we demonstrate to the satisfaction of the PRA that such Tax Event is material and was not reasonably foreseeable at the time of issuance of the relevant Dated Subordinated Debt Securities; or

(3) before or at the same time as such redemption or repurchase of the relevant Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, we replace such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities with own funds instruments of equal or higher quality at terms that are sustainable for our income capacity and the PRA has permitted that action on the basis of the determination that it would be beneficial from a prudential point of view and justified by exceptional circumstances; or

(4) the relevant Dated Subordinated Debt Securities are repurchased for market making purposes.

The rules under U.K. CRD may be modified from time to time after the date hereof or the date of issuance of the relevant Dated Subordinated Debt Securities.

Modification and Waiver

We and the trustee may make certain modifications and amendments to the indenture applicable to each series of debt securities without the consent of the holders of the debt securities. We may make other

 

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modifications and amendments with the consent of the holder(s) of not less than, in the case of the Senior Debt Securities, a majority of or, in the case of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series outstanding under the applicable indenture that are affected by the modification or amendment. However, we may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holder of each affected debt security that would:

 

   

change the terms of any debt security to change the stated maturity date of its principal amount;

 

   

change the principal amount of, or any premium, or rate of interest, with respect to any debt security;

 

   

reduce the amount of principal on a Discount Senior Debt Security that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity date of any series of debt securities;

 

   

change our obligation, or any successor’s, to pay Debt Security Additional Amounts;

 

   

change the places at which payments are payable or the currency of payment;

 

   

impair the right to sue for the enforcement of any payment due and payable;

 

   

reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the series necessary to modify or amend the relevant indenture or to waive compliance with certain provisions of the relevant indenture and any past Senior Enforcement Event or Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event (in each case as defined below);

 

   

change our obligation to maintain an office or agency in the place and for the purposes specified in the relevant indenture;

 

   

modify the subordination provisions, if any, or the terms and conditions of our obligations in respect of the due and punctual payment of the amounts due and payable on the debt securities, in either case in a manner adverse to the holders; or

 

   

modify the foregoing requirements or the provisions of the relevant indenture relating to the waiver of any past Senior Enforcement Event, Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event or covenants, except as otherwise specified.

Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, in addition, any variations in the terms and conditions of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of any series, including modifications relating to the subordination or redemption provisions of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, can only be made in accordance with the rules and requirements of the PRA, as and to the extent applicable from time to time.

Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies; Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies; Limitation on Suits

Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies

Winding-up

Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, if a Senior Winding-up Event occurs, the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Debt Securities of any series together with any accrued but unpaid interest thereon will become immediately due and payable.

A “Senior Winding-up Event” with respect to the Senior Debt Securities of any series shall result if (i) a court of competent jurisdiction in England (or such other jurisdiction in which we may be organized) makes an order for our winding-up which is not successfully appealed within thirty (30) days of the making of such order, (ii) our shareholders adopt an effective resolution for our winding-up (other than, in the case of either (i) or (ii) above, under or in connection with a scheme of reconstruction, merger or amalgamation not involving a bankruptcy or insolvency) or (iii) following the appointment of an administrator of the Issuer, the administrator gives notice that it intends to declare and distribute a dividend.

 

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Non-payment

If we fail to pay any amount that has become due and payable under the Senior Debt Securities of the relevant series and such failure continues for fourteen (14) days, the trustee may give us notice of such failure. If within a period of fourteen (14) days following the provision of such notice, the failure continues and has not been cured nor waived (a “Senior Non-Payment Event”), the trustee may at its discretion and without further notice to us institute proceedings in England (or such other jurisdiction in which we may be organized) (but not elsewhere) for our winding-up and/or prove in our winding-up and/or claim in our liquidation or administration.

Limited remedies for breach of obligations (other than non-payment)

In addition to the remedies for non-payment provided above, the trustee may, without further notice, institute such proceedings against us as the trustee may deem fit to enforce any term, obligation or condition binding on us under the relevant series of Senior Debt Securities or the Senior Debt Securities Indenture (other than any payment obligation of the Issuer under or arising from the Senior Debt Securities of such series or the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, including, without limitation, payment of any principal or interest, including Debt Security Additional Amounts) (such obligation, a “Senior Performance Obligation”); provided always that the trustee (acting on behalf of the holders of the Senior Debt Securities of such series) and the holders of such Senior Debt Securities may not enforce, and may not be entitled to enforce or otherwise claim, against us any judgment or other award given in such proceedings that requires the payment of money by us, whether by way of damages or otherwise (a “Senior Monetary Judgment”), except by proving such Senior Monetary Judgment in our winding-up and/or by claiming such Senior Monetary Judgment in our administration.

By its acquisition of the Senior Debt Securities of any series, each holder of such Senior Debt Securities acknowledges and agrees that such holder will not seek to enforce or otherwise claim, and will not direct the trustee (acting on behalf of the holders of such Senior Debt Securities) to enforce or otherwise claim, a Senior Monetary Judgment against us in connection with our breach of a Senior Performance Obligation, except by proving such Senior Monetary Judgment in our winding-up and/or by claiming such Senior Monetary Judgment in our administration.

No other remedies

Other than the limited remedies specified herein under “Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies” and subject to “—Trust Indenture Act remedies” below, no remedy against us will be available to the trustee (acting on behalf of the holders of the Senior Debt Securities of any series) or the holders of such Senior Debt Securities whether for the recovery of amounts owing in respect of such Senior Debt Securities or under the Senior Debt Securities Indenture or in respect of any breach by us of any of our obligations under or in respect of the terms of such Senior Debt Securities or under the Senior Debt Securities Indenture in relation thereto; provided, however, that such limitation shall not apply to our obligations to pay the fees and expenses of, and to indemnify, the trustee (including fees and expenses of trustee’s counsel).

Trust Indenture Act remedies

Notwithstanding the limitation on remedies specified herein under “Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies,” (1) the trustee will have such powers as are required to be authorized to it under the Trust Indenture Act in respect of the rights of the holders of the Senior Debt Securities of any series under the provisions of the Senior Debt Securities Indenture and (2) nothing shall impair the right of a holder of the Senior Debt Securities of any series under the Trust Indenture Act, absent such holder’s consent, to sue for any payment due but unpaid with respect to the relevant Senior Debt Securities. No holder of Senior Debt Securities of any series shall be entitled to proceed directly against us except as described below under “—Limitation on Suits.”

Under the terms of the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to the Senior Debt Securities is not a Senior Enforcement Event.

 

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Trustee’s Duties—Senior Debt Securities

In case of a Senior Enforcement Event under the Senior Debt Securities Indenture of which a responsible officer of the trustee shall have received written notice at the corporate trust office of the trustee, the trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. For these purposes, a “Senior Enforcement Event” shall occur (i) upon the occurrence of a Senior Winding-up Event, (ii) upon the occurrence of a Senior Non-Payment Event or (iii) upon a breach by us of a Senior Performance Obligation with respect to the relevant series of the Senior Debt Securities. Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities may waive any past Senior Enforcement Event specified in clause (iii) in the preceding sentence but may not waive any past Senior Enforcement Event specified in clauses (i) and (ii) in the preceding sentence.

If a Senior Enforcement Event occurs and is continuing with respect to the Senior Debt Securities of any series, the trustee will have no obligation to take any action at the direction of any holders of such series of the Senior Debt Securities, unless they have offered the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee in its sole discretion. Subject to the foregoing sentence, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to such series of the Senior Debt Securities. However, this direction (a) must not be in conflict with any rule of law or the Senior Debt Securities Indenture and (b) must not be unjustly prejudicial to the holder(s) of such series of the Senior Debt Securities not taking part in the direction, in the case of either (a) or (b) as determined by the trustee in its sole discretion. The trustee may also take any other action, consistent with the direction, that it deems proper.

The trustee will, within ninety (90) days of a Senior Enforcement Event with respect to the Senior Debt Securities of any series, give to each affected holder of the Senior Debt Securities of the affected series notice of any Senior Enforcement Event known to the trustee, unless the Senior Enforcement Event has been cured or waived. However, the trustee will be entitled to withhold notice if a trust committee of responsible officers of the trustee determine in good faith that withholding of notice is in the interest of the holders.

We are required to furnish to the trustee annually a statement as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Senior Debt Securities Indenture.

Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies

Winding-up

Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, if a Dated Subordinated Winding-up Event occurs, the outstanding principal amount of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of any series together with any accrued but unpaid interest thereon will become immediately due and payable, subject to the subordination provisions described above under “—Ranking.”

A “Dated Subordinated Winding-up Event” with respect to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of any series shall result if (i) a court of competent jurisdiction in England (or such other jurisdiction in which we may be organized) makes an order for our winding-up which is not successfully appealed within thirty (30) days of the making of such order, (ii) our shareholders adopt an effective resolution for our winding-up (other than, in the case of either (i) or (ii) above, under or in connection with a scheme of reconstruction, merger or amalgamation not involving a bankruptcy or insolvency) or (iii) following the appointment of an administrator of the Issuer, the administrator gives notice that it intends to declare and distribute a dividend.

Non-payment

If we fail to pay any amount that has become due and payable under the relevant Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and such failure continues for fourteen (14) days, the trustee may give us written notice of such failure.

 

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If within a period of fourteen (14) days following the provision of such notice, the failure continues and has not been cured nor waived (a “Dated Subordinated Non-Payment Event”), the trustee may at its discretion and without further notice to us institute proceedings in England (or such other jurisdiction in which we may be organized) (but not elsewhere) for our winding-up and/or prove in our winding-up and/or claim in our liquidation or administration.

Limited remedies for breach of obligations (other than non-payment)

In addition to the remedies for non-payment provided above, the trustee may, without further notice, institute such proceedings against us as the trustee may deem fit to enforce any term, obligation or condition binding on us under the relevant Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture (other than any payment obligation of the Issuer under or arising from such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, including, without limitation, payment of any principal or interest, including Debt Security Additional Amounts) (such obligation, a “Dated Subordinated Performance Obligation”); provided always that the trustee (acting on behalf of the holders of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities) and the holders of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities may not enforce, and may not be entitled to enforce or otherwise claim, against us any judgment or other award given in such proceedings that requires the payment of money by us, whether by way of damages or otherwise (a “Dated Subordinated Monetary Judgment”), except by proving such Dated Subordinated Monetary Judgment in our winding-up and/or by claiming such Dated Subordinated Monetary Judgment in our administration.

By its acquisition of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of any series, each holder of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities acknowledges and agrees that such holder will not seek to enforce or otherwise claim, and will not direct the trustee (acting on behalf of the holders of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities) to enforce or otherwise claim, a Dated Subordinated Monetary Judgment against us in connection with our breach of a Dated Subordinated Performance Obligation, except by proving such Dated Subordinated Monetary Judgment in our winding-up and/or by claiming such Dated Subordinated Monetary Judgment in our administration.

No other remedies

Other than the limited remedies specified herein under “Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies” and subject to “—Trust Indenture Act remedies” below, no remedy against us will be available to the trustee (acting on behalf of the holders of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of any series) or the holders of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities whether for the recovery of amounts owing in respect of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or under the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture or in respect of any breach by us of any of our obligations under or in respect of the terms of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or under the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture in relation thereto; provided, however, that such limitation shall not apply to our obligations to pay the fees and expenses of, and to indemnify, the trustee (including fees and expenses of trustee’s counsel) and the trustee’s rights to apply money collected to first pay its fees and expenses shall not be subject to the subordination provisions set forth in the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture and any subordination provision in any supplemental indenture thereto.

Trust Indenture Act remedies

Notwithstanding the limitation on remedies specified herein under “Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies,” (1) the trustee will have such powers as are required to be authorized to it under the Trust Indenture Act in respect of the rights of the holders of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of any series under the provisions of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture and (2) nothing shall impair the right of a holder of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of any series under the Trust Indenture Act, absent such holder’s consent, to sue for any payment due but unpaid with respect to the relevant Dated Subordinated Debt Securities; provided that, in the case of each of (1) and (2) above, any payments in respect of, or arising from, the

 

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Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of any series, including any payments or amounts resulting or arising from the enforcement of any rights under the Trust Indenture Act in respect of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, are subject to the subordination provisions set forth in the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture and any subordination provisions in any supplemental indenture thereto.

Under the terms of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities is not a Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event.

Trustee’s Duties—Dated Subordinated Debt Securities

In case of a Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event under any series of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, the trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. For these purposes, a “Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event” shall occur (i) upon the occurrence of Dated Subordinated Winding-up Event, (ii) upon the occurrence of a Dated Subordinated Non-Payment Event or (iii) upon a breach by us of a Dated Subordinated Performance Obligation with respect to the relevant series of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities. Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of a series may waive any past Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event specified in clause (iii) in the preceding sentence but may not waive any past Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event specified in clauses (i) and (ii) in the preceding sentence.

If a Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, the trustee will have no obligation to take any action at the direction of any holders of such series of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, unless they have offered the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee in its sole discretion. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of a series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding in the name of and on the behalf of the trustee for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to such series of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities. However, this direction (a) must not be in conflict with any rule of law or the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture and (b) must not be unjustly prejudicial to the holder(s) of such series of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities not taking part in the direction, in the case of either (a) or (b) as determined by the trustee in its sole discretion. The trustee may also take any other action, consistent with the direction, that it deems proper.

The trustee will, within ninety (90) days of a Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event with respect to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of any series, give to each affected holder of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of the affected series notice of any Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event known to the trustee, unless the Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event has been cured or waived. However, the trustee will be entitled to withhold notice if a trust committee of responsible officers of the trustee determine in good faith that withholding of notice is in the interest of the holders.

We are required to furnish to the trustee annually a statement as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture.

Limitation on Suits

Before a holder of debt securities may bypass the trustee and bring its own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce its rights or protect its interests relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:

 

   

The holder must give the trustee written notice that a Senior Enforcement Event or a Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event, as applicable, has occurred and remains uncured, specifying such

 

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default and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” under the Senior Debt Securities Indenture or Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, as applicable.

 

   

The holders of 25% in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of the relevant series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default, and the holder must offer to the trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the trustee in its sole discretion against the cost and other liabilities of taking that action.

 

   

The trustee must not have taken action for sixty (60) days after receipt of the above notice and offer of security or indemnity, and the trustee must not have received an inconsistent direction from the majority in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of the relevant series during that period.

Notwithstanding any contrary provisions, nothing shall impair the right of a holder, absent the holder’s consent, to sue for any payments due but unpaid with respect to the debt securities.

Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to waive any past Senior Enforcement Event or Dated Subordinated Enforcement Event, as applicable, as described below in “Description of Certain Provisions Relating to Debt Securities and Contingent Capital Securities—Legal Ownership; Form of Securities.”

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets; Assumption

We may, without the consent of the holders of any of the debt securities, consolidate or amalgamate with, merge into or transfer or lease our assets substantially as an entirety to, any person of the persons specified in the applicable indenture. However, any successor person formed by any consolidation, amalgamation or merger, or any transferee or lessee of our assets, must assume our obligations on the debt securities and the applicable indenture, and a number of other conditions must be met.

Subject to applicable law and regulation (and if and to the extent required by the Capital Regulations at such time, the prior consent of the PRA and/or the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority in the case of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority in the case of the Senior Debt Securities), any of our wholly owned subsidiaries may assume our obligations under the debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder. We, however, must irrevocably guarantee (on a subordinated basis in substantially the manner described under “—Ranking—Dated Subordinated Debt Securities” above, in the case of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities) the obligations of the subsidiary under the debt securities of that series. If we do, all of our direct obligations under the debt securities of the series and the applicable indenture shall immediately be discharged. Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, any Debt Security Additional Amounts under the debt securities of the series will be payable in respect of Taxes imposed by the jurisdiction in which the successor entity is organized, rather than Taxes imposed by a U.K. Taxing Jurisdiction, subject to exceptions equivalent to those that apply to any obligation to pay Debt Security Additional Amounts in respect of Taxes imposed by a U.K. Taxing Jurisdiction. However, if we make payment under this guarantee, we shall also be required to pay Debt Security Additional Amounts related to taxes (subject to the exceptions set forth in “—Payment of Debt Security Additional Amounts” above) imposed by a U.K. Taxing Jurisdiction due to this guarantee payment. A subsidiary that assumes our obligations will also be entitled to redeem the debt securities of the relevant series in the circumstances described under “—Redemption” above with respect to any change or amendment to, or change in the official application of the laws or regulations (including any treaty) of the assuming corporation’s jurisdiction of incorporation as long as the change or amendment occurs after the date of the subsidiary’s assumption of our obligations.

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) might deem an assumption of our obligations as described above to be an exchange of the existing debt securities for new debt securities, resulting in a recognition of taxable gain or loss and possibly other adverse tax consequences. Investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of such an assumption.

 

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Governing Law

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, the debt securities, the Senior Debt Securities Indenture and the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except that, as specified in the relevant indenture, any applicable subordination provisions of each series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and any applicable provisions relating to waiver of set-off of each series of debt securities and the related provisions in the relevant indenture will be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.

Notices

Notices regarding the debt securities will be valid:

 

   

with respect to global debt securities if given in accordance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for such global debt securities; or

 

   

if registered debt securities are affected, if given in writing and mailed to each registered holder as provided in the applicable Senior Debt Securities Indenture or Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, as applicable.

With respect to a global debt security representing any series of debt securities, a copy of all notices with respect to such series will be delivered to the depositary for such global debt security.

The Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon acting through its London Branch, will be the trustee under the indentures. The trustee has two principal functions:

 

   

first, it can enforce a holder’s rights against us if we default on debt securities issued under the relevant indenture. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on a holder’s behalf, described under “—Senior Enforcement Events and Remedies; Dated Subordinated Enforcement Events and Remedies; Limitation on Suits”; and

 

   

second, the trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending the holder’s interest payments, transferring debt securities to a new buyer and sending notices to holders.

We and some of our subsidiaries maintain deposit accounts and conduct other banking transactions with the trustee in the ordinary course of our respective businesses.

Consent to Service

The indentures provide that we irrevocably designate Barclays Bank PLC (New York Branch), 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: General Counsel as our authorized agent for service of process in any proceeding arising out of or relating to the Senior Debt Securities Indenture or Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, as applicable, or debt securities brought in any federal or state court in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, and we irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of these courts.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CONTINGENT CAPITAL SECURITIES

The following is a summary of the general terms of the contingent capital securities (as defined below). It sets forth possible terms and provisions for each series of contingent capital securities. Each time that we offer contingent capital securities, we will prepare and file a prospectus supplement with the SEC, which you should read carefully. The prospectus supplement may contain additional terms and provisions of those contingent capital securities. If there is any inconsistency between the terms and provisions presented here and those in the prospectus supplement, those in the prospectus supplement will apply and will replace those presented here.

As used in this prospectus, “contingent capital securities” means the subordinated securities of Barclays PLC which may be convertible into ordinary shares of Barclays PLC or which may be permanently written down to zero that the trustee authenticates and delivers under the applicable indenture. The contingent capital securities will not be secured by any assets or property of Barclays PLC or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (including Barclays Bank PLC, its subsidiary).

Contingent capital securities will be issued in one or more series under the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture dated as of August 14, 2018, among us, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as trustee and the Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as Contingent Capital Security Registrar (as heretofore supplemented and amended, the “Contingent Capital Securities Indenture”). The terms of the contingent capital securities include those stated in the indenture and any supplements thereto, and those terms made part of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. We have filed the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the contingent capital securities in detail. This summary is subject to, and qualified by reference to, all of the definitions and provisions of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, any supplement to the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture and the form of the instrument representing each series of contingent capital securities. Certain terms, unless otherwise defined here, have the meaning given to them in the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture.

References to “you” and “holder” in the subsections to this section “Description of Contingent Capital Securities,” entitled “—Interest Cancellation,” “—Ranking of Contingent Capital Securities,” “—No Set-off,” “—Agreement with Respect to the Exercise of U.K. Bail-in Power,” “—Payment of Contingent Capital Additional Amounts,” “—Contingent Capital Enforcement Events and Remedies—Limited remedies for breach of obligations (other than non-payment),” “—Contingent Capital Enforcement Events and Remedies—No other remedies” and “—Subsequent Holders’ Agreement” below, include beneficial owners of the contingent capital securities.

General

The contingent capital securities are not deposit liabilities of Barclays PLC and are not insured by any regulatory body of the United States or the United Kingdom.

Because we are a holding company, our rights to participate in the assets of any of our subsidiaries upon its liquidation will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiaries’ creditors, including, in the case of our bank subsidiaries, their respective depositors, except, in our case, to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the relevant subsidiary.

The Contingent Capital Securities Indenture does not limit the amount of contingent capital securities that we may issue. We may issue the contingent capital securities in one or more series, or as units comprised of two or more related series. A series of contingent capital securities will be perpetual (i.e., without a maturity date).

 

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The prospectus supplement will indicate for each series or of two or more related series of contingent capital securities:

 

   

the issue date;

 

   

the maturity date, if any;

 

   

the specific designation and aggregate principal amount of the contingent capital securities;

 

   

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the contingent capital securities that may be authenticated or delivered;

 

   

the person to whom any interest on any contingent capital security may be payable, if other than the holder on the relevant record date;

 

   

whether the contingent capital securities are intended to qualify as capital for capital adequacy purposes;

 

   

the ranking of the contingent capital securities relative to our issued debt and equity, including to what extent they may rank junior in right of payment to other of our obligations or in any other manner, if different from the relevant provisions in the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture;

 

   

the prices at which we will issue the contingent capital securities;

 

   

if interest is payable, the interest rate or rates, or how to calculate the interest rate or rates, and under what circumstances interest is payable;

 

   

provisions, if any, for the cancellation of any interest payment at our discretion or under other circumstances, if different from the interest cancellation provisions and restrictions on interest payments set forth in the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture;

 

   

limitations, if any, on our ability to pay principal or interest in respect of the contingent capital securities, including situations whereby we may be prohibited from making such payments;

 

   

provisions, if any, for write-downs in the principal amount of the contingent capital securities and the effect, if any, of such write-downs on interest payable on such contingent capital securities and any additional or other provisions relating to such write-down, including any triggering event that may give rise to such write-down (which may include, but shall not be limited to, certain regulatory capital events) and the terms upon which such write-down should occur;

 

   

provisions, if any, for the discharge and defeasance of contingent capital securities of any series;

 

   

any condition applicable to payment of any principal, premium or interest on contingent capital securities of any series;

 

   

the dates and places at which any payments are payable;

 

   

the places where notices, demands to or upon us in respect of the contingent capital securities may be served and notice to holders may be published;

 

   

the terms of any mandatory or optional redemption and related notices;

 

   

provisions, if any, for terms on which the contingent capital securities may or will be converted at our option or otherwise into ordinary shares or other securities of Barclays PLC (“Conversion Securities”), and, if so, the nature and terms of the Conversion Securities into which such contingent capital securities are convertible and any additional or other provisions relating to such conversion, including any triggering event that may give rise to such conversion (which may include, but shall not be limited to, certain regulatory capital events) and the terms upon which such conversion should occur;

 

   

any terms relating to the adjustment of the Conversion Securities into which the contingent capital securities may be converted;

 

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the terms of any repurchase of the contingent capital securities;

 

   

the denominations in which the contingent capital securities will be issued, which may be an integral multiple of either $1,000, $25 or any other specified amount;

 

   

the amount, or how to calculate the amount, that we will pay to the contingent capital security holder, if the contingent capital security is redeemed before its stated maturity, if any, or accelerated, or for which the trustee shall be entitled to file and prove a claim to the extent so permitted;

 

   

whether and how the contingent capital securities may or must be converted into any other type of securities, or their cash value, or a combination of these;

 

   

the currency or currencies in which the contingent capital securities are denominated, and in which we make any payments;

 

   

whether we will issue the contingent capital securities wholly or partially as one or more global contingent capital securities;

 

   

what conditions must be satisfied before we will issue the contingent capital securities in definitive form (“definitive contingent capital securities”);

 

   

any reference asset we will use to determine the amount of any payments on the contingent capital securities;

 

   

any other or different Contingent Capital Enforcement Event (as defined below), other categories of default or covenants applicable to any of the contingent capital securities, and the relevant terms if they are different from the terms in the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture;

 

   

any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale and delivery of the contingent capital securities;

 

   

whether we will pay Contingent Capital Additional Amounts, as defined below, on the contingent capital securities;

 

   

whether we will issue the contingent capital securities in registered form (“registered contingent capital securities”) or in bearer form (“bearer contingent capital securities”) or both;

 

   

for registered contingent capital securities, the record date for any payment of principal, interest or premium;

 

   

any listing of the contingent capital securities on a securities exchange;

 

   

the extent to which holders of the contingent capital securities may exercise, claim or plead any right of set-off, compensation or retention in respect of any amount owed to it by us arising under, or in connection with, the securities, if different from the waiver of set-off provisions in the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture;

 

   

the names and duties of any co-trustees, depositaries, authenticating agents, paying agents, calculation agents, transfer agents or registrars of any series;

 

   

any applicable additional or alternative provision or provisions related to the U.K. Bail-in Power;

 

   

any other or different terms of the contingent capital securities; and

 

   

what we believe are any additional material U.S. federal and U.K. tax considerations.

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of contingent capital securities may also include, if applicable, a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations and considerations under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or ERISA.

If we issue contingent capital securities in bearer form, the special restrictions and considerations relating to such bearer contingent capital securities, including applicable offering restrictions and U.S. tax considerations, will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement.

 

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Contingent capital securities may bear interest at a fixed rate or a floating rate or we may issue contingent capital securities that bear no interest or that bear interest at a rate below the prevailing market interest rate. The relevant prospectus supplement will describe special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to contingent capital securities issued at par that are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having been issued at a discount.

Holders of contingent capital securities have no voting rights except as explained in this section below under “—Modification and Waiver,” “—Contingent Capital Enforcement Events and Remedies,” “—Trustee’s Duties” and “—Limitation on Suits.”

If we issue contingent capital securities that qualify as Tier 1 Capital or other regulatory capital securities for the purposes of the Capital Regulations, the terms may vary from those described in this prospectus and will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

Market-Making Transactions. If you purchase your contingent capital security in a market-making transaction, you will receive information about the price you pay and your trade and settlement dates in a separate confirmation of sale. A market-making transaction is one in which Barclays Capital Inc. or another of our affiliates resells a security that it has previously acquired from another holder. A market-making transaction in a particular contingent capital security occurs after the original issuance and sale of the contingent capital security.

Payments

The relevant prospectus supplement will specify the date on which we will pay interest, if any, the date, if any, for payments of principal and any premium, if any, on any particular series of contingent capital securities.

Interest Cancellation

Interest Payments Discretionary

Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, interest on the contingent capital securities will be due and payable only at the sole discretion of the Issuer, and the Issuer shall have sole and absolute discretion at all times and for any reason to cancel (in whole or in part) any interest payment that would otherwise be payable on any interest payment date. If the Issuer does not make an interest payment on the relevant interest payment date (or if the Issuer elects to make a payment of a portion, but not all, of such interest payment), such non-payment shall evidence the Issuer’s exercise of its discretion to cancel such interest payment (or the portion of such interest payment not paid), and accordingly such interest payment (or the portion thereof not paid) shall not be due and payable.

If the Issuer provides notice to cancel a portion, but not all, of an interest payment and the Issuer subsequently does not make a payment of the remaining portion of such interest payment on the relevant interest payment date, such non-payment shall evidence the Issuer’s exercise of its discretion to cancel such remaining portion of the interest payment, and accordingly such remaining portion of the interest payment shall also not be due and payable.

Because the contingent capital securities are intended to qualify in whole or in part as Additional Tier 1 Capital under U.K. CRD, the Issuer may cancel (in whole or in part) any interest payment at its discretion and may pay dividends on its ordinary or preference shares notwithstanding such cancellation. In addition, the Issuer may use such cancelled payments without restriction to meet its obligations as they fall due.

See also “—Agreement to Interest Cancellation,” “—Notice of Interest Cancellation” and “—Interest Cancellation Following a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event” below.

 

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Restriction on Interest Payments

Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, subject to the extent permitted in the following paragraph in respect of partial interest payments, the Issuer shall not make an interest payment on the relevant series of contingent capital securities on any interest payment date (and such interest payment shall therefore be deemed to have been cancelled and thus shall not be due and payable on such interest payment date) if:

(a) the Issuer has an amount of Distributable Items on such interest payment date that is less than the sum of (i) all distributions or interest payments made or declared by the Issuer since the end of the last financial year and prior to such interest payment date on or in respect of any Parity Securities, the relevant series of contingent capital securities and any Junior Securities and (ii) all distributions or interest payments payable by the Issuer (and not cancelled or deemed cancelled) on such interest payment date (x) on the relevant series of contingent capital securities and (y) on or in respect of any Parity Securities, in the case of each of (i) and (ii), excluding any payments already accounted for in determining the Distributable Items; or

(b) the Solvency Condition (as defined under “—Ranking” below) is not satisfied in respect of such interest payment.

The Issuer may, in its sole discretion, elect to make a partial interest payment on the relevant series of contingent capital securities on any interest payment date, only to the extent that such partial interest payment may be made without breaching the restriction in the preceding paragraph.

The Issuer will be responsible for determining compliance with this restriction on interest payments and neither the trustee nor any agent shall be required to monitor such compliance or to perform any calculations in connection therewith.

“Distributable Items” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Capital Regulations, but amended so that for so long as there is any reference therein to “before distributions to holders of own funds instruments” it shall be read as a reference to “before distributions to holders of Parity Securities, the contingent capital securities or any Junior Securities.” Under U.K. CRD, as at the date hereof, “distributable items” means the amount of the profits at the end of the last financial year plus any profits brought forward and reserves available for that purpose before distributions to holders of own funds instruments less any losses brought forward, profits which are non-distributable pursuant to the law of the United Kingdom, or any part of it, or of a third country or the institution’s by-laws and sums placed to non-distributable reserves in accordance with the law of the United Kingdom, or any part of it, or of a third country or the statutes of the institution, in each case with respect to the specific category of own fund instruments to which the law of the United Kingdom, or any part of it, or of a third country or the institution’s by-laws or statutes relate, such profits, losses and reserves being determined on the basis of the individual accounts of the institution and not on the basis of the consolidated accounts.

“Junior Securities” means any ordinary shares, securities or other obligations (including any guarantee, credit support or similar undertaking) of the Issuer ranking, or expressed to rank, junior to the relevant series of contingent capital securities in a winding-up or administration of the Issuer.

“Parity Securities” means any preference shares, securities or other obligations (including any guarantee, credit support or similar undertaking) of the Issuer ranking, or expressed to rank, pari passu with the relevant series of contingent capital securities in a winding-up or administration of the Issuer.

See also “—Agreement to Interest Cancellation” and “—Notice of Interest Cancellation” below.

 

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Agreement to Interest Cancellation

By subscribing for, purchasing or otherwise acquiring the contingent capital securities, holders of the contingent capital securities acknowledge and agree that:

(a) interest is payable solely at the discretion of the Issuer, and no amount of interest shall become due and payable in respect of the relevant interest period to the extent that it has been (x) cancelled (in whole or in part) by the Issuer at its sole discretion and/or (y) deemed cancelled (in whole or in part) as a result of us having insufficient Distributable Items or failing to satisfy the Solvency Condition; and

(b) a cancellation or deemed cancellation of interest (in each case, in whole or in part) in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture shall not constitute a default in payment or otherwise under the terms of the contingent capital securities.

Subject as set out under “—Interest Cancellation Following a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event,” interest will only be due and payable on an interest payment date to the extent it is not cancelled or deemed cancelled in accordance with the provisions described under “—Interest Payments Discretionary” and “—Restriction on Interest Payments” above. Any interest cancelled or deemed cancelled (in each case, in whole or in part) in the circumstances described above shall not be due and shall not accumulate or be payable at any time thereafter, and holders of the contingent capital securities shall have no rights thereto or to receive any additional interest or compensation as a result of such cancellation or deemed cancellation. The Issuer may use such cancelled payments without restriction to meet its obligations as they fall due.

Notice of Interest Cancellation

If practicable, we shall provide notice of any cancellation or deemed cancellation of interest (in whole or in part) to the holders of the contingent capital securities through DTC (or, if the contingent capital securities are held in definitive form, to the holders at their addresses shown on the register for the relevant series of contingent capital securities and as may be specified in the relevant prospectus supplement) and to the trustee directly on or prior to the relevant interest payment date. If practicable, we shall endeavor to provide such notice at least five (5) business days prior to the relevant interest payment date. Failure to provide such notice will not have any impact on the effectiveness of, or otherwise invalidate, any such cancellation or deemed cancellation of interest, or give holders of the contingent capital securities any rights as a result of such failure.

Interest Cancellation Following a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event

The applicable prospectus supplement may provide that, if the whole of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the relevant series of contingent capital securities is excluded from, or ceases to count towards, the Group’s Tier 1 Capital and this constitutes a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event in respect of the relevant series of contingent capital securities, but the Issuer has not exercised its option to redeem the relevant series of contingent capital securities pursuant to the provisions described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Issuer will not exercise its discretion as described under “—Interest Payments Discretionary” above to cancel interest that would be payable on any interest payment date following the occurrence of such Contingent Capital Regulatory Event. If, despite this undertaking, the Issuer does not make an interest payment (in whole or in part) on any such interest payment date, such payment will thereafter (notwithstanding any other term of the relevant series of contingent capital securities) be deemed not to be cancelled and to be due and payable, subject to the following paragraph.

The above provision is without prejudice to the limitations and restrictions on interest payments described under “—Restriction on Interest Payments” which will continue to apply to such series of contingent capital securities.

A “Contingent Capital Regulatory Event” means, in respect of a particular series of contingent capital securities, a change in the regulatory classification of such contingent capital securities that occurs on or after the

 

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issue date of such contingent capital securities and that does, or would be likely to, result in the whole or any part of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the contingent capital securities of the relevant series at any time being excluded from, or ceasing to count towards, the Group’s Tier 1 Capital.

Automatic Conversion upon a Capital Adequacy Trigger Event

The applicable prospectus supplement may provide that, upon the occurrence of a Capital Adequacy Trigger Event, an Automatic Conversion (as defined below) will occur on the relevant Conversion Date (as defined below).

A “Capital Adequacy Trigger Event” will occur with respect to a particular series of contingent capital securities if the specified capital ratio, calculated in accordance with the Capital Regulations then applicable to the Group or as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, falls below a pre-determined threshold specified for such series in the applicable prospectus supplement. Whether a Capital Adequacy Trigger Event has occurred at any time shall be determined by the Issuer and such determination will be binding on the trustee and holders of the contingent capital securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify a rate of conversion, conversion price or other conversion formula for the number of ordinary shares to be issued upon an Automatic Conversion.

“Automatic Conversion” means, in respect of a particular series of contingent capital securities, the irrevocable and automatic release of all of the Issuer’s obligations under such series of contingent capital securities (other than the CSO Obligations, if any) in consideration of the Issuer’s issuance of the Conversion Shares in accordance with the terms of such contingent capital securities.

“CSO Obligations” means, with respect to a particular series of contingent capital securities, shall have the meaning set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. “Conversion Date” with respect to a particular series of contingent capital securities, shall have the meaning set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

“Conversion Shares” means the ordinary shares of the Issuer to be issued following an Automatic Conversion.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, following an Automatic Conversion the Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to cause all or some of the Conversion Shares to be offered to all or some of the Issuer’s ordinary shareholders at a cash price per Conversion Share that will be specified (or determined in accordance with a formula set forth) in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also include the procedures relating to any such offer of Conversion Shares. Any such offer of Conversion Shares will be made subject to applicable laws and regulations (including the Securities Act) in effect at the relevant time and shall be conducted, if at all, only to the extent that the Issuer, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines that the offer of Conversion Shares is practicable.

Automatic Write-Down Upon Capital Adequacy Trigger Event

The applicable prospectus supplement may provide that, upon the occurrence of a Capital Adequacy Trigger Event (whether before or after the occurrence of a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event), an Automatic Write-Down (as defined below) will occur with respect to a particular series of contingent capital securities on the Write-Down Date (as defined below), at which point the full principal amount of each contingent capital security of such series shall be irrevocably and automatically written down to zero, any accrued but unpaid interest (and any other amounts in respect of or arising under such particular series of contingent capital securities or the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture) shall be cancelled and such contingent capital securities shall be cancelled.

“Automatic Write-Down” means the irrevocable and automatic write-down to zero of the full principal amount of each contingent capital security of the relevant series (without the need for the consent of the holders

 

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of such contingent capital securities), in accordance with the terms of the particular series of contingent capital securities.

“Write-Down Date” with respect to a particular series of contingent capital securities, shall have the meaning set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Ranking of Contingent Capital Securities

Contingent capital securities will constitute our direct, unsecured and subordinated obligations ranking pari passu without any preference among themselves.

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, in the event of our winding-up or administration, the rights and claims of the holders of any series of contingent capital securities in respect of, or arising from, the contingent capital securities (including any damages (if payable)) shall be subordinated to the claims of Senior Creditors.

If:

(a) an order is made, or an effective resolution is passed, for the winding-up of the Issuer (except in any such case for a solvent winding-up solely for the purpose of a merger, reconstruction or amalgamation); or

(b) following the appointment of an administrator of the Issuer, the administrator gives notice that it intends to declare and distribute a dividend,

then, (1) if such events specified in (a) or (b) above occur before the date on which a Capital Adequacy Trigger Event occurs, there shall be payable by the Issuer in respect of each such contingent capital security (in lieu of any other payment by the Issuer) such amount, if any, as would have been payable to a holder of contingent capital securities if, on the day prior to the commencement of such winding-up or administration and thereafter, such holder of contingent capital securities were the holder of the most senior class of preference shares in the capital of the Issuer, having an equal right to a return of assets in such winding-up or administration to, and so ranking pari passu with, the holders of such class of preference shares (if any) from time to time issued by the Issuer that has a preferential right to a return of assets in such winding-up or administration, and so ranking ahead of the holders of all other classes of issued shares for the time being in the capital of the Issuer, but ranking junior to the claims of Senior Creditors, and on the assumption that the amount that such holder of contingent capital securities was entitled to receive in respect of such preference shares, on a return of assets in such winding-up or administration, was an amount equal to the principal amount of the relevant contingent capital security together with any damages (if payable) and if the applicable prospectus supplement provides that “—Interest Cancellation—Interest Cancellation Following a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event” applies, Accrued Interest (as defined below) (if applicable) and (2) if such events specified in (a) or (b) above occur on or after the date on which a Capital Adequacy Trigger Event occurs but before the Conversion Date or the Write-Down Date (as applicable), then for purposes of determining the claim of a holder of contingent capital securities in such winding-up or administration, the Conversion Date in respect of an Automatic Conversion or the Write-Down Date in respect of an Automatic Write-Down (as applicable) shall be deemed to have occurred immediately before the occurrence of such events specified in (a) or (b) above.

Furthermore, other than in the event of a winding-up or administration of the Issuer specified in (a) or (b) above, payments in respect of or arising from the contingent capital securities are conditional upon the Issuer being solvent at the time of payment by the Issuer and in that no sum in respect of or arising from the contingent capital securities may fall due and be paid except to the extent that the Issuer could make such payment and still be solvent immediately thereafter (such condition referred to herein as the “Solvency Condition”). For purposes of determining whether the Solvency Condition is met, the Issuer shall be considered to be solvent at a particular point in time if (i) it is able to pay its debts owed to Senior Creditors as they fall due and (ii) the Balance Sheet Condition has been met.

 

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An officer’s certificate executed in accordance with the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture as to the Issuer’s solvency at any particular point in time shall be treated by the Issuer, the trustee, the holders and all other interested parties as correct and sufficient evidence thereof.

Any payment of interest not due by reason of these provisions relating to ranking shall be deemed cancelled as provided under “Interest Cancellation” above.

“Accrued Interest” means, in respect of each contingent capital security of the relevant series following the occurrence of the circumstances described under “—Interest Cancellation—Interest Cancellation Following a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event” above, if applicable, and subject to the provisions described therein, any accrued but unpaid interest on such contingent capital security, which excludes any interest cancelled or deemed cancelled as described under “Interest Cancellation” above.

“Senior Creditors” with respect to a particular series of contingent capital securities, means creditors of the Issuer (i) who are unsubordinated creditors; (ii) whose claims are, or are expressed to be, subordinated (whether only in the event of the winding-up or administration of the Issuer or otherwise) to the claims of unsubordinated creditors of the Issuer but not further or otherwise; (iii) who are creditors in respect of any secondary non-preferential debts; or (iv) whose claims are, or are expressed to be, junior to the claims of other creditors of the Issuer, whether subordinated or unsubordinated, other than those whose claims rank, or are expressed to rank, pari passu with, or junior to, the claims of the holders of the contingent capital securities.

The “Balance Sheet Condition” shall be satisfied in relation to the Issuer if the value of its assets is at least equal to the value of its liabilities (taking into account its contingent and prospective liabilities), according to the criteria that would be applied by the High Court of Justice of England and Wales (or the relevant authority of such other jurisdiction in which the Issuer may be organized) in determining whether the Issuer is “unable to pay its debts” under section 123(2) of the U.K. Insolvency Act 1986 or any amendment or re-enactment thereof (or in accordance with the corresponding provisions of the applicable laws of such other jurisdiction in which the Issuer may be organized).

Pursuant to the Order, the Contingent Capital Securities will constitute tertiary non-preferential debts of the Issuer and therefore both ordinary non-preferential debts and secondary non-preferential debts will rank ahead of any claims in respect of the Contingent Capital Securities.

No Set-off

Subject to applicable law and unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, no holder of contingent capital securities may exercise, claim or plead any right of set-off, compensation or retention in respect of any amount owed to it by us arising under, or in connection with, the contingent capital securities and the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture and each holder of contingent capital securities shall, by virtue of its holding of any contingent capital security, be deemed to have waived all such rights of set-off, compensation or retention. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any amounts due and payable to any holder of the contingent capital securities by us in respect of, or arising under, the contingent capital securities or the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture are discharged by set-off, such holder shall, subject to applicable law and unless the applicable prospectus supplement provide otherwise, immediately pay to us an amount equal to the amount of such discharge (or, in the event of our winding-up or administration, our liquidator or administrator, as the case may be) and, until such time as payment is made, shall hold an amount equal to such amount in trust for us (or our liquidator or administrator, as the case may be) and, accordingly, any such discharge shall be deemed not to have taken place. By its acquisition of contingent capital securities, each holder agrees to be bound by these provisions relating to waiver of set-off. No holder of contingent capital securities shall be entitled to proceed directly against us except as described in “—Limitation on Suits” below.

 

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Agreement with Respect to the Exercise of U.K. Bail-in Power

Notwithstanding and to the exclusion of any other term of the contingent capital securities or any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the Issuer and any holder of contingent capital securities, by acquiring contingent capital securities, each holder of contingent capital securities acknowledges, accepts, agrees to be bound by, and consents to the exercise of, any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority that may result in (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the contingent capital securities; (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion of, the principal amount of, or interest on, the contingent capital securities into shares or other securities or other obligations of the Issuer or another person (and the issue to, or conferral on, the holder of the contingent capital securities of such shares, securities or obligations); (iii) the cancellation of the contingent capital securities and/or (iv) the amendment or alteration of the maturity, if any, of the contingent capital securities, or amendment of the amount of interest due on the contingent capital securities, or the dates on which interest becomes payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; which U.K. Bail-in Power may be exercised by means of a variation of the terms of the contingent capital securities solely to give effect to the exercise by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority of such U.K. Bail-in Power. Each holder further acknowledges and agrees that the rights of the holders of the contingent capital securities are subject to, and will be varied, if necessary, solely to give effect to, the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority. Any issuance of ordinary shares or other securities or any write-down of any contingent capital securities pursuant to such exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power would be separate and distinct from the issuance of ordinary shares resulting from an Automatic Conversion or the write-down of any contingent capital securities resulting from an Automatic Write-Down (as applicable). For the avoidance of doubt, this consent and acknowledgment is not a waiver of any rights holders of the contingent capital securities may have at law if and to the extent that any U.K. Bail-in Power is exercised by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority in breach of laws applicable in England.

For the purposes of the contingent capital securities, a “U.K. Bail-in Power” is any write-down, conversion, transfer, modification and/or suspension power existing from time to time under any laws, regulations, rules or requirements relating to the resolution of banks, banking group companies, credit institutions and/or investment firms incorporated in the United Kingdom in effect and applicable in the United Kingdom to the Issuer or other members of the Group, including but not limited to any such laws, regulations, rules or requirements that are implemented, adopted or enacted within the context of any applicable European Union directive or regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, and/or within the context of a U.K. resolution regime under the Banking Act pursuant to which obligations of a bank, banking group company, credit institution or investment firm or any of its affiliates can be reduced, cancelled, amended, transferred and/or converted into shares or other securities or obligations of the obligor or any other person (and a reference to the “Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority” is to any authority with the ability to exercise a U.K. Bail-in Power).

No repayment of the principal amount of the contingent capital securities or payment of interest on the contingent capital securities shall become due and payable after the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority unless such repayment or payment would be permitted to be made by the Issuer under the laws and regulations of the United Kingdom and the European Union applicable to the Issuer.

By its acquisition of the contingent capital securities, each holder of contingent capital securities, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, waives any and all claims against the trustee for, agrees not to initiate a suit against the trustee in respect of, and agrees that the trustee shall not be liable for, any action that the trustee takes, or abstains from taking, in either case in accordance with the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to the contingent capital securities.

Upon the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to the contingent capital securities, the Issuer shall provide a written notice to DTC as soon as practicable regarding such exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power for purposes of notifying holders of such occurrence. The Issuer shall also deliver a copy of such notice to the trustee for information purposes.

 

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By its acquisition of the contingent capital securities, each holder of contingent capital securities acknowledges and agrees that the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to a particular series of contingent capital securities shall not give rise to a default for purposes of Section 315(b) (Notice of Default) and Section 315(c) (Duties of the Trustee in Case of Default) of the Trust Indenture Act.

The Issuer’s obligations to indemnify the trustee in accordance with the indentures shall survive the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to the contingent capital securities.

By its acquisition of the contingent capital securities, each holder of contingent capital securities acknowledges and agrees that, upon the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority, (a) the trustee shall not be required to take any further directions from holders of the contingent capital securities under Section 5.13 (Control by Holders) of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, which section authorizes holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding contingent capital securities of the relevant series of contingent capital securities to direct certain actions relating to the contingent capital securities and (b) the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture shall impose no duties upon the trustee whatsoever with respect to the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, following the completion of the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority, the contingent capital securities remain outstanding (for example, if the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power results in only a partial write-down of the principal of the contingent capital securities), then the trustee’s duties under the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture shall remain applicable with respect to the contingent capital securities following such completion to the extent that the Issuer and the trustee shall agree pursuant to a supplemental indenture to the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture or an amendment thereto.

By its acquisition of the contingent capital securities, each holder of contingent capital securities shall be deemed to have (a) consented to the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power as it may be imposed without any prior notice by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority of its decision to exercise such power with respect to the contingent capital securities and (b) authorized, directed and requested DTC and any direct participant in DTC or other intermediary through which it holds such contingent capital securities to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power with respect to the contingent capital securities as it may be imposed, without any further action or direction on the part of such holder or the trustee.

The exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to the contingent capital securities shall not constitute a Contingent Capital Enforcement Event.

The relevant prospectus supplement may describe additional or alternative related provisions with respect to the U.K. Bail-in Power, including certain waivers by the holders of contingent capital securities of certain claims against the trustee, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.

Subsequent Holders’ Agreement

Holders of contingent capital securities that acquire contingent capital securities in the secondary market shall be deemed to acknowledge, agree to be bound by and consent to the same provisions specified herein and in the applicable prospectus supplement to the same extent as the holders of contingent capital securities that acquire contingent capital securities upon their initial issuance, including, without limitation, with respect to the acknowledgement and agreement to be bound by, and consent to, the terms of the contingent capital securities, including in relation to the U.K. Bail-in Power, the provisions described under “—Interest Cancellation,” the subordination provisions described under “—Ranking of Contingent Capital Securities,” the waiver of set-off provisions described under “—No Set-off” and the limitations on remedies specified in “—Contingent Capital Enforcement Events and Remedies—Limited remedies for breach of obligations (other than non-payment)” in this section “Description of Contingent Capital Securities.”

 

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Payment of Contingent Capital Additional Amounts

Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we will pay any amounts to be paid by us on any series of contingent capital securities without deduction or withholding for, or on account of, any and all present or future Taxes now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of any Taxing Jurisdiction, unless the deduction or withholding is required by law. Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, if at any time a Taxing Jurisdiction requires us to deduct or withhold Taxes, we will pay the additional amounts of, or in respect of, the principal of, premium, if any, and any interest on, the contingent capital securities (“Contingent Capital Additional Amounts”) that are necessary so that the net amounts paid to the holders, after the deduction or withholding, shall equal the amounts which would have been payable had no such deduction or withholding been required. However, we will not pay Contingent Capital Additional Amounts for Taxes that are payable because:

 

   

the holder of the contingent capital securities is a domiciliary, national or resident of, or engages in business or maintains a permanent establishment or is physically present in, a Taxing Jurisdiction requiring that deduction or withholding, or otherwise has some connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction other than the holding or ownership of the contingent capital security, or the collection of any payment of, or in respect of, principal of, and any premium, or any interest on, the contingent capital securities of the relevant series;

 

   

except in the case of our winding-up in England, the relevant contingent capital security is presented for payment in the United Kingdom;

 

   

the relevant contingent capital security is presented for payment more than thirty (30) days after the date payment became due or was provided for, whichever is later, except to the extent that the holder of the relevant contingent capital security would have been entitled to the Contingent Capital Additional Amounts on presenting the contingent capital security for payment at the close of such 30-day period;

 

   

the holder of the relevant contingent capital securities or the beneficial owner of any payment of (or in respect of) principal of, and premium, if any, or any interest on contingent capital securities failed to make any necessary claim or to comply with any certification, identification or other requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction of such holder or beneficial owner, if such claim or compliance is required by statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the Taxing Jurisdiction as a condition to relief or exemption from such Taxes; or

 

   

if the Taxes would not have been imposed or would have been excluded under one of the preceding points if the beneficial owner of, or person ultimately entitled to obtain an interest in, the contingent capital securities had been the holder of the contingent capital securities.

Whenever we refer in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to the payment of the principal of, or any interest on (and premium, if any) or in respect of, any contingent capital securities of any series, we mean to include the payment of Contingent Capital Additional Amounts to the extent that, in context, Contingent Capital Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable. However, for the avoidance of doubt, any limitations and restrictions on interest payments described under “—Interest Cancellation” shall apply to any Contingent Capital Additional Amounts mutatis mutandis.

For the avoidance of doubt, unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, any amounts to be paid by us or any paying agent on the contingent capital securities will be paid net of any FATCA Withholding Tax, and neither we nor any paying agent will be required to pay Contingent Capital Additional Amounts on account of any FATCA Withholding Tax.

Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, any paying agent shall be entitled to make a deduction or withholding from any payment which it makes under the contingent capital securities and the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture for or on account of any Applicable Law. In either case, the paying agent

 

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shall make any payment after a deduction or withholding has been made pursuant to Applicable Law and shall report to the relevant authorities the amount so deducted or withheld. In all cases, the paying agent shall have no obligation to gross up any payment made subject to any deduction or withholding pursuant to Applicable Law. In addition, amounts deducted or withheld by the paying agent under this paragraph will be treated as paid to the holder of a contingent capital security, and we will not pay Contingent Capital Additional Amounts in respect of such deduction or withholding, except to the extent the provisions in this subsection “—Payment of Contingent Capital Additional Amounts” explicitly provide otherwise.

Redemption

Any terms of the redemption of any series of contingent capital securities, whether at our option or upon the occurrence of certain circumstances (including, but shall not be limited to, the occurrence of certain tax or regulatory events), will be set forth in the relevant prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement will also specify the notice we will be required to give, what prices and any premium we will pay, and the dates on which we may redeem the contingent capital securities. Any notice of redemption of contingent capital securities will state:

 

   

the date fixed for redemption;

 

   

the amount of contingent capital securities to be redeemed if we are only redeeming a part of the series;

 

   

the redemption price;

 

   

that on the date fixed for redemption the redemption price will become due and payable on each contingent capital security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that any interest will cease to accrue on or after the redemption date;

 

   

the place or places at which each holder may obtain payment of the redemption price; and

 

   

the CUSIP number or numbers, if any, with respect to the contingent capital securities.

In the case of a partial redemption, the trustee shall select the contingent capital securities that we will redeem in any manner it deems fair and appropriate.

Any optional redemption of contingent capital securities will also be subject to the provisions described under “—Notice of Redemption of Contingent Capital Securities” and “—Condition to Redemption of Contingent Capital Securities” below.

Redemption for Tax Reasons. Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we may, at our option, redeem the contingent capital securities of any series, in whole but not in part, at any time, upon not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days’ notice (or the shorter or longer notice period specified in the relevant prospectus supplement) to the holders at any time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount of the contingent capital securities to be redeemed, together with any accrued but unpaid interest (which excludes any interest cancelled or deemed cancelled under “—Interest Cancellation” above) to (but excluding) the date fixed for redemption, if we determine that as a result of a change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations of a taxing jurisdiction, including any treaty to which the relevant taxing jurisdiction is a party, or a change in an official application of those laws or regulations, including a decision of any court or tribunal, which becomes effective on or after the issue date of the relevant series of contingent capital securities (or which becomes effective on or after the date of a successor entity’s assumption of our obligations), (i) we will or would be required to pay holders Contingent Capital Additional Amounts; (ii) we would not be entitled to claim a deduction in respect of any payments in respect of the relevant series of contingent capital securities in computing our taxation liabilities or the value of the deduction would be materially reduced; (iii) we would not, as a result of the relevant series of contingent capital securities being in issue, be able to have losses or deductions set-off against the profits or gains, or profits or gains offset by the losses or deductions, of companies

 

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with which we are or would otherwise be so grouped for applicable U.K. tax purposes (whether under the group relief system current as at the issue date of the relevant series of contingent capital securities or any similar system or systems having like effect as may from time to time exist); (iv) we would, in the future, have to bring into account a taxable credit if the principal amount of the relevant series of contingent capital securities were written down or the relevant series of contingent capital securities were converted into Conversion Shares; or (v) the relevant series of contingent capital securities or any part thereof would become treated as derivative or an embedded derivative for U.K. tax purposes, (each such change in tax law or regulation or the official application thereof, a “Tax Event”), provided that in the case of each Tax Event, the consequences of the Tax Event cannot be avoided by us taking reasonable measures available to us.

In each case and unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, before we give a notice of redemption, we shall be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of independent counsel of recognized standing, chosen by us, confirming that we are entitled to exercise our right of redemption. Any redemption of debt securities as a result of a Tax Event will also be subject to the provisions described under “—Notice of Redemption of Debt Securities” and “—Condition to Redemption of Debt Securities” below.

Notice of Redemption of Contingent Capital Securities

Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, any redemption of the contingent capital securities shall be subject to our giving not less than thirty (30) days’, nor more than sixty (60) days’, prior notice to the holders of such contingent capital securities (unless a shorter or longer period is specified in the applicable prospectus supplement) via DTC or the relevant clearing system(s) (or, if the contingent capital securities are held in definitive form, to the holders at their addresses shown on the register for the contingent capital securities) (such notice being irrevocable except in the limited circumstances described in the following paragraphs and as may be specified in the relevant prospectus supplement) specifying our election to redeem the relevant series of contingent capital securities and the date fixed for such redemption. Notice by DTC to participating institutions and by these participants to street name holders of beneficial interests in the relevant series of contingent capital securities will be made according to arrangements among them and may be subject to statutory or regulatory requirements.

Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, if we have elected to redeem a particular series of contingent capital securities but the Solvency Condition with respect to such series is not satisfied in respect of the relevant redemption payment on the applicable redemption date, the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect and no payment of the redemption amount will be due and payable. We will notify the holders of the relevant contingent capital securities and the trustee of any such rescission as soon as practicable prior to, or, as the case may be, following, the applicable redemption date, provided however that failure to provide such notice will not have any impact on the effectiveness of, or otherwise invalidate, any such rescission. In addition, if we have elected to redeem the contingent capital securities but prior to the payment of the redemption amount with respect to such redemption a Capital Adequacy Trigger Event occurs with respect to the relevant series of contingent capital securities, the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, no payment of the redemption amount will be due and payable and an Automatic Conversion or an Automatic Write-Down, as applicable, shall occur with respect to the relevant series of contingent capital securities.

If we have elected to redeem a particular series of contingent capital securities but prior to the payment of the redemption amount with respect to such redemption the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority exercises its U.K. Bail-in Power in respect of such series of contingent capital securities, the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, and no payment of the redemption amount will be due and payable.

 

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Condition to Redemption of Contingent Capital Securities

Notwithstanding any other provision, and unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may redeem the contingent capital securities (and give notice thereof to the holders of the contingent capital securities) only if we have obtained the prior consent of the PRA and/or the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority (in either case, if such consent is then required by the Capital Regulations) for the redemption of the contingent capital securities.

Condition to Repurchase of Contingent Capital Securities

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we or any member of the Group may purchase or otherwise acquire any outstanding contingent capital securities of any series at any price in the open market or otherwise in accordance with the Capital Regulations, and subject to the prior consent of the PRA and/or the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority (in either case, if such consent is then required by the Capital Regulations) and to applicable law and regulations.

We will treat as cancelled and no longer issued and outstanding any contingent capital securities of any series that we purchase beneficially for our own account, other than a purchase in the ordinary course of a business dealing in securities. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, you have no right to require us to repurchase the contingent capital securities. Such contingent capital securities will stop bearing interest on the redemption date, even if you do not collect your money.

Description of Certain U.K. CRD Provisions Relating to Redemption and Repurchase of Contingent Capital Securities

The rules under U.K. CRD prescribe certain conditions for the granting of permission by the competent authority (the PRA in our case) to a request by us to redeem or repurchase a particular series of contingent capital securities. In this respect, the U.K. CRD Regulation provides that the PRA shall grant permission to a redemption or repurchase of a particular series of contingent capital securities, provided that one of the following conditions is met, as applicable to such contingent capital securities:

 

  (1)

before or at the same time as such redemption or repurchase of the contingent capital securities, we replace such contingent capital securities with “own funds instruments” (as defined below) of equal or higher quality at terms that are sustainable for our income capacity; or

 

  (2)

we have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the PRA that our “own funds” and “eligible liabilities” (each as defined below) would, following such redemption or repurchase, exceed the requirements laid down in U.K. CRD and in the U.K. legislation that implemented EU Directive 2014/59/EU by a margin that the PRA considers necessary.

In addition, the rules under the U.K. CRD Regulation provide that the PRA may permit us to redeem or repurchase a particular series of contingent capital securities before five years after the date of issuance of such contingent capital securities if the conditions listed in paragraphs (1) or (2) above and one of the following conditions is met:

 

  (1)

in the case of redemption due to the occurrence of a change in the regulatory classification of the relevant contingent capital securities that does or would be likely to result in their exclusion from own funds or reclassification as a lower quality form of own funds (i) the PRA considers such change to be sufficiently certain and (ii) we demonstrate to the satisfaction of the PRA that such regulatory reclassification was not reasonably foreseeable at the time of the issuance of the contingent capital securities; or

 

  (2)

in the case of redemption due to the occurrence of a change in the applicable tax treatment of the relevant contingent capital securities, we demonstrate to the satisfaction of the PRA that such change is material and was not reasonably foreseeable at the time of issuance of the relevant contingent capital securities; or

 

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  (3)

before or at the same time as such redemption or repurchase of the relevant contingent capital securities, we replace such contingent capital securities with own funds instruments of equal or higher quality at terms that are sustainable for our income capacity and the PRA has permitted that action on the basis of the determination that it would be beneficial from a prudential point of view and justified by exceptional circumstances; or

 

  (4)

the relevant contingent capital securities are repurchased for market making purposes.

The rules under U.K. CRD may be modified from time to time after the date of issuance of the relevant series of contingent capital securities.

Modification and Waiver

We and the trustee may make certain modifications and amendments to the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture applicable to each series of contingent capital securities without the consent of the holders of the contingent capital securities. We may make other modifications and amendments with the consent of the holder(s) of not less than 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the contingent capital securities of the series outstanding under the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture that are affected by the modification or amendment. However, we may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holder of each affected contingent capital security that would:

 

   

change the principal amount of, or any premium or rate of interest, with respect to any contingent capital security;

 

   

change our obligation, or any successor’s, to pay Contingent Capital Additional Amounts, if any;

 

   

change the places at which payments are payable or the currency of payment;

 

   

impair the right to sue for the enforcement of any payment due and payable, to the extent that such right exists;

 

   

reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of outstanding contingent capital securities of the series necessary to modify or amend the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture or to waive compliance with certain provisions of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture and any past Contingent Capital Enforcement Event;

 

   

change our obligation to maintain an office or agency in the place and for the purposes specified in the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture;

 

   

modify the subordination provisions, if any, or the terms and conditions of our obligations in respect of the due and punctual payment of the amounts due and payable on the contingent capital securities, in either case in a manner adverse to the holders; or

 

   

modify the foregoing requirements or the provisions of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture relating to the waiver of any past Contingent Capital Enforcement Event or covenants, except as otherwise specified.

In addition, unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, any variations in the terms and conditions of the contingent capital securities of any series, including modifications relating to the subordination or redemption provisions of such contingent capital securities, can only be made in accordance with the rules and requirements of the PRA, as and to the extent applicable from time to time.

Contingent Capital Enforcement Events and Remedies

Winding-up

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contingent capital securities and, if the applicable prospectus supplement provides that “—Interest Cancellation—Interest Cancellation Following a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event” applies, Accrued Interest (if applicable) will become immediately due and payable, subject to the subordination provisions described above under “—Ranking of Contingent Capital Securities” without the need of any further action on the part of the trustee, the holders of the relevant contingent capital securities or any other person.

For the avoidance of doubt, as the principal amount of the contingent capital securities and, in the circumstances mentioned above, Accrued Interest (if applicable) will become immediately due and payable upon a Contingent Capital Winding-up Event that occurs before the occurrence of a Capital Adequacy Trigger Event, neither the trustee nor the holders of the relevant contingent capital securities are required to declare such principal amount and Accrued Interest (if applicable) to be due and payable.

A “Contingent Capital Winding-up Event” with respect to the contingent capital securities shall result if (i) a court of competent jurisdiction in England (or such other jurisdiction in which we may be organized) makes an order for our winding-up which is not successfully appealed within thirty (30) days of the making of such order, (ii) our shareholders adopt an effective resolution for our winding-up (other than, in the case of either (i) or (ii) above, under or in connection with a scheme of reconstruction, merger or amalgamation not involving a bankruptcy or insolvency) or (iii) following the appointment of an administrator of the Issuer, the administrator gives notice that it intends to declare and distribute a dividend. For the avoidance of doubt and subject as set out under “—Interest Cancellation—Interest Cancellation Following a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event” if applicable, no interest will be due and payable if such interest has been cancelled or is deemed cancelled (in each case, in whole or in part) as described under “—Interest Cancellation” above.

Non-payment

If we fail to pay any amount that has become due and payable under the relevant contingent capital securities and such failure continues for fourteen (14) days, the trustee may give us written notice of such failure. If within a period of fourteen (14) days following the provision of such notice, the failure continues and has not been cured nor waived (a “Contingent Capital Non-Payment Event”), the trustee may at its discretion and without further notice to us institute proceedings in England (or such other jurisdiction in which we may be organized) (but not elsewhere) for our winding-up and/or prove in our winding-up and/or claim in our liquidation or administration. For the avoidance of doubt and subject as set out under “—Interest Cancellation—Interest Cancellation Following a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event” if applicable, no interest with respect to any series of contingent capital securities will be due and payable if such interest on such series of contingent capital securities has been cancelled or is deemed cancelled (in each case, in whole or in part) as described under “—Interest Cancellation” above. Accordingly, no default in payment under such contingent capital securities will have occurred or be deemed to have occurred in such circumstances.

Limited remedies for breach of obligations (other than non-payment)

In addition to the remedies for non-payment provided above, the trustee may, without further notice, institute such proceedings against us as the trustee may deem fit to enforce any term, obligation or condition binding on us under the relevant contingent capital securities or the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture (other than any payment obligation of the Issuer under or arising from such contingent capital securities or the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, including, without limitation, payment of any principal or interest, including Contingent Capital Additional Amounts) (such obligation, a “Contingent Capital Performance Obligation”); provided always that the trustee (acting on behalf of the holders of such contingent capital securities) and the holders of such contingent capital securities may not enforce, and may not be entitled to enforce or otherwise claim, against us any judgment or other award given in such proceedings that requires the payment of money by us, whether by way of damages or otherwise (a “Contingent Capital Monetary Judgment”), except by proving such Contingent Capital Monetary Judgment in our winding-up and/or by claiming such Contingent Capital Monetary Judgment in our administration.

 

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By its acquisition of the contingent capital securities, each holder of the contingent capital securities acknowledges and agrees that such holder will not seek to enforce or otherwise claim, and will not direct the trustee (acting on behalf of the holders of the contingent capital securities) to enforce or otherwise claim, a Contingent Capital Monetary Judgment against us in connection with our breach of a Contingent Capital Performance Obligation, except by proving such Contingent Capital Monetary Judgment in our winding-up and/or by claiming such Contingent Capital Monetary Judgment in our administration.

No other remedies

Other than the limited remedies specified herein under “Contingent Capital Enforcement Events and Remedies” above and subject to “Trust Indenture Act remedies” below, no remedy against us will be available to the trustee (acting on behalf of the holders of the contingent capital securities) or the holders of the contingent capital securities whether for the recovery of amounts owing in respect of the contingent capital securities or under the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture or in respect of any breach by us of any of our obligations under or in respect of the terms of the contingent capital securities or under the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture in relation thereto; provided, however, that such limitation shall not apply to our obligations to pay the fees and expenses of, and to indemnify, the trustee (including fees and expenses of trustee’s counsel) and the trustee’s rights to apply money collected to first pay its fees and expenses shall not be subject to the subordination provisions set forth in the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture and any subordination provisions in any supplemental indenture thereto.

Trust Indenture Act remedies

Notwithstanding the limitation on remedies specified herein under “Contingent Capital Enforcement Events and Remedies” above, (1) the trustee will have such powers as are required to be authorized to it under the Trust Indenture Act in respect of the rights of the holders of the contingent capital securities under the provisions of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture and (2) nothing shall impair the right of a holder of the contingent capital securities under the Trust Indenture Act, absent such holder’s consent, to sue for any payment due but unpaid with respect to the relevant contingent capital securities; provided that, in the case of each of (1) and (2) above, any payments in respect of, or arising from, the contingent capital securities, including any payments or amounts resulting or arising from the enforcement of any rights under the Trust Indenture Act in respect of the contingent capital securities, are subject to the subordination provisions set forth in the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture and any subordination provisions in any supplemental indenture thereto.

Under the terms of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, an Automatic Conversion, an Automatic Write-Down (and, in either case, the related cancellation of interest and any other amounts in respect of or arising under the particular series of contingent capital securities or the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture) or the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority with respect to the contingent capital securities is not a Contingent Capital Enforcement Event.

Trustee’s Duties

In case of a Contingent Capital Enforcement Event under any series of the contingent capital securities, the trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. For these purposes, a “Contingent Capital Enforcement Event” shall occur (i) upon the occurrence of a Contingent Capital Winding-up Event that occurs before any occurrence of a Capital Adequacy Trigger Event, (ii) upon the occurrence of a Contingent Capital Non-Payment Event or (iii) upon a breach by us of (a) a Contingent Capital Performance Obligation or (b) if the applicable prospectus supplement provides that “—Interest Cancellation—Interest Cancellation Following a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event” applies, the undertaking set out under “—Interest Cancellation—Interest Cancellation Following a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event,” in each case with respect to the relevant series of the

 

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contingent capital securities. Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding contingent capital securities of a series may waive any past Contingent Capital Enforcement Event specified in clause (iii) (a) in the preceding sentence but may not waive any past Contingent Capital Enforcement Event specified in clauses (i),(ii) and (iii) (b) in the preceding sentence.

If a Contingent Capital Enforcement Event occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of the contingent capital securities, the trustee will have no obligation to take any action at the direction of any holders of such series of the contingent capital securities, unless they have offered the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee in its sole discretion. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding contingent capital securities of a series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding in the name of and on the behalf of the trustee for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to such series of the contingent capital securities. However, this direction (a) must not be in conflict with any rule of law or the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture and (b) must not be unjustly prejudicial to the holder(s) of such series of the contingent capital securities not taking part in the direction, in the case of either (a) or (b) as determined by the trustee in its sole discretion. The trustee may also take any other action, consistent with the direction, that it deems proper.

The trustee will, within ninety (90) days of a Contingent Capital Enforcement Event with respect to the contingent capital securities of any series, give to each affected holder of the contingent capital securities of the affected series notice of any Contingent Capital Enforcement Event known to the trustee, unless the Contingent Capital Enforcement Event has been cured or waived. However, the trustee will be entitled to withhold notice if a trust committee of responsible officers of the trustee determine in good faith that withholding of notice is in the interest of the holders.

We are required to furnish to the trustee annually a statement as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture.

Limitation on Suits

Before a holder of the contingent capital securities may bypass the trustee and bring its own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce its rights or protect its interests relating to the contingent capital securities, the following must occur:

 

   

The holder must give the trustee written notice that a Contingent Capital Enforcement Event has occurred and remains uncured, specifying such default and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” under the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture.

 

   

The holders of 25% in principal amount of all outstanding contingent capital securities of the relevant series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the Contingent Capital Enforcement Event, and the holder must offer to the trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the trustee in its sole discretion against the costs, expenses and other liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request.

 

   

The trustee must not have taken action for sixty (60) days after receipt of the above notice and offer of security or indemnity, and the trustee must not have received an inconsistent direction from the majority in principal amount of all outstanding contingent capital securities of the relevant series during that period.

 

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Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to waive any past Contingent Capital Enforcement Event, as described below in “Description of Certain Provisions Relating to Debt Securities and Contingent Capital Securities—Legal Ownership; Form of Securities.”

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets; Assumption

We may, without the consent of the holders of any of the contingent capital securities, consolidate or amalgamate with, merge into or transfer or lease our assets substantially as an entirety to, any person of the persons specified in the applicable Contingent Capital Securities Indenture. However, any successor person formed by any consolidation, amalgamation or merger, or any transferee or lessee of our assets, must assume our obligations on the contingent capital securities and the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, if any, and a number of other conditions must be met.

Subject to applicable law and regulation (including, if and to the extent required by the Capital Regulations at such time, the prior consent of the PRA and/or the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority), any of our wholly owned subsidiaries may assume our obligations, if any, under the contingent capital securities of any series without the consent of any holder. We, however, must irrevocably guarantee (on a subordinated basis in substantially the manner described under “—Ranking of Contingent Capital Securities” above) the obligations of the subsidiary under the contingent capital securities of that series. If we do, all of our direct obligations under the contingent capital securities of the series and the applicable Contingent Capital Securities Indenture shall immediately be discharged. Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, any Contingent Capital Additional Amounts under the contingent capital securities of the series will be payable in respect of Taxes imposed by the jurisdiction in which the successor entity is organized, rather than Taxes imposed by a U.K. Taxing Jurisdiction, subject to exceptions equivalent to those that apply to any obligation to pay Contingent Capital Additional Amounts in respect of Taxes imposed by a U.K. Taxing Jurisdiction. However, if we make payment under this guarantee, we shall also be required to pay Contingent Capital Additional Amounts related to Taxes (subject to the exceptions set forth in “—Payment of Contingent Capital Additional Amounts” above) imposed by a U.K. Taxing Jurisdiction due to this guarantee payment.

A subsidiary that assumes our obligations will also be entitled to redeem the contingent capital securities of the relevant series in the circumstances described under “—Redemption” above with respect to any change or amendment to, or change in the official application of the laws or regulations (including any treaty) of the assuming corporation’s jurisdiction of incorporation as long as the change or amendment occurs after the date of the subsidiary’s assumption of our obligations. Such substitution can only be made in accordance with the rules and requirements of the PRA, as and to the extent applicable from time to time.

The IRS might deem an assumption of our obligations as described above to be an exchange of the existing contingent capital securities for new contingent capital securities, resulting in a recognition of taxable gain or loss and possibly other adverse tax consequences. Investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of such an assumption.

Governing Law

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, the contingent capital securities and Contingent Capital Securities Indenture will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except that, as specified in the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, the subordination provisions and any applicable provisions relating to waiver of set-off of each series of contingent capital securities and the related provisions in the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture will be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.

 

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Notices

Notices regarding the contingent capital securities will be valid:

 

   

with respect to global contingent capital securities if given in accordance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for such global contingent capital securities; or

 

   

if registered contingent capital securities are affected, if given in writing and mailed to each registered holder as provided in the applicable Contingent Capital Securities Indenture.

With respect to a global contingent capital security representing any series of contingent capital securities, a copy of all notices with respect to such series will be delivered to the depositary for such global contingent capital security.

The Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon acting through its London Branch, will be the trustee under the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture. The trustee has two principal functions:

 

   

first, it can enforce a holder’s rights against us if there is a Contingent Capital Enforcement Event under the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture; and

 

   

second, the trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending the holder’s interest payments, transferring contingent capital securities to a new buyer and sending notices to holders.

We and some of our subsidiaries maintain deposit accounts and conduct other banking transactions with the trustee in the ordinary course of our respective businesses.

Consent to Service

The Contingent Capital Securities Indenture provides that we irrevocably designate Barclays Bank PLC (New York Branch), 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: General Counsel as our authorized agent for service of process in any proceeding arising out of or relating to the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture or contingent capital securities brought in any federal or state court in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, and we irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of these courts.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF ORDINARY SHARES

Barclays PLC only has ordinary shares in issue which are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The shareholders of Barclays PLC passed an ordinary resolution on May 7, 2020 to increase its share capital by the creation of new shares of up to £825,000,000 in relation to any issue of securities that automatically convert into or are exchanged for ordinary shares of Barclays PLC, which authorization expires the earlier of the end of Barclays PLC’s Annual General Meeting to be held in 2021 and the close of business on June 30, 2021, unless otherwise renewed or passed pursuant to a separate resolution.

Our Articles of Association (the “Articles”) contain provisions to the following effect:

Dividends

Subject to the provisions of the Articles and applicable legislation, Barclays PLC at any general meeting may declare dividends on the ordinary shares by ordinary resolution, but such dividends may not exceed the amount recommended by the Board. The Board may also pay interim or final dividends if it appears they are justified by our financial position.

All unclaimed dividends payable in respect of any share may be invested or otherwise made use of by the Board for the benefit of Barclays PLC until claimed. If a dividend is not claimed after 12 years of it becoming payable, it is forfeited and reverts to us.

Barclays PLC operates a Scrip Dividend Programme which enables eligible shareholders to elect to receive new ordinary shares issued by Barclays PLC instead of a cash dividend.

Voting

Every member who is present in person or by proxy or represented at any general meeting of Barclays PLC, and who is entitled to vote, has one vote on a show of hands. Every proxy present has one vote, except that the proxy will have one vote for and one vote against a resolution if he/she has been instructed to vote for and against the resolution by different members or in one direction by a member while another member has permitted the proxy discretion as to how to vote. On a poll, every member who is present or represented and who is entitled to vote has one vote for every share held. In the case of joint holders, only the vote of the senior holder (as determined by order in the share register) or his proxy may be counted. If any sum payable remains unpaid in relation to a member’s shareholding, that member is not entitled to vote that share or exercise any other right in relation to a meeting of Barclays PLC unless the Board otherwise determine.

If any member, or any other person appearing to be interested in any of our ordinary shares, is served with a notice under Section 793 of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Companies Act”) and does not supply us with the information required in the notice, then (unless the Board otherwise decides, and subject to applicable law) (i) that member shall not be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting of Barclays PLC, and (ii) if the shares of the defaulting member represent 0.25% or more of the issued shares of the relevant class, dividends or other monies payable on those shares shall be retained by us and no transfer of those shares shall be registered (other than certain specified “excepted transfers”). These sanctions cease to have effect seven (7) days after we have received the information requested, or when we are notified that an “excepted transfer” of all of the relevant shares to a third party has occurred, or as the Board otherwise determines.

Transfers

Ordinary shares may be held in either certificated or uncertificated form. Certificated ordinary shares shall be transferred in writing in any usual or other form approved by the Board and executed by or on behalf of the transferor. Transfers of uncertificated ordinary shares shall be made in accordance with the Companies Act and Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001, as amended.

 

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The Board is not bound to register a transfer of partly paid ordinary shares, or fully paid shares in exceptional circumstances approved by the FCA. The Board may also decline to register an instrument of transfer of certificated ordinary shares unless (i) it is duly stamped and deposited at the prescribed place and accompanied by the share certificate(s) and such other evidence as reasonably required by the Board to evidence right to transfer, (ii) it is in respect of one class of shares only, and (iii) it is in favor of a single transferee or not more than four transferees (except in the case of executors or trustees of a member).

Redemption and Purchase

Subject to applicable legislation and the rights of the other shareholders, any share may be issued on terms that it is, at our option or the holder of such share, redeemable. The directors are authorized to determine the terms, conditions and manner of redemption of any such shares under the Articles.

Calls on capital

The directors may make calls upon the members in respect of any monies unpaid on their shares. A person upon whom a call is made remains liable even if the shares in respect of which the call is made have been transferred. Interest will be chargeable on any unpaid amount called at a rate determined by the Board (of not more than 20% per annum).

If a member fails to pay any call in full (following notice from the Board that such failure will result in forfeiture of the relevant shares), such shares (including any dividends declared but not paid) may be forfeited by a resolution of the Board, and will become the property of Barclays PLC. Forfeiture shall not absolve a previous member for amounts payable by him/her (which may continue to accrue interest).

Barclays PLC also has a lien over all of our partly paid shares for all monies payable or called on that share and over the debts and liabilities of a member to Barclays PLC. If any monies which are the subject of the lien remain unpaid after a notice from the Board demanding payment, we may sell such shares.

Variation of Rights

The rights attached to any class of shares may be varied either with the consent in writing of the holders of at least 75% in nominal value of the issued shares of that class (excluding any share of that class held as treasury shares) or with the sanction of special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.

The rights of shares shall not (unless expressly provided by the rights attached to such shares) be deemed varied by the creation of further shares ranking equally with them.

Winding-up

In the winding-up of Barclays PLC (whether the liquidation is voluntary or by the court) the liquidator may, on obtaining any sanction required by law, divide among the members in kind the whole or any part of the assets of Barclays PLC, whether or not the assets consist of property of one kind or of different kinds, and vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the members as he, with the like sanction, shall determine. For this purpose the liquidator may set the value he deems fair on a class or classes of property, and may determine on the basis of that valuation and in accordance with the then existing rights of members how the division is to be carried out between members or classes of members. The liquidator may not, however, distribute to a member without his consent an asset to which there is attached a liability or potential liability for the owner.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO DEBT SECURITIES AND CONTINGENT CAPITAL SECURITIES

In this section of the prospectus, the term “securities” refers to Senior Debt Securities, Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and contingent capital securities.

Legal Ownership; Form of Securities

Street Name and Other Indirect Holders. Investors who hold securities in accounts at banks or brokers will generally not be recognized by us as legal holders of securities. This is called holding in “street name.”

Instead, we would recognize only the bank or broker, or the financial institution the bank or broker uses to hold its securities. These intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions pass along principal, interest and other payments on the securities, either because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. An investor who holds securities in street name should check with the investor’s own intermediary institution to find out:

 

   

how it handles securities payments and notices;

 

   

whether it imposes fees or charges;

 

   

how it would handle voting if it were ever required;

 

   

whether and how the investor can instruct it to send the investor’s securities registered in the investor’s own name so the investor can be a registered holder as described below; and

 

   

how it would pursue rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests.

Registered Holders. Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee and those of any third parties employed by us or the trustee, run only to persons who are registered as holders of securities. As noted above, we do not have obligations to an investor who holds in street name or other indirect means, either because the investor chooses to hold securities in that manner or because the securities are issued in the form of global securities as described below. For example, once we make payment to the registered holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment even if that holder is legally required to pass the payment along to the investor as a street name customer but does not do so.

Global Securities. A global security is a special type of indirectly held security, as described above under “—Legal Ownership; Form of Securities—Street Name and Other Indirect Holders.” If we issue securities in the form of global securities, the ultimate beneficial owners can only be indirect holders.

We require that the global security be registered in the name of a financial institution we select or in the name of a nominee for such financial institution. In addition, we require that the securities included in the global security not be transferred to the name of any other registered holder unless the special circumstances described in the section “—Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated” occur. The financial institution that acts (either directly or through its nominee) as the sole registered holder of the global security is called the depositary. Any person wishing to own a security must do so indirectly by virtue of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, each series of securities will be issued only in the form of global securities.

 

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In the remainder of this section, “holders” means registered holders and not street name or other indirect holders of securities. Indirect holders should read the subsection entitled “—Legal Ownership; Form of Securities—Street Name and Other Indirect Holders.”

Payment and Paying Agents. We will pay interest (if any) to registered holders listed in the trustee’s records at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if the registered holder no longer owns the security on the interest due date. That particular day, usually about one business day in advance of the interest due date, is called the regular record date and is stated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unless the relevant prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we will pay interest (if any), principal and any other money due on the securities at the corporate trust office of the trustee in New York City. Holders of securities must make arrangements to have their payments picked up at or wired from that office. We may also choose to pay interest by mailing checks.

Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments.

We may also arrange for additional payment offices, and may cancel or change these offices, including our use of the trustee’s corporate trust office. These offices are called paying agents. We may also choose to act as our own paying agent. We must notify the trustee of changes in the paying agents for any particular series of securities.

Special Investor Considerations for Global Securities

As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

Investors in securities that are issued only in the form of global securities should be aware that:

 

   

they cannot get securities registered in their own name;

 

   

they cannot receive physical certificates for their interests in securities;

 

   

they will be a street name holder and must look to their own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of their legal rights relating to the securities, as explained earlier under “—Legal Ownership; Form of Securities—Street Name and Other Indirect Holders”;

 

   

they may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in the form of physical certificates;

 

   

the depositary’s policies will govern payments, transfers, exchange and other matters relating to their interest in the global security. We and the trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in the global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way; and

 

   

the depositary will require that interests in a global security be purchased or sold within its system using same-day funds.

Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated

In a few special situations described below, the global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing securities. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold the

 

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securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own bank or brokers to find out how to have their interests in a global security transferred to their own name so that they will be registered holders. The rights of street name investors and registered holders in the securities have been described above in the sections entitled “—Legal Ownership; Form of Securities—Street Name and Other Indirect Holders; Registered Holders.”

The special situations for termination of a global security are:

 

   

when (x) the depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act;

 

   

when a Senior Winding-up Event, a Dated Subordinated Winding-up Event or a Contingent Capital Winding-up Event, as applicable, with respect to relevant global security, has occurred and is continuing; or

 

   

when we at our option and in our sole discretion determine that the global securities of a particular series of debt securities and/or contingent capital securities should be exchanged for definitive Senior Debt Securities, definitive Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and/or definitive contingent capital securities of that series in registered form.

The prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary (and not us or the trustee) is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial registered holders.

 

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CLEARANCE AND SETTLEMENT

The securities we issue may be held through one or more international and domestic clearing systems. The principal clearing systems we will use are the book-entry systems operated by DTC, in the United States, Clearstream Banking, S.A. (“Clearstream, Luxembourg”), in Luxembourg and Euroclear Bank SA/NV (“Euroclear”), in Brussels, Belgium. These systems have established electronic securities and payment transfer, processing, depositary and custodial links among themselves and others, either directly or through custodians and depositaries. These links allow securities to be issued, held and transferred among the clearing systems without the physical transfer of certificates.

Special procedures to facilitate clearance and settlement have been established among these clearing systems to trade securities across borders in the secondary market. Where payments for securities we issue in global form will be made in U.S. dollars, these procedures can be used for cross-market transfers and the securities will be cleared and settled on a delivery against payment basis.

Global securities will be registered in the name of a nominee for, and accepted for settlement and clearance by, one or more of Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg, DTC and any other clearing system identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Cross-market transfers of securities that are not in global form may be cleared and settled in accordance with other procedures that may be established among the clearing systems for these securities.

Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in the names of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg on the books of their respective depositories, which, in the case of securities for which a global security in registered form is deposited with the DTC, in turn hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositories’ names on the books of the DTC.

The policies of DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear will govern payments, transfers, exchange and other matters relating to the investor’s interest in securities held by them. This is also true for any other clearance system that may be named in a prospectus supplement.

Neither we nor the trustee nor any of our or its agents has any responsibility for any aspect of the actions of DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear or any of their direct or indirect participants. Neither we nor the trustee nor any of our or its agents has any responsibility for any aspect of the records kept by DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear or any of their direct or indirect participants. Neither we nor the trustee nor any of our or its agents supervise these systems in any way. This is also true for any other clearing system indicated in a prospectus supplement.

DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg, Euroclear and their participants perform these clearance and settlement functions under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers. Investors should be aware that DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg, Euroclear and their participants are not obligated to perform these procedures and may modify them or discontinue them at any time.

The description of the clearing systems in this section reflects our understanding of the rules and procedures of DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear as they are currently in effect. Those systems could change their rules and procedures at any time.

 

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The Clearing Systems

DTC

DTC has advised us as follows:

 

   

DTC is:

 

  (1)

a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York;

 

  (2)

a “banking organization” within the meaning of New York Banking Law;

 

  (3)

a member of the Federal Reserve System;

 

  (4)

a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

  (5)

a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

 

   

DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic book-entry changes to accounts of its participants. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities.

 

   

Participants in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include certain other organizations. DTC is partially owned by some of these participants or their representatives.

 

   

Indirect access to the DTC system is also available to banks, brokers and dealers and trust companies that have custodial relationships with participants.

 

   

The rules applicable to DTC and DTC participants are on file with the SEC.

Clearstream, Luxembourg

Clearstream, Luxembourg has advised us as follows:

 

   

Clearstream, Luxembourg is a duly licensed bank organized as a société anonyme incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg and is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier).

 

   

Clearstream, Luxembourg holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among them. It does so through electronic book-entry transfers between the accounts of its customers. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities.

 

   

Clearstream, Luxembourg provides other services to its customers, including safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and lending and borrowing of securities. It interfaces with the domestic markets in over 30 countries through established depositary and custodial relationships.

 

   

Clearstream, Luxembourg’s customers include worldwide securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include professional financial intermediaries. Its U.S. customers are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks.

 

   

Indirect access to the Clearstream, Luxembourg system is also available to others that clear through Clearstream, Luxembourg customers or that have custodial relationships with its customers, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies.

Euroclear

Euroclear has advised us as follows:

 

   

Euroclear is incorporated under the laws of Belgium as a bank and is subject to regulation by the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (L’Autorité des Services et Marchés Financiers) and the National Bank of Belgium (Banque Nationale de Belgique).

 

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Euroclear holds securities and book-entry interests in securities for participating organizations and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Euroclear participants and between Euroclear participants and participants of certain other securities settlement systems through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of such participants or through other securities intermediaries.

 

   

Euroclear provides Euroclear participants, among other things, with safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement, securities lending and borrowing, and related services. Euroclear participants are investment banks, securities brokers and dealers, banks, central banks, supranationals, custodians, investment managers, corporations, trust companies and certain other organizations. Certain of the managers or underwriters for an offering of securities, or other financial entities involved in such offering, may be Euroclear participants.

 

   

Non-participants in the Euroclear system may hold and transfer book-entry interests in the securities through accounts with a participant in the Euroclear system or any other securities intermediary that holds a book-entry interest in the securities through one or more securities intermediaries standing between such other securities intermediary and Euroclear.

 

   

Although Euroclear has agreed to the procedures provided below in order to facilitate transfers of securities among participants in the Euroclear system, and between Euroclear participants and participants of other securities settlement systems, it is under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time.

 

   

Investors electing to acquire any securities through an account with Euroclear or some other securities intermediary must follow the settlement procedures of such an intermediary with respect to the settlement of new issues of securities. Securities to be acquired against payment through an account with Euroclear will be credited to the securities clearance accounts of the respective Euroclear participants in the securities processing cycle for the business day following the settlement date for value as of the settlement date, if against payment. For more information, reference should be made to the New Issues Distribution Guide.

 

   

Investors electing to acquire, hold or transfer securities through an account with Euroclear or some other securities intermediary must follow the settlement procedures of such an intermediary with respect to the settlement of secondary market transactions in securities. Euroclear will not monitor or enforce any transfer restrictions with respect to the securities offered.

 

   

Investors who are participants in the Euroclear system may acquire, hold or transfer interests in the securities by book-entry to accounts with Euroclear. Investors who are not participants in the Euroclear system may acquire, hold or transfer interests in the securities by book- entry to accounts with a securities intermediary who holds a book-entry interest in the securities through accounts with Euroclear.

 

   

Investors that acquire, hold and transfer interests in the securities by book-entry through accounts with Euroclear or any other securities intermediary are subject to the laws and contractual provisions governing their relationship with their intermediary, as well as the laws and contractual provisions governing the relationship between such an intermediary and each other intermediary, if any, standing between themselves and the individual securities.

 

   

Under Belgian law, investors that are credited with securities on the records of Euroclear have a co-property right in the fungible pool of interests in securities on deposit with Euroclear in an amount equal to the amount of interests in securities credited to their accounts. In the event of the insolvency of Euroclear, Euroclear participants would have a right under Belgian law to the return of the amount and type of interests in securities credited to their accounts with Euroclear. If Euroclear did not have a sufficient amount of interests in securities on deposit of a particular type to cover the claims of all participants credited with such interests in securities on Euroclear’s records, all participants having an amount of interests in securities of such type credited to their accounts with Euroclear would have the

 

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right under Belgian law to the return of their pro-rata share of the amount of interests in securities actually on deposit.

 

   

Under Belgian law, Euroclear is required to pass on the benefits of ownership in any interests in securities on deposit with it (such as dividends, voting rights and other entitlements) to any person credited with such interests in securities on its records.

Other Clearing Systems

We may choose any other clearing system for a particular series of securities. The clearance and settlement procedures for the clearing system we choose will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Primary Distribution

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, we will issue the securities in global form and the distribution of the securities will be cleared through one or more of the clearing systems that we have described above or any other clearing system that is specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Payment for securities will be made on a delivery versus payment or free delivery basis. These payment procedures will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Clearance and settlement procedures may vary from one series of securities to another according to the currency that is chosen for the specific series of securities. Customary clearance and settlement procedures are described below.

We will submit applications to the relevant system or systems for the securities to be accepted for clearance. The clearance numbers that are applicable to each clearance system will be specified in the prospectus supplement.

Clearance and Settlement Procedures—DTC

DTC participants that hold securities through DTC on behalf of investors will follow the settlement practices applicable to United States corporate debt obligations in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System.

Securities will be credited to the securities custody accounts of these DTC participants against payment in same-day funds, for payments in U.S. dollars, on the settlement date. For payments in a currency other than U.S. dollars, securities will be credited free of payment on the settlement date.

Clearance and Settlement Procedures—Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg

We understand that investors that hold their securities through Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg accounts will follow the settlement procedures that are applicable to conventional Eurobonds in registered form for securities.

Securities will be credited to the securities custody accounts of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg participants on the business day following the settlement date, for value on the settlement date. They will be credited either free of payment or against payment for value on the settlement date.

Secondary Market Trading

Trading Between DTC Participants

Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC’s rules. Secondary market trading will be settled using procedures applicable to United States corporate debt obligations in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System for securities.

 

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If payment is made in U.S. dollars, settlement will be in same-day funds. If payment is made in a currency other than U.S. dollars, settlement will be free of payment. If payment is made other than in U.S. dollars, separate payment arrangements outside of the DTC system must be made between the DTC participants involved.

Trading Between Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg Participants

We understand that secondary market trading between Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg participants will occur in the ordinary way following the applicable rules and operating procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg. Secondary market trading will be settled using procedures applicable to conventional Eurobonds in registered form for securities.

Trading Between a DTC Seller and a Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg Purchaser

A purchaser of securities that are held in the account of a DTC participant must send instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg at least one business day prior to settlement. The instructions will provide for the transfer of the securities from the selling DTC participant’s account to the account of the purchasing Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg participant. Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, will then instruct the common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg to receive the securities either against payment or free of payment.

The interests in the securities will be credited to the respective clearing system. The clearing system will then credit the account of the participant, following its usual procedures. Credit for the securities will appear on the next day, European time. Cash debit will be back-valued to, and the interest on the securities will accrue from, the value date, which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New York. If the trade fails and settlement is not completed on the intended date, the Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg cash debit will be valued as of the actual settlement date instead.

Euroclear participants or Clearstream, Luxembourg participants will need the funds necessary to process same-day funds settlement. The most direct means of doing this is to pre-position funds for settlement, either from cash or from existing lines of credit, as for any settlement occurring within Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg. Under this approach, participants may take on credit exposure to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg until the securities are credited to their accounts one business day later.

As an alternative, if Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg has extended a line of credit to them, participants can choose not to pre-position funds and will instead allow that credit line to be drawn upon to finance settlement. Under this procedure, Euroclear participants or Clearstream, Luxembourg participants purchasing securities would incur overdraft charges for one business day (assuming they cleared the overdraft as soon as the securities were credited to their accounts). However, any interest on the securities would accrue from the value date. Therefore, in many cases, the investment income on securities that is earned during that one-business day period may substantially reduce or offset the amount of the overdraft charges. This result will, however, depend on each participant’s particular cost of funds.

Because the settlement will take place during New York business hours, DTC participants will use their usual procedures to deliver securities to the depositary on behalf of Euroclear participants or Clearstream, Luxembourg participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC seller on the settlement date. For the DTC participants, then, a cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two DTC participants.

Special Timing Considerations

You should be aware that you will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the securities through Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.

 

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In addition, because of time-zone differences, there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States. U.S. investors who wish to transfer their interests in the securities, or to receive or make a payment or delivery of the securities, on a particular day, may find that the transactions will not be performed until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, depending on whether Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear is used.

 

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TAX CONSIDERATIONS

U.S. Taxation of Debt Securities

This section describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning debt securities. It applies to you only if you acquire your debt securities in an offering and you hold your debt securities as capital assets for tax purposes.

This section does not describe the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning contingent capital securities and ordinary shares. The material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning contingent capital securities and ordinary shares will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement.

This section does not apply to you if you are a member of a special class of holders subject to special rules, including:

 

   

a dealer in securities or currencies;

 

   

a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities holdings;

 

   

a tax-exempt organization;

 

   

an insurance company;

 

   

a regulated investment company;

 

   

a person that holds debt securities as part of a straddle or a hedging or conversion transaction for tax purposes or as part of a “synthetic security” or other integrated financial transaction;

 

   

a person that purchases or sells debt securities as part of a wash sale for tax purposes;

 

   

a U.S. holder (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

 

   

an entity taxed as a partnership or the partners therein;

 

   

a U.S. expatriate;

 

   

nonresident alien individuals present in the United States for more than 182 days in a taxable year;

 

   

a bank; or

 

   

a person liable for alternative minimum tax.

This section is based on the Code, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations, under the Code, published rulings and court decisions, all as in effect as of the date hereof, as well as on the income tax convention between the United States of America and the United Kingdom (the “Treaty”). These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.

This section deals only with debt securities that are due to mature 30 years or less from the date on which they are issued. The U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning debt securities that are due to mature more than 30 years from their issue date will be discussed in an applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, this section does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning convertible or exchangeable debt securities; the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning convertible or exchangeable debt securities will be addressed in the applicable prospectus supplement. This section also does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning bearer securities. U.S. holders of certain bearer securities may be subject to additional, adverse U.S. federal income tax rules. Dated Subordinated Debt Securities may be subject to additional U.S. federal income tax rules which will be discussed in the relevant prospectus supplement.

This section addresses only U.S. federal income tax consequences, and does not address consequences arising under U.S. state, local, non-U.S. tax laws or the Medicare tax on net investment income or under special timing rules prescribed under section 451(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

 

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You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state and local and other tax consequences of owning and disposing of debt securities in your particular circumstances.

U.S. Holders

This subsection describes the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. holder of owning debt securities. You are a U.S. holder if you are a beneficial owner of debt securities and you are for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

   

a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a domestic corporation; or

 

   

otherwise subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a net income basis in respect of the debt securities.

If you are not a U.S. holder, this subsection does not apply to you, and you should refer to “— Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders” below.

Payments of Interest

Except as described below in the case of interest on a discount debt security that is not qualified stated interest, each as defined below under “—Original Issue Discount—General,” you will be taxed on any interest on your debt securities, excluding any pre-issuance accrued interest, as ordinary income at the time you receive the interest or when it accrues, depending on your method of accounting for tax purposes. If payments of this kind are made with respect to a debt security denominated in a single currency other than the U.S. dollar (a “foreign currency debt security”), the amount of interest income realized by a U.S. holder that uses the cash method of tax accounting will be the U.S. dollar value of such foreign currency payment based on the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt regardless of whether the payment in fact is converted into U.S. dollars. A U.S. holder that uses the accrual method of accounting for tax purposes will accrue interest income on the debt security in the relevant foreign currency and translate the amount accrued into U.S. dollars based on the average exchange rate in effect during the interest accrual period (or portion thereof within the U.S. holder’s taxable year), or, at the accrual basis U.S. holder’s election, at the spot rate of exchange on the last day of the accrual period (or the last day of the taxable year within such accrual period if the accrual period spans more than one taxable year), or at the spot rate of exchange on the date of receipt, if this date is within five business days of the last day of the accrual period. A U.S. holder that makes this election must apply it consistently to all debt instruments from year to year and cannot change the election without the consent of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). A U.S. holder that uses the accrual method of accounting for tax purposes will recognize foreign currency gain or loss, as the case may be, on the receipt of an interest payment made with respect to a foreign currency debt security if the exchange rate in effect on the date the payment is received differs from the rate applicable to a previous accrual of that interest income. Amounts attributable to pre-issuance accrued interest will generally not be includable in income, except to the extent of foreign currency gain or loss attributable to any changes in exchange rates during the period between the date the U.S. Holder acquired the debt security and the first interest payment date. This foreign currency gain or loss will be treated as ordinary income or loss but generally will not be treated as an adjustment to interest income received on the debt security.

Interest paid by us on the debt securities and original issue discount (or “OID”), if any, accrued with respect to the debt securities (as described below under “Original Issue Discount”) is income from sources outside the United States subject to the rules regarding the foreign tax credit allowable to a U.S. holder. Under the foreign tax credit rules, interest and OID will generally be “passive” income for purposes of computing the foreign tax credit.

Original Issue Discount

General. If you own a debt security, other than a short-term debt security with a term of one year or less, it will be treated as a discount debt security issued at an original issue discount if the amount by which the debt

 

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security’s stated redemption price at maturity exceeds its issue price is more than a de minimis amount. Generally, a debt security’s issue price will be the first price at which a substantial amount of debt securities included in the issue of which the debt security is a part is sold to persons other than bond houses, brokers, or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents, or wholesalers. A debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity is the total of all payments provided by the debt security that are not payments of qualified stated interest. Generally, an interest payment on a debt security is qualified stated interest if it is one of a series of stated interest payments on a debt security that are unconditionally payable at least annually at a single fixed rate, with certain exceptions for lower rates paid during some periods, applied to the outstanding principal amount of the debt security. There are special rules for variable rate debt securities that are discussed under “—Variable Rate Debt Securities.”

In general, your debt security is not a discount debt security if the amount by which its stated redemption price at maturity exceeds its issue price is less than 1/4 of 1% of its stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to its maturity. Your debt security will have de minimis OID if the amount of the excess is less than this amount. If your debt security has de minimis OID, you must include the de minimis amount in income as stated principal payments are made on the debt security, unless you make the election described below under “—Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount.” You can determine the includible amount with respect to each such payment by multiplying the total amount of your debt security’s de minimis OID by a fraction equal to:

 

   

the amount of the principal payment made divided by:

 

   

the stated principal amount of the debt security.

Generally, if your discount debt security matures more than one year from its issue date, you must include OID in income before you receive cash attributable to that income. The amount of OID that you must include in income is calculated using a constant-yield method, and generally you will include increasingly greater amounts of OID in income over the life of your debt security. More specifically, you can calculate the amount of OID that you must include in income by adding the daily portions of OID with respect to your discount debt security for each day during the taxable year or portion of the taxable year that you hold your discount debt security. You can determine the daily portion by allocating to each day in any accrual period a pro rata portion of the OID allocable to that accrual period. You may select an accrual period of any length with respect to your discount debt security and you may vary the length of each accrual period over the term of your discount debt security. However, no accrual period may be longer than one year and each scheduled payment of interest or principal on the discount debt security must occur on either the first or final day of an accrual period.

You can determine the amount of OID allocable to an accrual period by:

 

   

multiplying your discount debt security’s adjusted issue price at the beginning of the accrual period by your debt security’s yield to maturity; and then

 

   

subtracting from this figure the sum of the payments of qualified stated interest on your debt security allocable to the accrual period.

You must determine the discount debt security’s yield to maturity on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and adjusting for the length of each accrual period. Further, you determine your discount debt security’s adjusted issue price at the beginning of any accrual period by:

 

   

adding your discount debt security’s issue price (and any accrued interest, if any) and any accrued OID for each prior accrual period; and then

 

   

subtracting any payments previously made on your discount debt security that were not qualified stated interest payments.

If an interval between payments of qualified stated interest on your discount debt security contains more than one accrual period, then, when you determine the amount of OID allocable to an accrual period, you must

 

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allocate the amount of qualified stated interest payable at the end of the interval, including any qualified stated interest that is payable on the first day of the accrual period immediately following the interval, pro rata to each accrual period in the interval based on their relative lengths. In addition, you must increase the adjusted issue price at the beginning of each accrual period in the interval by the amount of any qualified stated interest that has accrued prior to the first day of the accrual period but that is not payable until the end of the interval. You may compute the amount of OID allocable to an initial short accrual period by using any reasonable method if all other accrual periods, other than a final short accrual period, are of equal length.

The amount of OID allocable to the final accrual period is equal to the difference between:

 

   

the amount payable at the maturity of your debt security, other than any payment of qualified stated interest; and

 

   

your debt security’s adjusted issue price as of the beginning of the final accrual period.

In the case of a discount debt security that is also a foreign currency debt security, a U.S. holder should determine the U.S. dollar amount includible in income as OID for each accrual period by (a) calculating the amount of OID allocable to each accrual period in such foreign currency using the constant-yield method described above, and (b) translating the amount of the foreign currency so derived at the average exchange rate in effect during that accrual period (or portion thereof within a U.S. holder’s taxable year) or, at the U.S. holder’s election (as described above under “—Payments of Interest”), at the spot rate of exchange on the last day of the accrual period (or the last day of the taxable year within such accrual period if the accrual period spans more than one taxable year), or at the spot rate of exchange on the date of receipt, if that date is within five business days of the last day of the accrual period. Because exchange rates may fluctuate, a U.S. holder of a discount debt security that is also a foreign currency debt security may recognize a different amount of OID income in each accrual period than would the holder of an otherwise similar discount debt security denominated in U.S. dollars. All payments on a discount debt security, other than payments of qualified stated interest, will generally be viewed first as payments of previously accrued OID to the extent thereof, with payments attributed first to the earliest-accrued OID, and then as payments of principal. Upon the receipt of an amount attributable to OID (whether in connection with a payment of an amount that is not qualified stated interest or the sale or retirement of the discount debt security), a U.S. holder will recognize ordinary income or loss measured by the difference between the amount received (translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt or on the date of disposition of the discount debt security, as the case may be) and the amount accrued (using the exchange rate applicable to such previous accrual).

Acquisition Premium. If you purchase your debt security for an amount that is less than or equal to the sum of all amounts, other than qualified stated interest, payable on your debt security after the purchase date but is greater than the amount of your debt security’s adjusted issue price, as determined above under “—General,” the excess over the adjusted issue price is acquisition premium. If you do not make the election described below under “—Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount,” then you must reduce the daily portions of OID by a fraction equal to:

 

   

the excess of your adjusted basis in the debt security immediately after purchase over the adjusted issue price of the debt security;

divided by:

 

   

the excess of the sum of all amounts payable, other than qualified stated interest, on the debt security after the purchase date over the debt security’s adjusted issue price.

Variable Rate Debt Securities. A floating rate debt security generally will be treated as a “variable rate debt instrument” under applicable Treasury regulations. Accordingly, the stated interest on a floating rate debt security generally will be treated as “qualified stated interest” and such debt security will not have OID solely as a result of the fact that it provides for interest at a variable rate. If a floating rate debt security qualifying as a

 

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“variable rate debt instrument” is a discount debt security, for purposes of determining the amount of OID allocable to each accrual period under the rules above, the debt security’s “yield to maturity” and “qualified stated interest” will generally be determined as though the debt security bore interest in all periods at a fixed rate determined at the time of issuance of the debt security. Additional rules may apply if interest on a floating rate debt security is based on more than one interest index. If a floating rate debt security does not qualify as a “variable rate debt instrument,” the debt security will be subject to special rules that govern the tax treatment of contingent payment obligations.

Debt Securities Subject to Contingencies, Including Optional Redemption. Your debt security is subject to a contingency if it provides for an alternative payment schedule or schedules applicable upon the occurrence of a contingency or contingencies, other than a remote or incidental contingency, whether such contingency relates to payments of interest or of principal. In such a case, you must determine the yield and maturity of your debt security by assuming that the payments will be made according to the payment schedule most likely to occur if:

 

   

the timing and amounts of the payments that comprise each payment schedule are known as of the issue date; and

 

   

one of such schedules is significantly more likely than not to occur.

If there is no single payment schedule that is significantly more likely than not to occur, other than because of a mandatory sinking fund, and the debt security is not subject to other rules for debt securities with contingent payments, you must include income on your debt security in accordance with the general rules that govern contingent payment obligations. If applicable, these rules will be discussed in the relevant prospectus supplement.

Notwithstanding the general rules for determining yield and maturity, if your debt security is subject to contingencies, and either you or we have an unconditional option or options that, if exercised, would require payments to be made on the debt security under an alternative payment schedule or schedules, then:

 

   

in the case of an option or options that we may exercise, we will be deemed to exercise or not exercise an option or a combination of options in the manner that minimizes the yield on your debt security; and,

 

   

in the case of an option or options that you may exercise, you will be deemed to exercise or not exercise an option or a combination of options in the manner that maximizes the yield on your debt security.

If both you and we hold options described in the preceding sentence, those rules will apply to each option in the order in which they may be exercised. You may determine the yield on your debt security for the purposes of those calculations by using any date on which your debt security may be redeemed or repurchased as the maturity date and the amount payable on the date that you chose in accordance with the terms of your debt security as the principal amount payable at maturity.

If a contingency, including the exercise of an option, actually occurs or does not occur contrary to an assumption made according to the above rules then, except to the extent that a portion of your debt security is repaid as a result of this change in circumstances and solely to determine the amount and accrual of OID, you must redetermine the yield and maturity of your debt security by treating your debt security as having been retired and reissued on the date of the change in circumstances for an amount equal to your debt security’s adjusted issue price on that date.

Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount. You may elect to include in gross income all interest that accrues on your debt security using the constant-yield method described above under “—General,” with the modifications described below. For purposes of this election, interest will include stated interest, OID, de minimis OID, market discount, de minimis market discount and unstated interest, as adjusted by any

 

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amortizable bond premium, described below under “—Debt Securities Purchased at a Premium,” or acquisition premium.

If you make this election for your debt security, then, when you apply the constant-yield method:

 

   

the issue price of your debt security will equal your cost;

 

   

the issue date of your debt security will be the date you acquired it; and

 

   

no payments on your debt security will be treated as payments of qualified stated interest.

Generally, this election will apply only to the debt security for which you make it; however, if the debt security has amortizable bond premium, you will be deemed to have made an election to apply amortizable bond premium against interest for all debt instruments with amortizable bond premium, other than debt instruments the interest on which is excludible from gross income, that you hold as of the beginning of the taxable year to which the election applies or thereafter. Additionally, if you make this election for a market discount debt security, you will be treated as having made the election discussed below under “—Market Discount” to include market discount in income currently over the life of all debt instruments having market discount that you acquire on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election applies. You may not revoke any election to apply the constant-yield method to all interest on a debt security or the deemed elections with respect to amortizable bond premium or market discount debt securities without the consent of the IRS.

Short-Term Debt Securities. In general, if you are an individual or other cash basis U.S. holder of a short-term debt security, you are not required to accrue OID, as specially defined below for the purposes of this paragraph, for U.S. federal income tax purposes unless you elect to do so (generally you will be required to include any stated interest in income as you receive it). If you are an accrual basis taxpayer, a taxpayer in a special class, including, but not limited to, a regulated investment company, common trust fund, or a certain type of pass-through entity, or a cash basis taxpayer who so elects, you will be required to accrue OID on short-term debt securities on either a straight-line basis or under the constant-yield method, based on daily compounding. If you are not required and do not elect to include OID in income currently, any gain you realize on the sale or retirement of your short-term debt security will be ordinary income to the extent of the accrued OID, which will be determined on a straight-line basis unless you make an election to accrue the OID under the constant-yield method, through the date of sale or retirement. However, if you are not required and do not elect to accrue OID on your short-term debt securities, you will be required to defer deductions for interest on borrowings allocable to your short-term debt securities in an amount not exceeding the deferred income until the deferred income is realized.

When you determine the amount of OID subject to these rules, you must include all interest payments on your short-term debt security, including stated interest, in your short-term debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity.

Alternatively, a U.S. holder of a short-term debt security can elect to accrue the “acquisition discount,” if any, with respect to the short-term debt security on a current basis. If such an election is made, the OID rules will not apply to the short-term debt security. Acquisition discount is the excess of the short-term debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity over the purchase price. Acquisition discount will be treated as accruing ratably or, at the election of the U.S. holder, under a constant-yield method based on daily compounding.

Market Discount

You would be treated as if you purchased your debt security, other than a short-term debt security, at a market discount and your debt security will be a market discount debt security if:

 

   

you purchase your debt security for less than its issue price as determined above under “Original Issue Discount—General”; and

 

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the difference between the debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity or, in the case of a discount debt security, the debt security’s revised issue price, and the price you paid for your debt security is equal to or greater than 1/4 of 1% of your debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity or revised issue price, respectively, multiplied by the number of complete years to the debt security’s maturity. To determine the revised issue price of your debt security for these purposes, you generally add any OID that has accrued on your debt security to its issue price.

If your debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity or, in the case of a discount debt security, its revised issue price, exceeds the price you paid for the debt security by less than 1/4 of 1% multiplied by the number of complete years to the debt security’s maturity, the excess constitutes de minimis market discount, and the rules discussed below are not applicable to you.

You must treat any gain you recognize on the maturity or disposition of your market discount debt security as ordinary income to the extent of the accrued market discount on your debt security. Alternatively, you may elect to include market discount in income currently over the life of your debt security. Any accrued market discount on a foreign currency debt security that is currently includible in income will be translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for the accrual period (or portion thereof within the U.S. holder’s taxable year). If you make this election, it will apply to all debt instruments with market discount that you acquire on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election applies. You may not revoke this election without the consent of the IRS. If you own a market discount debt security and do not make this election, you would generally be required to defer deductions for interest on borrowings allocable to your debt security in an amount not exceeding the accrued market discount on your debt security until the maturity or disposition of your debt security.

If you own a market discount debt security, the market discount debt security would accrue on a straight-line basis unless you elect to accrue market discount using a constant-yield method. Market discount on a foreign currency debt security will be accrued by a U.S. holder in the such foreign currency. The amount includible in income by a U.S. holder in respect of such accrued market discount will be the U.S. dollar value of the amount accrued, generally calculated at the exchange rate in effect on the date that the debt security is disposed of by the U.S. holder. If you make this election, it would apply only to the debt security with respect to which it is made and you may not revoke it. You would, however, not include accrued market discount in income unless you elect to do so as described above.

Debt Securities Purchased at a Premium

If you purchase your debt security for an amount in excess of its principal amount (or, in the case of a discount debt security, in excess of the sum of all amounts payable on the debt security after the acquisition date (other than payments of qualified stated interest)), you may elect to treat the excess as amortizable bond premium. If you make this election, you will reduce the amount required to be included in your income each accrual period with respect to interest on your debt security by the amount of amortizable bond premium allocable to that accrual period, based on your debt security’s yield to maturity. If you elect to amortize the premium, you must reduce your tax basis in your debt security by the amount of the premium amortized during your holding period.

If the amortizable bond premium allocable to an accrual period exceeds your interest income from your debt security for such accrual period, such excess is first allowed as a deduction to the extent of interest included in your income in respect of the debt security in previous accrual periods and is then carried forward to your next accrual period. If the amortizable bond premium allocable and carried forward to the accrual period in which your debt security is sold, retired or otherwise disposed of exceeds your interest income for such accrual period, you would be allowed an ordinary deduction equal to such excess.

If you make an election to amortize bond premium, it will apply to all debt instruments, other than debt instruments the interest on which is excludible from gross income, that you hold at the beginning of the first

 

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taxable year to which the election applies or that you thereafter acquire, and you may not revoke it without the consent of the IRS. See also “—Original Issue Discount—Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount.”

In the case of premium in respect of a foreign currency debt security, a U.S. holder should calculate the amortization of the premium in such foreign currency. Amortization deductions attributable to a period reduce interest payments in respect of that period and therefore are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate used by the U.S. holder for such interest payments. Exchange gain or loss will be realized with respect to amortized bond premium on such a debt security based on the difference between the exchange rate on the date or dates the premium is recovered through interest payments on the Note and the exchange rate on the date on which the U.S. holder acquired the debt security.

With respect to a U.S. holder that does not elect to amortize bond premium, the amount of bond premium will be included in the U.S. holder’s tax basis when the debt security matures or is disposed of by the U.S. holder. Therefore, a U.S. holder that does not elect to amortize such premium and holds the debt security to maturity will generally be required to treat the premium as a capital loss at maturity

Purchase, Sale and Retirement of the Debt Securities

Your tax basis in your debt security will generally be your cost of your debt security adjusted by:

 

   

adding any OID or market discount previously included in income with respect to your debt security; and then

 

   

subtracting any payments on your debt security that are not qualified stated interest payments and any amortizable bond premium to the extent that such premium either reduced interest income on your debt security or gave rise to a deduction on your debt security.

In the case of a foreign currency debt security, the cost of such debt security to a U.S. holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency purchase price on the date of purchase. In the case of a foreign currency debt security that is traded on an established securities market, a cash basis U.S. holder (and, if it so elects, an accrual basis U.S. holder) will determine the U.S. dollar value of the cost of such debt security by translating the amount paid at the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date of the purchase. The amount of any subsequent adjustments to a U.S. holder’s tax basis in a debt security in respect of original issue discount, market discount and premium denominated in such foreign currency will be determined in the manner described under “Original Issue Discount”, “Market Discount” and “Debt Securities Purchased at a Premium” above. The conversion of U.S. dollars to a foreign currency and the immediate use of the foreign currency to purchase a foreign currency debt security generally will not result in taxable gain or loss for a U.S. holder.

You will generally recognize gain or loss on the sale or retirement of your debt security equal to the difference between the amount you realize on the sale or retirement, excluding any amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest (which will be treated as interest payments), and your tax basis in your debt security. If a U.S. holder receives a currency other than the U.S. dollar in respect of the sale, exchange or retirement of a debt security, the amount realized generally will be the U.S. dollar value of such foreign currency received calculated at the exchange rate in effect on the date the instrument is disposed of or retired for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the case of a foreign currency debt security that is traded on an established securities market, a cash basis U.S. holder, and if it so elects, an accrual basis U.S. holder will determine the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized by translating such amount at the spot rate on the settlement date of the sale. An accrual method taxpayer that does not elect to determine the amount realized using the spot rate on the settlement date will recognize foreign currency gain or loss equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount received based on the spot exchange rates in effect on the date of the sale, exchange or retirement and the settlement date. The election available to accrual basis U.S. holders in respect of the purchase and sale of foreign currency debt securities traded on an established securities market, discussed above, must be applied consistently to all debt instruments from year to year and cannot be changed without the consent of the IRS.

 

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You will recognize capital gain or loss when you sell or retire your debt security, except to the extent described above under “—Original Issue Discount—Short-Term Debt Securities,” “—Market Discount” or foreign currency gain or loss.

Capital gain of a non-corporate U.S. holder is generally taxed at preferential rates where the holder has a holding period of greater than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Such gain or loss will generally be income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.

Gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder on the sale, exchange or retirement of a foreign currency debt security generally will be treated as ordinary income or loss to the extent that the gain or loss is attributable to changes in exchange rates during the period in which the holder held such debt security. This foreign currency gain or loss will not be treated as an adjustment to interest income received on the debt securities. Such foreign currency gain or loss will generally be income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.

Foreign Currency Notes and Reportable Transactions

A U.S. holder that participates in a “reportable transaction” will be required to disclose its participation to the IRS. The scope and application of these rules is not entirely clear. A U.S. holder may be required to treat a foreign currency exchange loss relating to a foreign currency debt security as a reportable transaction if the loss exceeds $50,000 in a single taxable year if the U.S. holder is an individual or trust, or higher amounts for other U.S. holders. In the event the acquisition, ownership or disposition of a foreign currency debt security constitutes participation in a “reportable transaction” for purposes of these rules, a U.S. holder will be required to disclose its investment to the IRS, currently on Form 8886. Prospective purchasers should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules to the acquisition, ownership or disposition of foreign currency debt securities.

Information with Respect to Foreign Financial Assets

Individual U.S. holders of “specified foreign financial assets” with an aggregate value in excess of $50,000 on the last day of the taxable year or $75,000 at any time during the taxable year are generally required to file an information report with respect to such assets with their tax returns. “Specified foreign financial assets” may include financial accounts maintained by foreign financial institutions, as well as the following, but only if they are held for investment and not held in accounts maintained by financial institutions: (i) stocks and securities issued by non-U.S. persons, (ii) financial instruments and contracts that have non-U.S. issuers or counterparties, and (iii) interests in foreign entities. Higher reporting thresholds apply to certain individuals living abroad and to certain married individuals. Regulations extend this reporting requirement to certain entities that are treated as formed or availed of to hold direct or indirect interests in specified foreign financial assets based on certain objective criteria. U.S. holders who fail to report the required information could be subject to substantial penalties. In addition, the statute of limitations for assessment of tax would be suspended, in whole or part. The debt securities may be subject to these rules. U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of this reporting requirement to their ownership of the debt securities.

Other Debt Securities

The applicable prospectus supplement will discuss any special U.S. federal income tax rules with respect to debt securities the payments on which are determined by reference to any reference asset, debt securities that are denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar, debt securities that are convertible into ordinary shares of Barclays PLC and other debt securities that are subject to the rules governing contingent payment obligations. Any prospectus supplement discussing the U.S. federal income tax rules with respect to debt securities that are convertible into ordinary shares of Barclays PLC will also discuss the U.S. federal income tax rules with respect to such ordinary shares.

 

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Non-U.S. Holders

This subsection describes the tax consequences to a non-U.S. holder of owning and disposing of debt securities. You are a non-U.S. holder if you are a beneficial owner of a debt security and you are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

   

a non-resident alien individual;

 

   

a non-U.S. corporation; or

 

   

an estate or trust, that in either case is not a U.S. holder.

If you are a U.S. holder, this subsection does not apply to you.

Interest on Debt Securities. If you are a non-U.S. holder, subject to the discussion of backup withholding and FATCA below, interest paid to you with respect to debt securities will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, including withholding tax. However, to receive this exemption a non-U.S. holder may be required to satisfy certification requirements, described below under “—Information Reporting and Backup Withholding,” to establish that it is not a U.S. holder.

Disposition of the Debt Securities. If you are a non-U.S. holder, subject to the discussions below under “—Information Reporting and Backup Withholding,” you generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on the sale, exchange or retirement of your debt security.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Withholding

Certain non-U.S. financial institutions must comply with information reporting requirements or certification requirements in respect of their direct and indirect United States shareholders and/or United States accountholders to avoid becoming subject to withholding on certain payments. Barclays PLC and other non-U.S. financial institutions may accordingly be required to report information to the IRS regarding the holders of the debt securities and to withhold at a 30% rate on all or a portion of payments on the debt securities to certain holders that fail to comply with the relevant information reporting requirements (or hold the debt securities directly or indirectly through certain non-compliant intermediaries), if those payments are treated as “foreign passthru payments.” Under current regulations, the term “foreign passthru payments” is not defined, and it is not clear whether or to what extent payments on the debt securities may be subject to this withholding tax. However, the IRS has indicated that it will not apply withholding tax to any “foreign passthru payments” made prior to two years after the date on which final regulations on this issue are published in the U.S. Federal Register. Moreover, such withholding would only apply to securities issued at least six months after the date on which final regulations implementing such rule are filed with the U.S. Federal Register.

If such withholding is required, Barclays PLC will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to any such amounts withheld. A beneficial owner of debt securities that is not a foreign financial institution generally will be entitled to a refund of any such amounts withheld, but this may entail significant administrative burden. U.S. holders and non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding the application of such withholding tax to their ownership of the debt securities.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

In general, if you are a noncorporate U.S. holder, information reporting requirements, on IRS Form 1099, generally would apply to payments of principal and interest, and the accrual of OID on a debt security within the United States, and the payment of proceeds to you from the sale of a debt security effected at a United States office of a broker.

Additionally, backup withholding may apply to such payments if you fail to comply with applicable certification requirements or (in the case of interest payments) are notified by the IRS that you have failed to report all interest and dividends required to be shown on your federal income tax returns.

 

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If you are a non-U.S. holder, you are generally exempt from backup withholding and information reporting requirements with respect to payments of principal and interest made to you outside the United States by us or another non-U.S. payor. You are also generally exempt from backup withholding and information reporting requirements in respect of payments of principal and interest made within the United States and the payment of the proceeds from the sale of a debt security effected at a United States office of a broker, as long as either (i) the payor or broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a U.S. person and you have furnished a valid IRS Form W-8 or other documentation upon which the payor or broker may rely to treat the payments as made to a non-U.S. person, or (ii) you otherwise establish an exemption.

Payment of the proceeds from the sale of a debt security effected at a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, a sale effected at a foreign office of a broker could be subject to information reporting in the same manner as a sale within the United States (and in certain cases may be subject to backup withholding as well) if (i) the broker has certain connections to the United States, (ii) the proceeds or confirmation are sent to the United States or (iii) the sale has certain other specified connections with the United States.

You generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceed your income tax liability by filing a refund claim with the IRS.

United Kingdom Taxation of Senior Debt Securities

Introduction

The following is a summary of the United Kingdom withholding and other tax considerations at the date hereof with respect to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Senior Debt Securities by persons who are the absolute beneficial owners of their Senior Debt Securities and who are neither (a) resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes nor (b) hold the Securities in connection with any trade or business carried on in the United Kingdom through any branch, agency or permanent establishment in the United Kingdom. It is based upon the opinion of Clifford Chance LLP, our United Kingdom solicitors. This summary relates only to the position of persons who are absolute beneficial owners of the Senior Debt Securities and may not apply to certain classes of persons, such as dealers in securities.

The summary is based on current law and the published practice of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) which may not be binding on HMRC and may be subject to change, sometimes with retrospective effect.

The following is a general guide for information purposes and should be treated with appropriate caution. It is not intended as tax advice and it does not purport to describe all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a prospective purchaser. If you are in any doubt as to your tax position you should consult professional advisers. You should consult your own tax advisors concerning the consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of the Senior Debt Securities in your particular circumstances, including the applicability and effect of the Treaty. You should be aware that the particular terms of any particular series of Senior Debt Securities as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement may affect the tax treatment of those Senior Debt Securities. Additionally, holders of Senior Debt Securities should be aware that the tax legislation of any jurisdiction where a holder is resident or otherwise subject to taxation (as well as the jurisdictions mentioned herein) may have an impact on the tax consequences of an investment in the Senior Debt Securities including in respect of any income received from the Senior Debt Securities.

This summary assumes that the Senior Debt Securities will not be issued or transferred to any depositary receipt system.

 

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Payments of Interest

Where interest on the Senior Debt Securities has a United Kingdom source for United Kingdom tax purposes, Senior Debt Securities that carry a right to interest will constitute “quoted Eurobonds” within the meaning of Section 987 of the Income Tax Act 2007 (the “ITA”), provided they are and continue to be listed on a “recognized stock exchange” within the meaning of Section 1005 of the ITA for the purposes of Section 987 of the ITA or admitted to trading on a “multilateral trading facility” operated by a regulated recognized stock exchange (within the meaning of Section 987 of the ITA). The NYSE is a “recognized stock exchange” for these purposes and accordingly the Senior Debt Securities will constitute quoted Eurobonds provided that they are and continue to be listed officially in the United States and are admitted to trading on the main market of the NYSE. Accordingly, payments of interest on the Senior Debt Securities made by us or any paying agent (or received by any collecting agent) may be made (or received, as the case may be) without withholding or deduction for or on account of United Kingdom income tax provided the Senior Debt Securities are listed on a “recognized stock exchange” at the time the interest is paid.

In all cases falling outside the above exemption, interest on the Senior Debt Securities may fall to be paid under deduction of United Kingdom income tax at the basic rate (currently 20%). However, such withholding or deduction will not apply if the relevant interest is paid on Senior Debt Securities with a maturity of less than one year from the date of issuance and which are not issued under a scheme of arrangements the effect or intention of which is, to render such Senior Debt Securities part of a borrowing with a total term of a year or more.

Where interest has been paid under deduction of United Kingdom income tax, holders who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be able to recover all or part of the tax deducted if there is an appropriate provision in any applicable double taxation treaty.

Payments made in respect of the Senior Debt Securities may be subject to United Kingdom tax by direct assessment even where such payments are paid without withholding or deduction. However, as regards a holder of Senior Debt Securities who is not resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes, payments made in respect of the Senior Debt Securities without withholding or deduction will generally not be subject to United Kingdom tax provided that the relevant holder does not carry on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency or (in the case of a company) carry on a trade or business in the United Kingdom through any permanent establishment in the United Kingdom in each case in connection with which the interest is received or to which the Senior Debt Securities are attributable, in which case (subject to exemptions for interest received by certain categories of agent) United Kingdom tax may be levied on the United Kingdom branch or agency, or permanent establishment.

The references to “interest” above mean “interest” as understood in United Kingdom tax law. The statements above do not take any account of any different definitions of “interest” or “principal” which may prevail under any other law or which may be created by the terms and conditions of the Senior Debt Securities or any related documentation. Holders should seek their own professional advice as regards the withholding tax treatment of any payment on the Senior Debt Securities which does not constitute “interest” or “principal” as those terms are understood in United Kingdom tax law. Where a payment on a security does not constitute (or is not treated as) interest for United Kingdom tax purposes, and the payment has a United Kingdom source, it would potentially be subject to United Kingdom withholding tax if, for example, it constitutes (or is treated as) an annual payment or a manufactured payment for United Kingdom tax purposes (which will be determined by, amongst other things, the terms and conditions specified by the particular terms of a particular series of Senior Debt Securities). In such a case, the payment may fall to be made under deduction of United Kingdom tax (the rate of withholding depending on the nature of the payment), subject to such relief as may be available.

Where Senior Debt Securities are issued at an issue price of less than 100 per cent of their principal amount, any discount element on any such Senior Debt Securities will not generally be subject to any United Kingdom withholding tax pursuant to the provisions mentioned above.

 

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The above description of the United Kingdom withholding tax position assumes that there will be no substitution of an issuer and does not consider the tax consequences of any such substitution.

Disposal (Including Redemption)

A holder of Senior Debt Securities who is not resident in the United Kingdom will not be liable to United Kingdom taxation in respect of a disposal (including redemption) of the Senior Debt Securities, any gain accrued in respect of the Senior Debt Securities or any change in the value of the Senior Debt Securities unless the holder carries on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency or, in the case of a company, through a permanent establishment and the Senior Debt Securities were used in or for the purposes of this trade, profession or vocation or acquired for the use by or for the purposes of the branch or agency or permanent establishment.

Where Senior Debt Securities are to be, or may fall to be, redeemed at a premium, as opposed to being issued at a discount, then any such element of premium may constitute a payment of interest. Payments of interest are subject to United Kingdom withholding tax as outlined above.

Inheritance tax

Where the Senior Debt Securities are not situate in the United Kingdom, beneficial owners of such Senior Debt Securities who are individuals not domiciled in the United Kingdom will not be subject to United Kingdom inheritance tax in respect of the Senior Debt Securities. “Domicile” usually has an extended meaning in respect of United Kingdom inheritance tax, so that a person who has been resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom for a certain period of time may be regarded as domiciled in the United Kingdom.

Where the Senior Debt Securities are situate in the United Kingdom, beneficial owners of such Senior Debt Securities who are individuals may be subject to United Kingdom inheritance tax in respect of such Senior Debt Securities on the death of the individual or, in some circumstances, if the Senior Debt Securities are the subject of a gift, including a transfer at less than full market value, by that individual. United Kingdom inheritance tax is not generally chargeable on gifts to individuals made more than seven years before the death of the donor. Subject to limited exclusions, gifts to settlements (which would include, very broadly, private trust arrangements) or to companies may give rise to an immediate United Kingdom inheritance tax charge. Senior Debt Securities held in settlements may also be subject to United Kingdom inheritance tax charges periodically during the continuance of the settlement, on transfers out of the settlement or on certain other events. Investors should take their own professional advice as to whether any particular arrangements constitute a settlement for United Kingdom inheritance tax purposes.

Exemption from or reduction in any United Kingdom inheritance tax liability may be available for U.S. holders under the double tax convention between the United Kingdom and the U.S. on taxes on estates, gifts and inheritance (the “Estate Tax Treaty”) made between the United Kingdom and the United States.

Generally under United Kingdom domestic law a registered security is situate where it is registered and a bearer security is situate where the bearer security is located. However, this is subject to provisions of any applicable double tax treaty. You should consult professional advisers if you are in any doubt as to your liability to United Kingdom inheritance tax.

Stamp Duty

Issue of securities

No United Kingdom stamp duty will generally be payable on the issue of Senior Debt Securities provided that, in the case of bearer Senior Debt Securities, a statutory exemption applies, such as the exemption for the Senior Debt Securities which constitute “loan capital” for the purposes of section 78(7) of the Finance Act 1986 (see below) or which are denominated in a currency other than sterling.

 

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Transfers of securities

No liability for United Kingdom stamp duty will arise on a transfer of, or an agreement to transfer, full legal and beneficial ownership of the Senior Debt Securities, provided that the Senior Debt Securities constitute “exempt loan capital.” Broadly, “exempt loan capital” is “loan capital” for the purposes of section 78(7) of the Finance Act 1986 which does not carry or (in the case of (ii), (iii) and (iv) below) has not at any time prior to the relevant transfer or agreement carried any of the following rights:

(i) a right of conversion into shares or other securities, or to the acquisition of shares or other securities, including loan capital of the same description;

(ii) a right to interest the amount of which exceeds a reasonable commercial return on the nominal amount of the capital;

(iii) a right to interest the amount of which falls or has fallen to be determined to any extent by reference to the results of, or of any part of, a business or to the value of any property; or

(iv) a right on repayment to an amount which exceeds the nominal amount of the capital and is not reasonably comparable with what is generally repayable (in respect of a similar nominal amount of capital) under the terms of issue of loan capital listed in the Official List of the FCA.

Even if a security does not constitute exempt loan capital (a “Non-Exempt Security”), no United Kingdom stamp duty will arise on transfer of the security if the security is held within a clearing system and the transfer is effected by electronic means, without executing any written transfer of, or written agreement to transfer, the security.

Where a Non-Exempt Security is transferred by means of a written instrument, or a written agreement is entered into to transfer an interest in the security where such interest falls short of full legal and beneficial ownership of the security, the relevant instrument or agreement may be liable to United Kingdom stamp duty (at the rate of 0.5% of the consideration, rounded up if necessary to the nearest multiple of £5). If the relevant instrument or agreement is executed and retained outside the United Kingdom at all times, no United Kingdom stamp duty should, in practice, need to be paid on such document.

However, in the event that the relevant document is executed in or brought into the United Kingdom for any purpose, then United Kingdom stamp duty may be payable. Interest may also be payable on the amount of such stamp duty, unless the document is duly stamped within thirty (30) days after the day on which it was executed. Penalties for late stamping may also be payable on the stamping of such document (in addition to interest) unless the document is duly stamped within thirty (30) days after the day on which it was executed or, if the instrument was executed outside the United Kingdom, within thirty (30) days of it first being brought into the United Kingdom.

However, no United Kingdom stamp duty will be payable on any such written transfer, or written agreement to transfer, if the amount or value of the consideration for the transfer is £1,000 or under, and the document contains a statement that the transfer does not form part of a larger transaction or series of transactions in respect of which the amount or value, or aggregate amount or value, of the consideration exceeds £1,000.

In addition to the above, if a Non-Exempt Security is in registered form, and the security is transferred, or agreed to be transferred, to a clearance service provider or its nominee, United Kingdom stamp duty may be chargeable (at the rate of 1.5% of the consideration for the transfer or, if none, of the value of the relevant security, rounded up if necessary to the nearest multiple of £5) on any document effecting, or containing an agreement to effect, such a transfer (although see below, under “—Court of Justice of the European Union Decision”).

If a document is subject to stamp duty, it may not be produced in civil proceedings in the United Kingdom, and may not be available for any other purpose in the United Kingdom, until the United Kingdom stamp duty (and any interest and penalties for late stamping) have been paid.

 

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Redemption of securities

No United Kingdom stamp duty will generally be payable on the redemption of the Senior Debt Securities, provided no issue or transfer of shares or other securities is effected upon or in connection with such redemption.

Stamp Duty Reserve Tax

Issue of securities

No United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax will be payable on the issue of the Senior Debt Securities unless the Senior Debt Securities are issued directly to the provider of a clearance service or its nominee. In that case, United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax may be chargeable at the rate of 1.5% of the issue price of the Senior Debt Securities (although see below, under “—Court of Justice of the European Union Decision”). This charge may arise unless either (a) a statutory exemption is available or (b) the clearance service has made an election under section 97A of Finance Act 1986 which applies to the Senior Debt Securities. A statutory exemption from the charge will be available:

(i) if the securities constitute “exempt loan capital”; or

(ii) for certain bearer securities provided certain conditions are satisfied.

If this charge arises, the clearance service operator or its nominee will strictly be accountable for the stamp duty reserve tax, but in practice it will generally be reimbursed by participants in the clearance service.

Transfers of securities

No United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax will be chargeable on the transfer of, or on an agreement to transfer, full legal and beneficial ownership of a security which constitutes “exempt loan capital.”

If a Senior Debt Security is a “Non-Exempt Security,” United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax (at the rate of 0.5% of the consideration) may be chargeable on an unconditional agreement to transfer the Senior Debt. An exemption from the charge is available for certain securities in bearer form, provided certain conditions are satisfied. In addition, an exemption from the charge will be available if the Senior Debt Securities are held within a clearance service, provided the clearance service has not made an election pursuant to section 97A of the Finance Act 1986 which applies to the relevant Senior Debt Securities.

Any liability to United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax which arises on such an agreement may be removed if a transfer is executed pursuant to the agreement and either no United Kingdom stamp duty is chargeable on that transfer or the transfer is duly stamped within the prescribed time limits. Where United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax arises, subject to certain exceptions, it is normally the liability of the purchaser or transferee of the Senior Debt Securities. In addition to the above, stamp duty reserve tax may be chargeable (at the rate of 1.5% of the consideration for the transfer or, if none, of the value of the relevant security) on the transfer of a Non-Exempt Security to the provider of a clearance service or its nominee (although see below, under “—Court of Justice of the European Union Decision”). This charge will arise unless either (a) a statutory exemption is available or (b) the clearance service has made an election under section 97A of Finance Act 1986 which applies to the relevant Senior Debt Securities. If this charge arises, the clearance service operator or its nominee will strictly be accountable for the stamp duty reserve tax, but in practice it will generally be reimbursed by participants in the clearance service.

Redemption of securities

No United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax will generally be payable on the redemption of the Senior Debt Securities, provided no issuance or transfer of shares or other securities is effected upon or in connection with such redemption.

 

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Court of Justice of the European Union Decision

The Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) gave its decision in the case of HSBC Holdings plc, Vidacos Nominees Ltd v. The Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (Case C – 596/07) on October 1, 2009. In summary, it stated that the 1.5% charge to United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax on the issuance of shares to a clearance service is incompatible with the Council Directive 69/335/EEC(the “EC Capital Duty Directive”).

On April 27, 2012, following the decision of the First Tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) in HSBC Holdings PLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation v. The Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs [2012] UKFTT 163 (TC), HMRC announced that the 1.5% stamp duty reserve tax charge is no longer applicable to the issuance of United Kingdom shares and securities to clearance services or depositary receipt systems anywhere in the world.

The CJEU made no express comment with respect to the compatibility with EC law of the 1.5% United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax charge on the transfer of existing securities to (as opposed to issuance of new securities into) a clearance system. The position, in this regard, is therefore unclear, although HMRC’s view is that both the 1.5% United Kingdom stamp duty and depositary receipt systems charges continue to apply to the transfer of shares and securities to clearance services that are not an integral part of an issuance of share capital.

The U.K. has passed legislation, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, to preserve the effect of the decisions mentioned above following the U.K.’s exit from the European Union and the U.K. Government has previously stated that it does not propose to reintroduce the 1.5% charge.

Specific professional advice should be sought before paying the 1.5% United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax charge in any circumstances.

United Kingdom Taxation of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities

Introduction

The following is a summary of the United Kingdom withholding and other tax considerations at the date hereof with respect to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities by persons who are the absolute beneficial owners of their Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and who are neither (a) resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes nor (b) hold the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities in connection with any trade or business carried on in the United Kingdom through any branch, agency or permanent establishment in the United Kingdom. It is based upon the opinion of Clifford Chance LLP, our United Kingdom solicitors. This summary relates only to the position of persons who are absolute beneficial owners of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and may not apply to certain classes of persons, such as dealers in securities.

The summary is based on current law and the published practice of HMRC which may not be binding on HMRC and may be subject to change, sometimes with retrospective effect.

The following is a general guide for information purposes and should be treated with appropriate caution. It is not intended as tax advice and it does not purport to describe all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a prospective purchaser. If you are in any doubt as to your tax position you should consult professional advisers. You should consult your own tax advisors concerning the consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities in your particular circumstances, including the applicability and effect of the Treaty. You should be aware that the particular terms of any particular series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement may affect the tax treatment of those Dated Subordinated Debt Securities. Additionally, holders of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities should be aware that the tax legislation of any jurisdiction where a holder is resident or otherwise subject to taxation (as

 

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well as the jurisdictions mentioned herein) may have an impact on the tax consequences of an investment in the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities including in respect of any income received from the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities.

This summary assumes that the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities will not be issued or transferred to any depositary receipt system.

Payments of Interest

Where interest on the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities has a United Kingdom source for United Kingdom tax purposes, Dated Subordinated Debt Securities that carry a right to interest will constitute “quoted Eurobonds” within the meaning of Section 987 of the ITA, provided they are and continue to be listed on a “recognized stock exchange” within the meaning of Section 1005 of the ITA for the purposes of Section 987 of the ITA or admitted to trading on a “multilateral trading facility” operated by a regulated recognized stock exchange (within the meaning of Section 987 of the ITA). The NYSE is a “recognized stock exchange” for these purposes. The Dated Subordinated Debt Securities will be treated as listed on the NYSE if they are officially listed in the United States in accordance with the provisions corresponding to those generally applicable in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) states and are admitted to trading on the main market of the NYSE. Accordingly, payments of interest on the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities made by us or any paying agent (or received by any collecting agent) may be made (or received, as the case may be) without withholding or deduction for or on account of United Kingdom income tax provided the relevant Dated Subordinated Debt Securities are listed on a “recognized stock exchange” at the time the interest is paid.

In all cases falling outside the exemptions described above, interest on the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities may fall to be paid under deduction of United Kingdom income tax at the basic rate (currently 20%).

Where interest has been paid under deduction of United Kingdom income tax, holders who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be able to recover all or part of the tax deducted if there is an appropriate provision in any applicable double taxation treaty.

Payments made in respect of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities may be subject to United Kingdom tax by direct assessment even where such payments are paid without withholding or deduction. However, as regards a holder of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities who is not resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes, payments made in respect of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities without withholding or deduction will generally not be subject to United Kingdom tax provided that the relevant holder does not carry on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency or (in the case of a company) carry on a trade or business in the United Kingdom through any permanent establishment in the United Kingdom in each case in connection with which the interest is received or to which the relevant Dated Subordinated Debt Securities are attributable, in which case (subject to exemptions for interest received by certain categories of agent) United Kingdom tax may be levied on the United Kingdom branch or agency, or permanent establishment.

The references to “interest” above mean “interest” as understood in United Kingdom tax law. The statements above do not take any account of any different definitions of “interest” or “principal” which may prevail under any other law or which may be created by the terms and conditions of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or any related documentation. Holders should seek their own professional advice as regards the withholding tax treatment of any payment on the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities which does not constitute “interest” or “principal” as those terms are understood in United Kingdom tax law. Where a payment on a security does not constitute (or is not treated as) interest for United Kingdom tax purposes, and the payment has a United Kingdom source, it would potentially be subject to United Kingdom withholding tax if, for example, it constitutes (or is treated as) an annual payment or a manufactured payment for United Kingdom tax purposes (which will be determined by, amongst other things, the terms and conditions specified by the particular terms of the particular series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities). In such a case, the payment may fall to be made

 

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under deduction of United Kingdom tax (the rate of withholding depending on the nature of the payment), subject to such relief as may be available.

Where Dated Subordinated Debt Securities are issued at an issue price of less than 100% of their principal amount, any discount element on any such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities will not generally be subject to any United Kingdom withholding tax pursuant to the provisions mentioned above.

The above description of the United Kingdom withholding tax position assumes that there will be no substitution of an issuer and does not consider the tax consequences of any such substitution.

Disposal (Including Redemption)

A holder of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities who is not resident in the United Kingdom will not be liable to United Kingdom taxation in respect of a disposal (including redemption) of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, any gain accrued in respect of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or any change in the value of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities unless the holder carries on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency or, in the case of a company, through a permanent establishment and the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities were used in or for the purposes of this trade, profession or vocation or acquired for the use by or for the purposes of the branch or agency or permanent establishment.

Where Dated Subordinated Debt Securities are to be, or may fall to be, redeemed at a premium, as opposed to being issued at a discount, then any such element of premium may constitute a payment of interest. Payments of interest are subject to United Kingdom withholding tax as outlined above.

Inheritance tax

Where the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities are not situate in the United Kingdom, beneficial owners of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities who are individuals not domiciled in the United Kingdom will not be subject to United Kingdom inheritance tax in respect of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities. “Domicile” usually has an extended meaning in respect of United Kingdom inheritance tax, so that a person who has been resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom for a certain period of time may be regarded as domiciled in the United Kingdom.

Where the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities are situate in the United Kingdom, beneficial owners of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities who are individuals may be subject to United Kingdom inheritance tax in respect of such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities on the death of the individual or, in some circumstances, if the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities are the subject of a gift, including a transfer at less than full market value, by that individual. United Kingdom inheritance tax is not generally chargeable on gifts to individuals made more than seven years before the death of the donor. Subject to limited exclusions, gifts to settlements (which would include, very broadly, private trust arrangements) or to companies may give rise to an immediate United Kingdom inheritance tax charge. Dated Subordinated Debt Securities held in settlements may also be subject to United Kingdom inheritance tax charges periodically during the continuance of the settlement, on transfers out of the settlement or on certain other events. Investors should take their own professional advice as to whether any particular arrangements constitute a settlement for United Kingdom inheritance tax purposes.

Exemption from or reduction in any United Kingdom inheritance tax liability may be available for U.S. holders under the Estate Tax Treaty made between the United Kingdom and the United States.

Generally under United Kingdom domestic law a registered security is situate where it is registered and a bearer security is situate where the bearer security is located. However, this is subject to provisions of any applicable double tax treaty. You should consult professional advisers if you are in any doubt as to your liability to United Kingdom inheritance tax.

 

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Stamp Duty

Issue of securities

No United Kingdom stamp duty will generally be payable on the issue of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities provided that, in the case of bearer Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, a statutory exemption applies, such as the exemption for the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities which constitute “loan capital” for the purposes of section 78(7) of the Finance Act 1986 (see below) or which are denominated in a currency other than sterling.

Transfers of securities

No liability for United Kingdom stamp duty will arise on a transfer of, or an agreement to transfer, full legal and beneficial ownership of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, provided that the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities constitute “exempt loan capital.” Broadly, “exempt loan capital” is “loan capital” for the purposes of section 78(7) of the Finance Act 1986 which does not carry or (in the case of (ii), (iii) and (iv) below) has not at any time prior to the relevant transfer or agreement carried any of the following rights:

(i) a right of conversion into shares or other securities, or to the acquisition of shares or other securities, including loan capital of the same description;

(ii) a right to interest the amount of which exceeds a reasonable commercial return on the nominal amount of the capital;

(iii) a right to interest the amount of which falls or has fallen to be determined to any extent by reference to the results of, or of any part of, a business or to the value of any property; or

(iv) a right on repayment to an amount which exceeds the nominal amount of the capital and is not reasonably comparable with what is generally repayable (in respect of a similar nominal amount of capital) under the terms of issue of loan capital listed in the Official List of the FCA.

Even if a security does not constitute exempt loan capital (a “Non-Exempt Security”), no United Kingdom stamp duty will arise on transfer of the security if the security is held within a clearing system and the transfer is effected by electronic means, without executing any written transfer of, or written agreement to transfer, the security.

Where a Non-Exempt Security is transferred by means of a written instrument, or a written agreement is entered into to transfer an interest in the security where such interest falls short of full legal and beneficial ownership of the security, the relevant instrument or agreement may be liable to United Kingdom stamp duty (at the rate of 0.5% of the consideration, rounded up if necessary to the nearest multiple of £5). If the relevant instrument or agreement is executed and retained outside the United Kingdom at all times, no United Kingdom stamp duty should, in practice, need to be paid on such document.

However, in the event that the relevant document is executed in or brought into the United Kingdom for any purpose, then United Kingdom stamp duty may be payable. Interest may also be payable on the amount of such stamp duty, unless the document is duly stamped within thirty (30) days after the day on which it was executed. Penalties for late stamping may also be payable on the stamping of such document (in addition to interest) unless the document is duly stamped within thirty (30) days after the day on which it was executed or, if the instrument was executed outside the United Kingdom, within thirty (30) days of it first being brought into the United Kingdom.

However, no United Kingdom stamp duty will be payable on any such written transfer, or written agreement to transfer, if the amount or value of the consideration for the transfer is £1,000 or under, and the document contains a statement that the transfer does not form part of a larger transaction or series of transactions in respect of which the amount or value, or aggregate amount or value, of the consideration exceeds £1,000.

 

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In addition to the above, if a Non-Exempt Security is in registered form, and the security is transferred, or agreed to be transferred, to a clearance service provider or its nominee, United Kingdom stamp duty may be chargeable (at the rate of 1.5% of the consideration for the transfer or, if none, of the value of the relevant security, rounded up if necessary to the nearest multiple of £5) on any document effecting, or containing an agreement to effect, such a transfer (although see below, under “—Court of Justice of the European Union Decision”).

If a document is subject to stamp duty, it may not be produced in civil proceedings in the United Kingdom, and may not be available for any other purpose in the United Kingdom, until the United Kingdom stamp duty (and any interest and penalties for late stamping) have been paid.

Redemption of securities

No United Kingdom stamp duty will generally be payable on the redemption of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, provided no issue or transfer of shares or other securities is effected upon or in connection with such redemption.

Stamp Duty Reserve Tax

Issue of securities

No United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax will be payable on the issue of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities unless the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities are issued directly to the provider of a clearance service or its nominee. In that case, United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax may be chargeable at the rate of 1.5% of the issue price of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities (although see below, under “—Court of Justice of the European Union Decision”). This charge may arise unless either (a) a statutory exemption is available or (b) the clearance service has made an election under section 97A of Finance Act 1986 which applies to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities. A statutory exemption from the charge will be available:

(i) if the securities constitute “exempt loan capital”; or

(ii) for certain bearer securities provided certain conditions are satisfied.

If this charge arises, the clearance service operator or its nominee will strictly be accountable for the stamp duty reserve tax, but in practice it will generally be reimbursed by participants in the clearance service.

Transfers of securities

No United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax will be chargeable on the transfer of, or on an agreement to transfer, full legal and beneficial ownership of a security which constitutes “exempt loan capital.”

If a Dated Subordinated Debt Security is a “Non-Exempt Security,” United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax (at the rate of 0.5% of the consideration) may be chargeable on an unconditional agreement to transfer the Subordinated Debt. An exemption from the charge is available for certain securities in bearer form, provided certain conditions are satisfied. In addition, an exemption from the charge will be available if the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities are held within a clearance service, provided the clearance service has not made an election pursuant to section 97A of the Finance Act 1986 which applies to the relevant Dated Subordinated Debt Securities.

Any liability to United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax which arises on such an agreement may be removed if a transfer is executed pursuant to the agreement and either no United Kingdom stamp duty is chargeable on that transfer or the transfer is duly stamped within the prescribed time limits. Where United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax arises, subject to certain exceptions, it is normally the liability of the purchaser or transferee of the

 

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Dated Subordinated Debt Securities. In addition to the above, stamp duty reserve tax may be chargeable (at the rate of 1.5% of the consideration for the transfer or, if none, of the value of the relevant security) on the transfer of a Non-Exempt Security to the provider of a clearance service or its nominee (although see below, under “—Court of Justice of the European Union Decision”). This charge will arise unless either (a) a statutory exemption is available or (b) the clearance service has made an election under section 97A of Finance Act 1986 which applies to the relevant Dated Subordinated Debt Securities. If this charge arises, the clearance service operator or its nominee will strictly be accountable for the stamp duty reserve tax, but in practice it will generally be reimbursed by participants in the clearance service.

Redemption of securities

No United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax will generally be payable on the redemption of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, provided no issuance or transfer of shares or other securities is effected upon or in connection with such redemption.

Court of Justice of the European Union Decision

The Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) gave its decision in the case of HSBC Holdings plc, Vidacos Nominees Ltd v. The Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (Case C – 596/07) on October 1, 2009. In summary, it stated that the 1.5% charge to United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax on the issuance of shares to a clearance service is incompatible with the Council Directive 69/335/EEC(the “EC Capital Duty Directive”).

On April 27, 2012, following the decision of the First Tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) in HSBC Holdings PLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation v. The Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs [2012] UKFTT 163 (TC), HMRC announced that the 1.5% stamp duty reserve tax charge is no longer applicable to the issuance of United Kingdom shares and securities to clearance services or depositary receipt systems anywhere in the world.

The CJEU made no express comment with respect to the compatibility with EC law of the 1.5% United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax charge on the transfer of existing securities to (as opposed to issuance of new securities into) a clearance system. The position, in this regard, is therefore unclear, although HMRC’s view is that both the 1.5% United Kingdom stamp duty and depositary receipt systems charges continue to apply to the transfer of shares and securities to clearance services that are not an integral part of an issuance of share capital.

The U.K. has passed legislation, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, to preserve the effect of the decisions mentioned above following the U.K.’s exit from the European Union and the U.K. Government has previously stated that it does not propose to reintroduce the 1.5% charge.

Specific professional advice should be sought before paying the 1.5% United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax charge in any circumstances.

United Kingdom Taxation of Contingent Capital Securities

Certain United Kingdom taxation considerations with respect to contingent capital securities will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement.

 

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EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT

Each fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan (a “Plan”) subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the context of the Plan’s particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in the securities. Among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the plan, and whether the investment would involve a prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit Plans, as well as individual retirement accounts, Keogh plans and any other plans subject to Section 4975 of the Code (also “Plans”) from engaging in certain transactions involving “plan assets” with persons who are “parties in interest” under ERISA or “disqualified persons” under the Code with respect to the Plan. A violation of these prohibited transaction rules may result in civil penalties or other liabilities under ERISA and/or an excise tax under Section 4975 of the Code for those persons, unless relief is available under an applicable statutory or administrative exemption. Employee benefit plans and arrangements that are governmental plans (as defined in section 3(32) of ERISA), certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA) and foreign plans (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) (“Non-ERISA Arrangements”) are not subject to the requirements of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code but may be subject to similar provisions under applicable federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other regulations, rules or laws (“Similar Laws”).

Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and certain of their affiliates, among others, may each be considered a party in interest or a disqualified person with respect to many Plans. The acquisition or holding of the securities by a Plan or any entity whose underlying assets include “plan assets” by reason of any Plan’s investment in the entity (a “Plan Asset Entity”) with respect to which Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Capital Inc. or certain of their affiliates is or becomes a party in interest or disqualified person may constitute or result in prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, unless those securities are acquired and held pursuant to an applicable statutory or administrative exemption.

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions, or “PTCEs,” that may provide exemptive relief if required for direct or indirect prohibited transactions that may arise from the purchase or holding of the securities. These exemptions are:

 

  (1)

PTCE 84-14, an exemption for certain transactions determined or effected by independent qualified professional asset managers;

 

  (2)

PTCE 90-1, an exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts;

 

  (3)

PTCE 91-38, an exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds;

 

  (4)

PTCE 95-60, an exemption for transactions involving certain insurance company general accounts; and

 

  (5)

PTCE 96-23, an exemption for plan asset transactions managed by in-house asset managers.

In addition, ERISA Section 408(b)(17) and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code provide an exemption for the acquisition and disposition of the securities, provided that neither Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Capital Inc. nor any of their affiliates have or exercise any discretionary authority or control or render any investment advice with respect to the assets of any Plan involved in the transaction, and provided further that the Plan pays no more and receives no less than “adequate consideration” in connection with the transaction (the “service provider exemption”). There can be no assurance that all of the conditions of any of the above exemptions (or any other exemption) will be satisfied.

Because of the foregoing, the securities should not be acquired or held by any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement, unless such acquisition and holding will not

 

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constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code or similar violation of any applicable Similar Laws.

Any purchaser or holder of the securities or any interest in the securities will be deemed to have represented by its purchase and holding of the securities that it either (i) is not a Plan, a Plan Asset Entity or a Non-ERISA Arrangement and is not purchasing those securities on behalf of or with “plan assets” of any Plan, Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement or (ii) any such purchase or holding, will not result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under the rules described above or a violation of any applicable Similar Laws. Further, any person acquiring or holding the securities on behalf of any Plan or with any plan assets shall be deemed to represent on behalf of itself and such Plan that (x) the Plan is paying no more than, and is receiving no less than, adequate consideration within the meaning of Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA in connection with the transaction or any redemption of the securities, (y) neither Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Capital Inc. or any placement agent, nor any of their affiliates directly or indirectly exercises any discretionary authority or control or renders investment advice or otherwise acts in a fiduciary capacity with respect to the assets of the Plan within the meaning of ERISA and (z) in making the foregoing representations and warranties, such person has applied sound business principles in determining whether fair market value will be paid, and has made such determination acting in good faith.

Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the securities on behalf of or with “plan assets” of any Plan, Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement consult with their counsel regarding the availability of exemptive relief under any of the PTCEs listed above, the service provider exemption, or any other applicable exemption, or the potential consequences of any purchase or holding under applicable Similar Laws.

Purchasers of the securities have exclusive responsibility for ensuring that their acquisition and holding of the securities do not violate the fiduciary or prohibited transaction rules of ERISA or the Code or any similar provisions of Similar Laws. The sale of any security to a Plan or a Non-ERISA Arrangement is in no respect a representation by Barclays PLC, Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Capital Inc. or any of their affiliates that the investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by Plans or Non-ERISA Arrangements generally or any particular Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement, or that the investment is appropriate for a Plan or a Non-ERISA Arrangement generally or any particular Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement.

If you are an insurance company or the fiduciary of a pension plan or an employee benefit plan, and propose to invest in the securities, you should consult your legal counsel.

The applicable prospectus supplement and pricing supplement may contain a further discussion of ERISA and Similar Laws.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

Initial Offering and Issue of Securities

We may issue all or part of the securities from time to time, on terms determined at that time, through underwriters, dealers and/or agents, directly to purchasers or through a combination of any of these methods. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement:

 

   

the terms of the offering of the securities;

 

   

the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of the securities;

 

   

the principal amounts of securities any underwriters will subscribe for; and

 

   

our net proceeds.

If we use underwriters in the issue, they will acquire the securities for their own account and they may effect distribution of the securities from time to time in one or more transactions. These transactions may be at a fixed price or prices, which they may change, or at prevailing market prices, or related to prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or underwriters without a syndicate. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement specifies otherwise, the underwriters’ obligations to subscribe for the securities will depend on certain conditions being satisfied. If the conditions are satisfied, the underwriters will be obligated to subscribe for all of the securities of the series, if they subscribe for any of them. The initial public offering price of any securities and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time.

If we use dealers in the issue, unless the applicable prospectus supplement specifies otherwise, we will issue the securities to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then sell the securities to the public at varying prices that the dealers will determine at the time of sale.

We may also issue securities through agents we designate from time to time, or we may issue securities directly. The applicable prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offering and issue of the securities, and will also set forth any commissions that we will pay. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Agents through whom we issue securities may enter into arrangements with other institutions with respect to the distribution of the securities, and those institutions may share in the commissions, discounts or other compensation received by our agents, may be compensated separately and may also receive commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents.

In connection with the issue of securities, underwriters may receive compensation from us or from subscribers of securities for whom they may act as agents. Compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell securities to or through dealers, and these dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters. Dealers may also receive commissions from the subscribers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the sale of securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. The prospectus supplement will identify any underwriter or agent, and describe any compensation that we provide.

If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers to subscribe the securities from institutional investors. In this case, the prospectus supplement will also indicate on what date payment and delivery will be made. There may be a minimum amount which an institutional investor may subscribe, or a minimum portion of the aggregate principal amount of the securities

 

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which may be issued by this type of arrangement. Institutional investors may include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and any other institutions we may approve. The subscribers’ obligations under delayed delivery and payment arrangements will not be subject to any conditions; however, the institutional investors’ subscription of particular securities must not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any relevant jurisdiction in respect, either of the validity of the arrangements, or the performance by us or the institutional investors under the arrangements.

We may enter into agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of the securities that may fully or partially indemnify them against some civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, or be affiliates of Barclays PLC in the ordinary course of business.

Conflicts of Interest

Barclays Capital Inc., an affiliate of Barclays PLC, may participate in one or more offerings of our securities and, as such, may be deemed to have a “conflict of interest” in any such offerings within the meaning of Rule 5121 of the consolidated rulebook of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) (or any successor rule thereto) (“Rule 5121”). Rule 5121 imposes certain requirements when a FINRA member, such as Barclays Capital Inc., distributes an affiliated company’s securities, such as our securities. Barclays Capital Inc. has advised us that each particular offering of securities in which it participates will be conducted in compliance with the provisions of Rule 5121. Barclays Capital Inc. is not permitted to sell securities in any such offering to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the account holder.

Selling Restrictions

United Kingdom

Prohibition of Sales to U.K. Retail Investors

Unless otherwise specified in any agreement between us and the underwriters, dealers and/or agents, any underwriter, dealer or agent in connection with an offering of securities or any investments representing securities of any series will represent, warrant and agree that it has not offered, sold or otherwise made available, and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available any securities to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of this provision, the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

 

   

a retail client as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law of the U.K. by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“EUWA”); or

 

   

a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law of the U.K. by virtue of the EUWA; or

 

   

not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law of the U.K. by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”); and

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities or investments to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities or investments.

Public Offer Selling Restriction Under The UK Prospectus Regulation

If the relevant agreement between us and the underwriters, dealers and/or agents in connection with an offering of securities or any investments representing securities of any series specifies that the restriction set out

 

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under “Prohibition of Sales to U.K. Retail Investors” above does not apply, and unless otherwise specified in any agreement between us and the underwriters, dealers and/or agents in relation to the distribution of the securities or any investments representing securities of any series and subject to the terms specified in the agreement, in relation to the United Kingdom any underwriter, dealer or agent in connection with an offering of securities or any investments representing securities of any series will represent, warrant and agree that it has not made and will not make an offer of any securities or any investments representing securities which are the subject of the offering contemplated by the prospectus as completed by the prospectus supplement in relation thereto to the public in the United Kingdom except that it may make an offer of the securities to the public in the United Kingdom:

 

   

Qualified investors: at any time to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;

 

   

Fewer than 150 offerees: at any time to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in Article 2 the UK Prospectus Regulation as permitted under the UK Prospectus Regulation subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant underwriter or underwriters nominated by Barclays PLC for any such offer; or

 

   

Other exempt offers: at any time in any other circumstances falling within section 86 of the FSMA,

provided that no such offer of securities referred to in the bullet points above shall require us or any underwriter, dealer and/or agent to publish a prospectus pursuant to Section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

The expression “an offer of securities or any investments representing securities to the public” in relation to such securities or investments in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities or investments to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities or investments.

Other Securities Laws

Unless otherwise specified in any agreement between us and the underwriters, dealers and/or agents in relation to the distribution of the securities or any investments representing securities of any series and subject to the terms specified in the agreement, any underwriter, dealer or agent in connection with an offering of securities or any investments representing securities of any series will confirm and agree that:

 

   

in relation to any debt securities having a maturity of less than one year:

 

  (i)

it is a person whose ordinary activities involve it in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of its business; and

 

  (ii)

it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any debt securities other than to persons:

 

  (A)

whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses; or

 

  (B)

who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses,

where the issue of the debt securities would otherwise constitute a contravention of Section 19 of FSMA by us;

 

   

it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of any securities or any investments representing securities in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us; and

 

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it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the securities, or any investments representing securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors

Unless otherwise specified in any agreement between us and the underwriters, dealers and/or agents, any underwriter, dealer or agent in connection with an offering of securities or any investments representing securities of any series will represent, warrant and agree that it has not offered, sold or otherwise made available, and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available any securities to any retail investor in the European Economic Area. For the purposes of this provision, the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

 

   

a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “EU MiFID II”); or

 

   

a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of EU MiFID II; or

 

   

not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the “EU Prospectus Regulation”); and

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities or investments to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities or investments.

EEA Public Offer Selling Restriction Under The EU Prospectus Regulation

If the relevant agreement between us and the underwriters, dealers and/or agents in connection with an offering of securities or any investments representing securities of any series specifies that the restriction set out under “Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors” above does not apply, and unless otherwise specified in any agreement between us and the underwriters, dealers and/or agents in relation to the distribution of the securities or any investments representing securities of any series and subject to the terms specified in the agreement, in relation to each member state of the European Economic Area (each, a “Member State”), any underwriter, dealer or agent in connection with an offering of securities or any investments representing securities of any series will represent, warrant and agree that it has not made and will not make an offer of any securities or any investments representing securities which are the subject of the offering contemplated by the prospectus as completed by the prospectus supplement in relation thereto to the public in that Member State except that it may make an offer of the securities to the public in that Member State:

 

   

Qualified investors: at any time to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the EU Prospectus Regulation;

 

   

Fewer than 150 offerees: at any time to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the EU Prospectus Regulation as permitted under the EU Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant underwriter or underwriters nominated by Barclays PLC for any such offer; or

 

   

Other exempt offers: at any time in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the EU Prospectus Regulation,

provided that no such offer of securities referred to in the bullet points above shall require us or any underwriter, dealer and/or agent to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the EU Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the EU Prospectus Regulation.

 

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The expression “an offer of securities or any investments representing securities to the public” in relation to such securities or investments in any Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities or investments to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities or investments.

Market-Making Resales

This prospectus may be used by an affiliate of Barclays PLC in connection with offers and sales of the securities in market-making transactions. In a market-making transaction, such affiliate may resell a security it acquires from other holders, after the original offering and sale of the security. Resales of this kind may occur in the open market or may be privately negotiated, at prevailing market prices at the time of resale or at related or negotiated prices. In these transactions, such affiliate may act as principal, or agent, including as agent for the counterparty in a transaction in which such affiliate acts as principal, or as agent for both counterparties in a transaction in which such affiliate does not act as principal. Such affiliate may receive compensation in the form of discounts and commissions, including from both counterparties in some cases.

The indeterminate aggregate initial offering price relates to the initial offering of the securities described in the prospectus supplement. This amount does not relate to securities sold in market-making transactions.

We do not expect to receive any proceeds from market-making transactions.

Information about the trade and settlement dates, as well as the purchase price, for a market-making transaction will be provided to the purchaser in a separate confirmation of sale.

Unless we or an agent informs you in your confirmation of sale that your security is being purchased in its original offering and sale, you may assume that you are purchasing your security in a market-making transaction.

 

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SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF LIABILITIES

We are an English public limited company. A majority of our directors and executive officers and a number of the experts named in this document are non-residents of the United States. All or a substantial portion of the assets of those persons are located outside the United States. Most of our assets are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for you to effect service of process within the United States upon those persons or to enforce against them judgments of U.S. courts based upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. We have been advised by our English solicitors, Clifford Chance LLP, that there is doubt as to the enforceability in the United Kingdom, in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, of liabilities based solely upon the federal securities laws of the United States.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we file, jointly with Barclays Bank PLC, reports and other information with the SEC.

The SEC maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports and other information we file electronically with the SEC. These reports and other information may also be inspected and copied at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which some of our securities are listed.

We will furnish to the trustee referred to under “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Contingent Capital Securities” annual reports, which will include a description of operations and annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. We will also furnish to the trustee interim reports that will include unaudited interim summary consolidated financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS. We will furnish to the trustee all notices of meetings at which holders of securities are entitled to vote, and all other reports and communications that are made generally available to those holders.

 

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FURTHER INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-3 with respect to the securities offered with this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of that registration statement and it omits some information that is contained in the registration statement. You can access the registration statement together with exhibits on the internet site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov in order to obtain that additional information about us and about the securities offered with this prospectus.

 

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VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

If stated in the prospectus supplement applicable to a specific issuance of debt securities or contingent capital securities, the validity of such securities under New York law may be passed upon for us by our U.S. counsel, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. If stated in the prospectus supplement applicable to a specific issuance of debt securities, contingent capital securities or ordinary shares (including the ordinary shares into which such contingent capital securities may under certain circumstances convert), the validity of such securities under English law may be passed upon by our English solicitors, Clifford Chance LLP. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP may rely on the opinion of Clifford Chance LLP as to all matters of English law and Clifford Chance LLP may rely on the opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP as to all matters of New York law. If this prospectus is delivered in connection with an underwritten offering, the validity of the debt securities, contingent capital securities or ordinary shares (including the ordinary shares into which such contingent capital securities may under certain circumstances convert) may be passed upon for the underwriters by United States and English counsel for the underwriters specified in the related prospectus supplement.

 

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EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Barclays PLC as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, which report appears in the Annual Report on Form 20-F of Barclays PLC for the year ended December 31, 2020, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

The following is a statement of the expenses (all of which are estimated), other than any underwriting discounts and commission and expenses reimbursed by us, to be incurred in connection with a distribution of an assumed amount of $1,000,000,000 of securities registered under this registration statement:

 

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee

   $ 109,100 (1) 

Printing expenses

     15,000  

Legal fees and expenses

     115,000  

Accountants’ fees and expenses

     45,000  

Trustee fees and expenses

     10,000  

Miscellaneous

     15,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 309,100  
  

 

 

 

 

(1)

Assuming a maximum aggregate offering price of 100.00% and based on the current fee rate of $109.10 per $1,000,000.

 

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PART II OF FORM F-3

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

The relevant provision of the Articles of Association of Barclays PLC (the “Articles”) in respect of indemnification of directors and officers is Article 147. Terms defined in the Articles shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the same meaning when used in this section.

Article 147 of the articles of association of Barclays provides:

(147.1) To the extent permitted by the Act and without prejudice to any indemnity to which he may otherwise be entitled, every person who is or was a director or other officer of the Company (other than any person (whether or not an officer of the Company) engaged by the Company as auditor) shall be and shall be kept indemnified out of the assets of the Company against all costs, charges, losses and liabilities incurred by him (whether in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him or otherwise as a director or such other officer of the Company) in relation to the Company or its affairs provided that such indemnity shall not apply in respect of any liability incurred by him:

(147.1.1) to the Company or to any associated company; (147.1.2) to pay a fine imposed in criminal proceedings;

(147.1.3) to pay a sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of non-compliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature (howsoever arising);

(147.1.4) in defending any criminal proceedings in which he is convicted;

(147.1.5) in defending any civil proceedings brought by the Company, or an associated company, in which judgment is given against him; or

(147.1.6) in connection with any application under any of the following provisions in which the court refuses to grant him relief, namely:

(a) section 661(3) or (4) of the Act (acquisition of shares by innocent nominee); or

(b) section 1157 of the Act (general power to grant relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct).

(147.2) In articles 147.1.4, 147.1.5 or 147.1.6 the reference to a conviction, judgment or refusal of relief is a reference to one that has become final. A conviction, judgment or refusal of relief becomes final:

(147.2.1) if not appealed against, at the end of the period for bringing an appeal; or

(147.2.2) if appealed against, at the time when the appeal (or any further appeal) is disposed of. An appeal is disposed of:

(147.2.3) if it is determined and the period for bringing any further appeal has ended; or

(147.2.4) if it is abandoned or otherwise ceases to have effect.

(147.3) To the extent permitted by the Act and without prejudice to any indemnity to which he may otherwise be entitled, every person who is or was a director of the Company acting in its capacity as a trustee of

 

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an occupational pension scheme shall be and shall be kept indemnified out of the assets of the Company against all costs, charges, losses and liabilities incurred by him in connection with the Company’s activities as trustee of the scheme provided that such indemnity shall not apply in respect of any liability incurred by him:

(147.3.1) to pay a fine imposed in criminal proceedings;

(147.3.2) to pay a sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of non-compliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature (howsoever arising); or

(147.3.3) in defending criminal proceedings in which he is convicted.

For the purposes of this article, a reference to a conviction is to the final decision in the proceedings. The provisions of article 147.2 shall apply in determining when a conviction becomes final.

(147.4) Without prejudice to article 147.1 or to any indemnity to which a director may otherwise be entitled, and to the extent permitted by the Act and otherwise upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the board may in its absolute discretion think fit, the board shall have the power to make arrangements to provide a director with funds to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him in defending any criminal or civil proceeding or in connection with an application under section 661(3) or (4) of the Act (acquisition of shares by innocent nominee) or section 1157 of the Act (general power to grant relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct) or in defending himself in an investigation by a regulatory authority or against action proposed to be taken by a regulatory authority or to enable a director to avoid incurring any such expenditure.

(147.5) Where at any meeting of the board or a committee of the board any arrangement falling within article 147.4 is to be considered, a director shall be entitled to vote and be counted in the quorum at such meeting unless the terms of such arrangement confers upon such director a benefit not generally available to any other director; in that event, the interest of such director in such arrangement shall be deemed to be a material interest for the purposes of article 108 and he shall not be so entitled to vote or be counted in the quorum.

(147.6) To the extent permitted by the Act, the board may exercise all the powers of the Company to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of a person who is or was:

(147.6.1) a director, alternate director or secretary of the Company or of a company which is or was a subsidiary undertaking of the Company or in which the Company has or had an interest (whether direct or indirect); or

(147.6.2) trustee of a retirement benefits scheme or other trust in which a person referred to in article

147.6.1 is or has been interested, indemnifying him and keeping him indemnified against liability for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust or other liability which may lawfully be insured against by the Company.

Barclays is subject to the provisions of the U.K. Companies Act 2006 (the “2006 Act”). The relevant provisions of the 2006 Act in respect of indemnification of directors and officers are sections 205, 206, 232 to 238 inclusive and 1157.

Section 205 (Exception for expenditure on defending proceedings etc.) of the 2006 Act provides:

(1) Approval is not required under section 197, 198, 200 or 201 (requirement of members’ approval for loans etc.) for anything done by a company —

(a) to provide a director of the company or of its holding company with funds to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him (i) in defending any criminal or civil proceedings in connection with any alleged

 

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negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him in relation to the company or an associated company, or (ii) in connection with an application for relief (see subsection (5)), or

(b) to enable any such director to avoid incurring such expenditure, if it is done on the following terms.

(2) The terms are—

(a) that the loan is to be repaid, or (as the case may be) any liability of the company incurred under any transaction connected with the thing done is to be discharged, in the event of (i) the director being convicted in the proceedings, (ii) judgment being given against him in the proceedings, or (iii) the court refusing to grant him relief on the application; and

(b) that it is to be so repaid or discharged not later than (i) the date when the conviction becomes final, (ii) the date when the judgment becomes final, or (iii) the date when the refusal of relief becomes final.

(3) For this purpose a conviction, judgment or refusal of relief becomes final— (a) if not appealed against, at the end of the period for bringing an appeal;

(b) if appealed against, when the appeal (or any further appeal) is disposed of. (4) An appeal is disposed of—

(a) if it is determined and the period for bringing any further appeal has ended, or

(b) if it is abandoned or otherwise ceases to have effect.

(5) The reference in subsection (1)(a)(ii) to an application for relief is to an application for relief under section 661(3) or (4) (power of court to grant relief in case of acquisition of shares by innocent nominee), or section 1157 (general power of court to grant relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct).

Section 206 (Exception for expenditure in connection with regulatory action or investigation) of the 2006 Act provides:

Approval is not required under section 197, 198, 200 or 201 (requirement of members’ approval for loans etc.) for anything done by a company—

(a) to provide a director of the company or of its holding company with funds to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him in defending himself (i) in an investigation by a regulatory authority, or (ii) against action proposed to be taken by a regulatory authority, in connection with any alleged negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him in relation to the company or an associated company, or

(b) to enable any such director to avoid incurring such expenditure.

Section 232 (Provisions protecting directors from liability) of the 2006 Act provides:

(1) Any provision that purports to exempt a director of a company (to any extent) from any liability that would otherwise attach to him in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company is void.

(2) Any provision by which a company directly or indirectly provides an indemnity (to any extent) for a director of the company, or of an associated company, against any liability attaching to him in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company of which he is a director is void, except as permitted by—

(a) section 233 (provision of insurance),

(b) section 234 (qualifying third party indemnity provision), or

 

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(c) section 235 (qualifying pension scheme indemnity provision).

(3) This section applies to any provision, whether contained in a company’s articles or in any contract with the Company or otherwise.

(4) Nothing in this section prevents a company’s articles from making such provision as has previously been lawful for dealing with conflicts of interest.

Section 233 (Provision of insurance) of the 2006 Act provides:

Section 232(2) (voidness of provisions for indemnifying directors) does not prevent a company from purchasing and maintaining for a director of the company, or of an associated company, insurance against any such liability as is mentioned in that subsection.

Section 234 (Qualifying third party indemnity provision) of the 2006 Act provides:

(1) Section 232(2) (voidness of provisions for indemnifying directors) does not apply to qualifying third party indemnity provision.

(2) Third party indemnity provision means provision for indemnity against liability incurred by the director to a person other than the company or an associated company.

Such provision is qualifying third party indemnity provision if the following requirements are met. (3) The provision must not provide any indemnity against—

(a) any liability of the director to pay (i) a fine imposed in criminal proceedings, or (ii) a sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of non-compliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature (however arising); or

(b) any liability incurred by the director (i) in defending criminal proceedings in which he is convicted, or (ii) in defending civil proceedings brought by the company, or an associated company, in which judgment is given against him, or (iii) in connection with an application for relief (see subsection (6)) in which the court refuses to grant him relief.

(4) The references in subsection (3)(b) to a conviction, judgment or refusal of relief are to the final decision in the proceedings.

(5) For this purpose —

(a) a conviction, judgment or refusal of relief becomes final (i) if not appealed against, at the end of the period for bringing an appeal, or (ii) if appealed against, at the time when the appeal (or any further appeal) is disposed of; and

(b) an appeal is disposed of (i) if it is determined and the period for bringing any further appeal has ended, or (ii) if it is abandoned or otherwise ceases to have effect.

(6) The reference in subsection (3)(b)(iii) to an application for relief is to an application for relief under section 661(3) or (4) (power of court to grant relief in case of acquisition of shares by innocent nominee), or section 1157 (general power of court to grant relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct).

Section 235 (Qualifying pension scheme indemnity provision) of the 2006 Act provides:

(1) Section 232(2) (voidness of provisions for indemnifying directors) does not apply to qualifying pension scheme indemnity provision.

 

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(2) Pension scheme indemnity provision means provision indemnifying a director of a company that is a trustee of an occupational pension scheme against liability incurred in connection with the company’s activities as trustee of the scheme.

Such provision is qualifying pension scheme indemnity provision if the following requirements are met.

(3) The provision must not provide any indemnity against—

(a) any liability of the director to pay (i) a fine imposed in criminal proceedings, or (ii) a sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of non-compliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature (however arising); or

(b) any liability incurred by the director in defending criminal proceedings in which he is convicted.

(4) The reference in subsection (3)(b) to a conviction is to the final decision in the proceedings.

(5) For this purpose—

(a) a conviction becomes final (i) if not appealed against, at the end of the period for bringing an appeal, or (ii) if appealed against, at the time when the appeal (or any further appeal) is disposed of; and

(b) an appeal is disposed of (i) if it is determined and the period for bringing any further appeal has ended, or (ii) if it is abandoned or otherwise ceases to have effect.

(6) In this section “occupational pension scheme” means an occupational pension scheme as defined in section 150(5) of the Finance Act 2004 (c. 12) that is established under a trust.

Section 236 (Qualifying indemnity provision to be disclosed in directors report) of the 2006 Act provides:

(1) This section requires disclosure in the directors’ report of—

(a) qualifying third party indemnity provision, and

(b) qualifying pension scheme indemnity provision.

Such provision is referred to in this section as “qualifying indemnity provision.”

(2) If when a directors’ report is approved any qualifying indemnity provision (whether made by the company or otherwise) is in force for the benefit of one or more directors of the company, the report must state that such provision is in force.

(3) If at any time during the financial year to which a directors’ report relates any such provision was in force for the benefit of one or more persons who were then directors of the company, the report must state that such provision was in force.

(4) If when a directors’ report is approved qualifying indemnity provision made by the company is in force for the benefit of one or more directors of an associated company, the report must state that such provision is in force.

(5) If at any time during the financial year to which a directors’ report relates any such provision was in force for the benefit of one or more persons who were then directors of an associated Company, the report must state that such provision was in force.

 

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Section 237 (Copy of qualifying indemnity provision to be available for inspection) of the 2006 Act provides:

(1) This section has effect where qualifying indemnity provision is made for a director of a company, and applies—

(a) to the company of which he is a director (whether the provision is made by that company or an associated company), and

(b) where the provision is made by an associated company, to that company.

(2) That company or, as the case may be, each of them must keep available for inspection—

(a) a copy of the qualifying indemnity provision, or

(b) if the provision is not in writing, a written memorandum setting out its terms.

(3) The copy or memorandum must be kept available for inspection at—

(a) the company’s registered office, or

(b) a place specified in regulations under section 1136.

(4) The copy or memorandum must be retained by the company for at least one year from the date of termination or expiry of the provision and must be kept available for inspection during that time.

(5) The company must give notice to the registrar—

(a) of the place at which the copy or memorandum is kept available for inspection, and

(b) of any change in that place,

unless it has at all times been kept at the company’s registered office.

(6) If default is made in complying with subsection (2), (3) or (4), or default is made for fourteen (14) days in complying with subsection (5), an offence is committed by every officer of the Company who is in default.

(7) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.

(8) The provisions of this section apply to a variation of a qualifying indemnity provision as they apply to the original provision.

(9) In this section “qualifying indemnity provision” means— (a) qualifying third party indemnity provision, and

(b) qualifying pension scheme indemnity provision.

Section 238 (Right of member to inspect and request copy) of the 2006 Act provides:

(1) Every copy or memorandum required to be kept by a company under section 237 must be open to inspection by any member of the company without charge.

(2) Any member of the company is entitled, on request and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed, to be provided with a copy of any such copy or memorandum.

 

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The copy must be provided within seven (7) days after the request is received by the company.

(3) If an inspection required under subsection (1) is refused, or default is made in complying with subsection (2), an offence is committed by every officer of the Company who is in default.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.

(5) In the case of any such refusal or default the court may by order compel an immediate inspection or, as the case may be, direct that the copy required be sent to the person requiring it.

Section 1157 (Power of court to grant relief in certain cases) of the 2006 Act provides:

(1) If in proceedings for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against—

(a) an officer of a company, or

(b) a person employed by a company as auditor (whether he is or is not an officer of the company),

it appears to the court hearing the case that the officer or person is or may be liable but that he acted honestly and reasonably, and that having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including those connected with his appointment) he ought fairly to be excused, the court may relieve him, either wholly or in part, from his liability on such terms as it thinks fit.

(2) If any such officer or person has reason to apprehend that a claim will or might be made against him in respect of negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust—

(a) he may apply to the court for relief, and

(b) the court has the same power to relieve him as it would have had if it had been a court before which proceedings against him for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust had been brought.

(3) Where a case to which subsection (1) applies is being tried by a judge with a jury, the judge, after hearing the evidence, may, if he is satisfied that the defendant (in Scotland, the defender) ought in pursuance of that subsection to be relieved either in whole or in part from the liability sought to be enforced against him, withdraw the case from the jury and forthwith direct judgment to be entered for the defendant (in Scotland, grant decree of absolvitor) on such terms as to costs (in Scotland, expenses) or otherwise as the judge may think proper.

In addition, Barclays PLC has procured directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, for the benefit of its directors and officers against suit by third parties. The terms and extent of such coverage are reviewed annually.

 

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Item 9. Exhibits

 

Number

     

Description

  1.1

    Form of Underwriting Agreement—Standard Provisions for debt securities.

  1.2

    Form of Underwriting Agreement —Standard Provisions for contingent capital securities.

  1.3

    Form of Underwriting Agreement for ordinary shares.*

  3.1

    Articles of Association of Barclays PLC (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 13806088) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on May 2, 2013).

  4.1

    Senior Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of January 17, 2018, between Barclays PLC and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 18530382) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on January 17, 2018).

  4.2

    Sixth Supplemental Indenture to the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of May 7, 2020, among Barclays PLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as Senior Debt Security Registrar (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 20855734) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on May 7, 2020).

  4.3

    Ninth Supplemental Indenture to the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2021, among Barclays PLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as Senior Debt Security Registrar.

  4.4

    Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of May 9, 2017, between Barclays PLC and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 17826053) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on May 9, 2017).

  4.5

    Second Supplemental Indenture to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of September 23, 2020, among Barclays PLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as Dated Subordinated Debt Security Registrar (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 201191723) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on September 23, 2020).

  4.6

    Third Supplemental Indenture to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2021, among Barclays PLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as Dated Subordinated Debt Security Registrar.

  4.7

    Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, dated as of August 14, 2018, between Barclays PLC and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 181018017) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on August 14, 2018).

  4.8

    Fourth Supplemental Indenture to the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, dated as of August 12, 2020, among Barclays PLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as Contingent Capital Security Registrar (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 201095264) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on August 12, 2020).

  4.9

    Fifth Supplemental Indenture to the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2021, among Barclays PLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as Contingent Capital Security Registrar.
    Barclays will, upon request of the Securities and Exchange Commission, furnish copies of trust deeds and instruments relating to other long-term debt instruments of the Group.

 

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Number

     

Description

  5.1

    Opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, U.S. counsel for the Registrant, as to the validity of the debt securities and contingent capital securities.

  5.2

    Opinion of Clifford Chance LLP, English solicitors to the Registrant, as to the validity of the debt securities, contingent capital securities and ordinary shares.

23.1

    Consent of KPMG LLP.

23.2

    Consent of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 above).

23.4

    Consent of Clifford Chance LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2 above).

24.1

    Powers of Attorney of certain Directors and Officers of Barclays PLC.

24.2

    Power of Attorney of Barclays PLC’s Authorized Representative in the United States.

25.1

    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.1 above.

25.2

    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.4 above.

25.3

    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.7 above.

 

*

To be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit on Form 6-K and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 10. Undertakings

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

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(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided that the Registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the Registration Statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the Registration Statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the Registration Statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the Registration Statement relating to the securities in the Registration Statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a Registration Statement or prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the Registration Statement or prospectus that was part of the Registration Statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this Registration Statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

(7) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an

 

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employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(8) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Number

 

 

 

Description

  1.1

    Form of Underwriting Agreement—Standard Provisions for debt securities.

  1.2

    Form of Underwriting Agreement —Standard Provisions for contingent capital securities.

  1.3

    Form of Underwriting Agreement for ordinary shares.*

  3.1

    Articles of Association of Barclays PLC (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 13806088) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on May 2, 2013).

  4.1

    Senior Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of January  17, 2018, between Barclays PLC and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 18530382) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on January 17, 2018).

  4.2

    Sixth Supplemental Indenture to the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of May  7, 2020, among Barclays PLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as Senior Debt Security Registrar (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 20855734) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on May 7, 2020).

  4.3

    Ninth Supplemental Indenture to the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2021, among Barclays PLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as Senior Debt Security Registrar.

  4.4

    Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of May  9, 2017, between Barclays PLC and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 17826053) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on May 9, 2017).

  4.5

    Second Supplemental Indenture to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of September  23, 2020, among Barclays PLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as Dated Subordinated Debt Security Registrar (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 201191723) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on September 23, 2020).

  4.6

    Third Supplemental Indenture to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2021, among Barclays PLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as Dated Subordinated Debt Security Registrar.

  4.7

    Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, dated as of August  14, 2018, between Barclays PLC and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 181018017) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on August 14, 2018).

  4.8

    Fourth Supplemental Indenture to the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, dated as of August  12, 2020, among Barclays PLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as Contingent Capital Security Registrar (incorporated by reference to Form 6-K (Film No. 201095264) filed by Barclays PLC with the SEC on August 12, 2020).

  4.9

    Fifth Supplemental Indenture to the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, dated as of March  1, 2021, among Barclays PLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as Contingent Capital Security Registrar.

  

    Barclays will, upon request of the Securities and Exchange Commission, furnish copies of trust deeds and instruments relating to other long-term debt instruments of the Group.

 

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Table of Contents

Number

 

 

 

Description

  5.1

    Opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, U.S. counsel for the Registrant, as to the validity of the debt securities and contingent capital securities.

  5.2

    Opinion of Clifford Chance LLP, English solicitors to the Registrant, as to the validity of the debt securities, contingent capital securities and ordinary shares.

23.1

    Consent of KPMG LLP.

23.2

    Consent of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 above).

23.4

    Consent of Clifford Chance LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2 above).

24.1

    Powers of Attorney of certain Directors and Officers of Barclays PLC.

24.2

    Power of Attorney of Barclays PLC’s Authorized Representative in the United States.

25.1

    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.1 above.

25.2

    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.4 above.

25.3

    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.7 above.

 

*

To be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit on Form 6-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant, Barclays PLC, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Form F-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in London, United Kingdom on March 1, 2021.

 

BARCLAYS PLC
By:  

/s/ Tushar Morzaria

  Name:   Tushar Morzaria
  Title:   Group Finance Director

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Form F-3 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated, on March 1, 2021.

 

Signature:

     

Title:

*

    Group Chairman
Nigel Higgins    

*

    Group Chief Executive (Principal Executive Officer) and Executive Director
James Staley  

/s/ Tushar Morzaria

Tushar Morzaria

    Group Finance Director (Principal Financing Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) and Executive Director

*

    Non-executive Director
Michael Ashley    

*

    Non-executive Director
Timothy Breedon CBE    

*

    Non-executive Director
Sir Ian Cheshire    

*

    Non-executive Director
Mohamed A. El-Erian    

*

    Senior Independent Director
Dawn Fitzpatrick    

*

    Non-executive Director
Mary Francis CBE    

*

    Non-executive Director
Crawford Gillies    

 

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Table of Contents

Signature:

     

Title:

*

Dr. Brian Gilvary

    Non-executive Director

*

    Non-executive Director
Diane Schueneman    

*

    Authorized Representative in the United States
Joseph Noto    

 

*By:  

/s/ Tushar Morzaria

  Name:   Tushar Morzaria
  Title:   Attorney-in-Fact

 

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Exhibit 1.1

BARCLAYS PLC

Debt Securities

Underwriting Agreement—

Standard Provisions

From time to time Barclays PLC, a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales (the “Company”), proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a “Pricing Agreement”) in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and deletions as the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and therein, to issue certain of the Company’s Debt Securities specified in Schedule II to the applicable Pricing Agreement (the “Designated Securities”) and to issue to the firms named in Schedule I to such Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the “Underwriters” with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the Designated Securities specified therein).

The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated Securities shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto and (i) in the case of senior debt obligations (“Senior Debt Securities”), in or pursuant to the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, dated January 17, 2018, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on January 17, 2018 (as heretofore amended and supplemented, the “Senior Debt Indenture”), and (ii) in the case of subordinated obligations having a stated maturity (“Dated Subordinated Debt Securities”), in or pursuant to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, dated May 9, 2017, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon acting through its London Branch, as Trustee, filed with the Commission on May 9, 2017 (as heretofore amended and supplemented, the “Dated Subordinated Debt Indenture” collectively with the Senior Debt Indenture, the “Indentures” and each individually an “Indenture”). The Designated Securities will be represented by one or more definitive global securities in book-entry form which will be deposited by, or on behalf of, the Company with The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its designated custodian.

1. Particular issuances of Designated Securities may be made from time to time to the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, for whom the firms designated as representatives of the Underwriters of such Designated Securities in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto will act as representatives (the “Representatives”). The term “Representatives” also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of the Underwriters and to Underwriters that act without any firm being designated as their representatives. This Agreement shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company to issue any of the Designated Securities, or as an obligation of the Underwriters to subscribe for any of the Designated Securities. The obligation of the Company to issue any of the Designated Securities, and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to subscribe for any of the Designated Securities, shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify the aggregate principal amount or number of the Designated Securities, the initial public offering price of such Designated Securities, the subscription price to the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the names of the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the names of the Representatives of such Underwriters, if any, the aggregate principal amount or number of such Designated Securities to be subscribed for by each Underwriter, the commissions, if any, payable to the Underwriters with respect thereto, such other terms of the Designated Securities as are noted in such Pricing Agreement and shall set forth the date, time and manner of delivery of such Designated Securities, and payment therefor. Each Pricing Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not set forth in the Indenture and the registration statement and prospectus with respect thereto) the terms of such Designated Securities. Each Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic communications or other rapid transmission device designed to produce a written record of communications transmitted. The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be several and not joint.

2. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that to the extent applicable to the Designated Securities:

(a) An “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), on Form F-3 (File No. 333-    ) or such other file number as specified in the applicable Pricing Agreement) relating to the Designated Securities has been filed by the Company with the


Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement; such registration statement and any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective on filing; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission; 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 Act has been received by the Company; and copies of such registration statement, including exhibits and all documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus included in such registration statement and any post-effective amendments thereto, have heretofore been delivered to the Representatives for each of the other Underwriters. The various parts of such registration statement, including all exhibits thereto but excluding Forms T-1 and, if applicable, including (i) any prospectus supplement relating to the Designated Securities that is filed with the Commission and deemed by virtue of Rule 430B under the Act to be part of such registration statement, each as amended at the time such part of such registration statement became effective, and (ii) the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in such registration statement on the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to any Designated Securities, each as amended on the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to any Designated Securities, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; any preliminary prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus supplement) relating to the Designated Securities included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”; such final prospectus in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act is hereinafter called the “Prospectus”; “Applicable Time” shall be as specified in the relevant Pricing Agreement; “Statutory Prospectus” as of any time means the prospectus (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any preliminary prospectus supplement) relating to the Designated Securities that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time, including any document incorporated by reference therein and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof, provided that for purposes of this definition, information contained in a form of prospectus that is deemed retroactively to be part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the Act shall be considered to be included in the Statutory Prospectus as of the actual time that form of prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act; “Free Writing Prospectus” means any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act relating to the Designated Securities; any reference herein to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form F-3 under the Act as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include any documents filed after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and so incorporated by reference; any reference to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall be deemed to refer to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the applicable Designated Securities in the form in which it is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such filing; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed or submitted under the Exchange Act after the date of the Registration Statement which are incorporated by reference therein;

(b) No order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission;

(c) The Statutory Prospectus, as supplemented by the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 7(a) hereof (collectively, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), as of the Applicable Time, did not 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; each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if any, listed in Schedule III to the applicable Pricing Agreement, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not 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; provided, however that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made in the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter expressly for use therein;

 

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(d) At the time of the filing of the Registration Statement, at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), and at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Act) made any offer relating to the Designated Securities in reliance on the exemption provided for in Rule 163 under the Act, the Company was a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act;

(e) At the earliest time that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Act) of the Designated Securities the Company was not, and the Company is not, an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, including by virtue of the Company or any subsidiary in the preceding three years having been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or having been made the subject of a judicial or administrative decree or order as described in Rule 405 under the Act;

(f) The Annual Report on Form 20-F most recently filed by the Company (the “Form 20-F”) and any other documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus, when such documents were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents, when so filed, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not, when so filed, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Securities expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any Preliminary Prospectus relating to such Designated Securities;

(g) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Statutory Prospectus conform, and any amendments or supplements thereto, when they become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and the Registration Statement and the Prospectus did not, when they became effective (including as of the most recent effective date of the part of the Registration Statement relating to the offering of the Designated Securities as determined pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) under the Act) or were so filed, as the case may be, and any amendments or supplements thereto will not, when they become effective or are so filed, as the case may be, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any Preliminary Prospectus relating to such Designated Securities;

(h) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, there has not been, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, (i) any material change in the share capital, undated loan capital or dated loan capital of the Company other than such changes as have been disclosed in writing to the Representatives or (ii) any material adverse change in or affecting the business, financial condition, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis;

 

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(i) The Company and each of its principal subsidiaries, if any, have been duly incorporated or organized and are validly existing as corporations under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or organization with corporate power and authority to own their respective properties and conduct their respective businesses as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, and each has in full force and effect all permits, certificates, franchises, licenses, authorizations and similar approvals necessary in connection with the operation of its business with such exceptions as do not and will not materially adversely affect the business, financial condition, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. (The term “principal subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company which, together with its subsidiaries, held at the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus more than 10% of the assets, or for the year covered by such financial statements contributed more than 10% of the revenues or net income, of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis);

(j) All of the issued shares of share capital of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and conform to the description thereof set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, and all such shares of each principal subsidiary, if any, have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and (except for directors’ qualifying shares or as specified in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests or claims, except such (of which the Company is aware of none) as do not materially adversely affect the value of such shares or interfere with the conduct of the business of the issuer of such shares or the Company’s control over such shares and such business;

(k) The Designated Securities have been duly and validly authorized and, when the Designated Securities are issued and delivered against payment therefor pursuant to this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities, will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the applicable Indenture; the applicable Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company, is duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general equity principles; the Indenture conforms, and the Designated Securities will conform, to the descriptions thereof set forth in the Prospectus or the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Designated Securities;

(l) The issue and sale of the Designated Securities, and the compliance by the Company with the provisions of the Designated Securities, this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities, and the applicable Indenture and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will not (to the extent relevant to the issue and sale of the Designated Securities) (i) result in a breach or violation of any provisions of the Articles of Association of the Company or (ii) result in any 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 of the property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, which breach, violation, default, creation or imposition will have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or have an adverse effect on the Designated Securities; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Designated Securities, or the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities, the applicable Indenture, except (A) the registration under the Act of the Designated Securities, (B) such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the subscription for and distribution of the Designated Securities by the Underwriters, (C) where applicable, the filing of approved listing particulars or an approved prospectus

 

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or other required documentation in accordance with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange and applicable law in connection with the listing of the Designated Securities on such securities exchange, (D) the qualification of the applicable Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and (E) such other consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as have heretofore been, or will have been prior to each Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 5 hereof), obtained or made;

(m) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject, other than as set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and other than litigation or proceedings which in each case will not have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such litigation or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

(n) The independent accountants of the Company who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, are or were, as applicable, independent public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

(o) The offer and sale of the Designated Securities in the United States will not subject the Company to registration under, or result in a violation of, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”);

(p) Other than as described or set forth in the Registration Statement or the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, no stamp or other similar issuance taxes or duties are payable in the United Kingdom by or on behalf of the Underwriters in connection with the issue of the Designated Securities, the issue of the Designated Securities to the Underwriters by the Company or the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereunder; and

(q) Other than as described or set forth in the Registration Statement or the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, under current law applicable in the United Kingdom, all payments by the Company in respect of the Designated Securities may be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of any taxes, duties assessments or charges of whatever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of the United Kingdom or any political subdivision thereof or any authority therein or thereof having power to tax.

3. (a) Each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees with the Company that, in connection with the sale and distribution of the Designated Securities,

(i) in relation to any Designated Securities having a maturity of less than one year: (1) it is a person whose ordinary activities involve it in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of its business; and (2) it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any securities other than to persons:

(A) whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses; or

(B) who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses,

where the issue of the securities would otherwise constitute a contravention of Section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”) by the Company;

 

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(ii) directly or indirectly, it (1) has only communicated or caused to be communicated, and will only communicate or cause to be communicated, an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of any Designated Securities in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company; and (2) has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Designated Securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom;

(b) Each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees with the Company that it has not offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available any Designated Securities to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of this provision, the expression retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

(i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“EUWA”); or

(ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA; or

(iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”); and

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Designated Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Designated Securities;

(c) If the relevant Pricing Agreement specifies that the restriction set out in Section 3(b) above does not apply, each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees with the Company that in relation to the United Kingdom, it has not made and will not make an offer of the Designated Securities to the public in the United Kingdom, other than:

(i) Qualified investors: at any time to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;

(ii) Fewer than 150 offerees: at any time to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation), as permitted under the UK Prospectus Regulation, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant Underwriter or Underwriters nominated by the Company for any such offer; or

(iii) Other exempt offers: at any time in any other circumstances falling within section 86 of the FSMA,

provided, that no such offer of the Designated Securities referred to in (i) to (iii) above shall require any Underwriter or the Company to publish a prospectus pursuant to section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of the Designated Securities to the public” in relation to any Designated Securities in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Designated Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Designated Securities;

 

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(d) Each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees with the Company that it has not offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available any Designated Securities to any retail investor in the European Economic Area. For the purposes of this provision, the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

(i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “EU MiFID II”); or

(ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of EU MiFID II; or

(iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended, the “EU Prospectus Regulation”); and

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Designated Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Designated Securities;

(e) If the relevant Pricing Agreement specifies that the restriction set out in Section 3(d) above does not apply, each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees with the Company that in relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each, a “Member State”), it has not made and will not make an offer of the Designated Securities to the public in that Member State, except that it may make an offer of the Designated Securities to the public in that Member State:

(i) Qualified investors: at any time to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the EU Prospectus Regulation;

(ii) Fewer than 150 offerees: at any time to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the EU Prospectus Regulation), as permitted under the EU Prospectus Regulation, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant Underwriter or Underwriters nominated by the Company for any such offer; or

(iii) Other exempt offers: at any time in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the EU Prospectus Regulation,

provided, that no such offer of the Designated Securities referred to in (i) to (iii) above shall require any Underwriter or the Company to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the EU Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the EU Prospectus Regulation.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of the Designated Securities to the public” in relation to any Designated Securities in any Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Designated Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Designated Securities;

(f) Each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees with the Company, with respect to sales of the Designated Securities in Canada, that, directly or indirectly, it shall sell the Designated Securities only to purchasers purchasing as principal that are both “accredited investors” as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or section 73.3 of the Securities Act (Ontario) and “permitted clients” as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations; and

(g) Each Underwriter agrees that a determination will be made in relation to each issue about whether, for the purpose of the MiFID Product Governance rules under EU Delegated Directive 2017/593 (the “MiFID Product Governance Rules”) and/or the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the “UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules”), as applicable, any Underwriter subscribing for any Designated Securities is a manufacturer in respect of such Designated Securities, but

 

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that, otherwise, neither the Underwriters nor any of their respective affiliates will be a manufacturer for the purpose of the MiFID Product Governance Rules and/or UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules, respectively.

4. The several Underwriters are offering the Designated Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Designated Securities.

The total aggregate principal amount of Designated Securities to be subscribed for by all the Underwriters pursuant to such Pricing Agreement shall be the aggregate principal amount of Designated Securities set forth in Schedule I to such Pricing Agreement.

5. Designated Securities to be subscribed for by each Underwriter pursuant to the Pricing Agreement will be represented by one or more global securities in book-entry form which will be deposited by, or on behalf of, the Company with DTC or its designated custodian, in each case against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the subscription price therefor payable to the order of the Company in same day funds. The time, place and date of such delivery of and payment for Designated Securities shall be as specified in such Pricing Agreement, or at such other time, place and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Designated Securities is herein called the “Time of Delivery”.

6. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of Designated Securities:

(a) To prepare the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable Designated Securities, in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities, or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b) under the Act; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities and prior to the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities which shall be disapproved by the Representatives for such Designated Securities promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed and to furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus (or a notice in lieu of a prospectus pursuant to Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required in connection with the offering or sale of such Designated Securities, and during such period to advise the Representatives, as soon as practicable after the Company receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, 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 Act relating to the Designated Securities, of the suspension of the qualification of such Designated Securities, for offering or sale in any U.S. jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, or of any such notice of objection or of any such suspension of any such qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;

(b) To pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Designated Securities in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Act and the rules adopted thereunder;

(c) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Designated Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such U.S. jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of

 

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such Designated Securities, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or to take any other action which would subject it to service of process in suits other than those arising out of the offering or sale of such Designated Securities in any U.S. jurisdiction;

(d) To furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and the Form 20-F and any other documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in such quantities as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or a notice in lieu of a prospectus pursuant to Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required in connection with the offering or sale of such Designated Securities at any time prior to the expiration of nine months from the date on which the offering of such Designated Securities commenced (the “Commencement Date”) and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus (or a notice in lieu of a prospectus pursuant to Rule 173(a) under the Act) is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or a notice in lieu of a prospectus pursuant to Rule 173(a) under the Act) in connection with sales of any of such Designated Securities at any time nine months or more after the Commencement Date, upon the request of the Representatives but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many copies as the Representatives may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act; provided, however, that if after the 90th day after the Commencement Date compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(d) would, in the opinion of United States counsel for the Company, require inclusion in the Prospectus of financial statements or portions thereof not theretofore made publicly available by the Company, or if the staff of the Commission shall require the inclusion of such financial statements, the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement such Prospectus on or before April 30 of the year in which the next Annual Report on Form 20-F of the Company is required to be filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act;

(e) To make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

(f) Unless otherwise specified in the Pricing Agreement, during the period beginning from the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities and continuing to and including the earlier of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for such Designated Securities, as notified to the Company by the Representatives, and (ii) the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company (other than pursuant to employee stock option or incentive plans or on the conversion of convertible securities outstanding on the date of this Agreement) which are substantially similar to such Designated Securities, without the prior written consent of the Representatives; and

(g) If required by Rule 430B(h) under the Act, to prepare a form of prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such form of prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than may be required by Rule 424(b) under the Act; and to make no further amendment or supplement to such form of prospectus which shall be disapproved by the Representatives promptly after reasonable notice thereof.

 

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7. (a) The Company agrees to prepare a final term sheet, containing solely a description of the Designated Securities, in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act within the time required by such Rule.

(b) The Company and each Underwriter agree that the Underwriters may prepare and use any Free Writing Prospectus (i) which contains only information describing the preliminary terms of the Designated Securities or their offering, (ii) which contains only information that (A) describes the final terms of the Designated Securities or their offering and (B) is included in the final term sheet described in Section 7(a) above or (iii) that is otherwise required to be filed with the Commission.

(c) Each Underwriter represents that, other than as permitted under Section 7(b) above, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Designated Securities that would constitute a Free Writing Prospectus without the prior consent of the Company and that Schedule III to the applicable Pricing Agreement is a complete list of any free writing prospectus for which the Underwriters have received such consent.

(d) The Company represents and agrees that it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Designated Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior consent of the Underwriters and that Schedule III to the applicable Pricing Agreement is a complete list of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses for which the Company has received such consent.

(e) The Company represents, warrants and agrees that it has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and that such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending.

(f) The Company represents, warrants and agrees that if at any time prior to the time the Prospectus is filed with the Commission, any event occurred or occurs as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement (or any other registration statement relating to the Designated Securities) or the Statutory Prospectus or included or would include an 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 prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter a Pricing Disclosure Package as amended or supplemented which will correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission; provided, however, that the Company will prepare and furnish with charge to each Underwriter a Pricing Disclosure Package as amended or supplemented if such Pricing Disclosure Package was amended or supplemented solely as a result of an untrue statement or omission made in the Pricing Disclosure Package made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

8. Except where otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Agreement, the Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following to the extent applicable: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Designated Securities under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 6(d) hereof) amendments and supplements thereto; (ii) the cost of printing or producing this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement, the Indentures, and any Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Designated Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 6(c) hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and legal investment surveys; (iv) any fees charged by any securities rating services for rating the Designated Securities; (v) any filing fees incident to securing any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority of the terms of the sale of the Designated Securities; (vi) all expenses in connection

 

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with the obtaining of any approval of the Company’s shareholders to the allotment and issuance of the Designated Securities; (vii) all expenses and listing fees in connection with the listing of the Designated Securities on any securities exchange; (viii) the cost of preparing and authenticating certificates for the Designated Securities; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee and the fees and disbursements for counsel of the Trustee in connection with the Designated Securities and the Indentures; (x) the costs and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; (xi) all stamp, registration and other similar taxes and duties payable in connection with the issue of the Designated Securities as contemplated by this Agreement; (xii) all expenses incurred for preparing, reproducing and filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; and (xiii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, under the applicable Pricing Agreement which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 8. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section 8, Section 6(d), Section 10 and Section 13 hereof and in the Pricing Agreement, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on sales of any of the Designated Securities by them (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, sales contemplated by this Agreement), and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

9. The obligations of the Underwriters under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall be subject, in their reasonable discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company herein are, at and as of the Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and, except as otherwise provided in the Pricing Agreement, the following additional conditions:

(a) The final term sheet contemplated by Section 7(a) shall have been filed by the Company with the Commission within the time period prescribed by Rule 433(d) under the Act; the Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act and in accordance with Section 6(a) hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission and no 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 Act shall have been received; and all requests to the Company for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives’ reasonable satisfaction;

(b) United States and (if requested) English legal counsel for the Underwriters shall have furnished to the Representatives such opinion or opinions, dated such Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives;

(c) Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, United States legal counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion, dated such Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives;

(d) Clifford Chance LLP, English legal counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives;

(e) At the Applicable Time relating to such Designated Securities and also at the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, the independent accountants of the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter or letters, dated the date of the Applicable Time and a letter dated such Time of Delivery, respectively, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives to the effect set forth in Annex I to the Pricing Agreement;

(f) Since the Applicable Time relating to the Designated Securities, there shall not have been, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, (i) any material change in the share capital, undated loan capital or dated loan capital of the Company other than such changes as have been disclosed to the Representatives, or (ii) any material change in or affecting the business, financial condition, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the effect of which in each case is, in the

 

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Representatives’ judgment after consultation with the Company, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Designated Securities, on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

(g) Since the Applicable Time relating to the Designated Securities, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities or preferred stock by Moody’s Investors Service Ltd. or S&P Global Ratings UK Limited and (ii) neither such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities or preferred stock;

(h) Since the Applicable Time relating to the Designated Securities (i) neither the United States nor the United Kingdom shall have become engaged in hostilities which have resulted in the declaration of a national emergency or war, (ii) there shall not have been any generally published change or development involving a prospective change in U.S. or United Kingdom taxation directly affecting the Designated Securities or the imposition of exchange controls by the United States or the United Kingdom, (iii) there shall not have been a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally or in securities of the Company on the New York Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange, or a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York declared by either U.S. federal or New York state authorities or a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in the United Kingdom declared by authorities in the United Kingdom, the effect of which in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii), in the judgment of the Representatives after consultation with the Company, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

(i) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representatives at the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities, certificates of directors or officers of the Company, reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery and as to the performance by the Company of all its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, and the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives certificates of directors or officers of the Company, reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, as to the matters set forth in Section 9(a) hereof; and

(j) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished such other documents as reasonably requested by the Representatives and set forth in the Pricing Agreement.

10. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Act) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act and any other prospectus relating to the Designated Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any other prospectus relating to the Designated Securities or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

 

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(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any other prospectus relating to the Designated Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any other prospectus relating to the Designated Securities, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 10 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities on the other from the offering of the Designated Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of

 

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the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the applicable Designated Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters of Designated Securities in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such Designated Securities and not joint.

(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 10 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 10 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company (including any person who, with this consent, is named in the Registration Statement, as about to become a director of the Company), to the authorized representative of the Company in the United States and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

11. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to subscribe for the Designated Securities for which it has agreed to subscribe under the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities at a Time of Delivery, the Representatives may in their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to subscribe for such Designated Securities on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do not arrange for the subscription for such Designated Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to subscribe for such Designated Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, the Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for the subscription for such Designated Securities, or the Company notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the subscription for such Designated Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone such Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section 11 with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the subscription for the Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount or number of such Designated Securities which remains unsubscribed for does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount or number of all the Designated Securities to be subscribed for at such Time of Delivery, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to subscribe for the Designated Securities for which such Underwriter agreed to subscribe hereunder at such Time of Delivery and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to subscribe for its pro rata share (based on the principal amount or number of Designated Securities for which such Underwriter agreed to subscribe hereunder) of the Designated Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

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(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the subscription for the Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount or number of such Designated Securities which remains unsubscribed for exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount or number of all the Designated Securities to be subscribed for at such Time of Delivery, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to subscribe for Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 10 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

12. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Designated Securities.

13. If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 11 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Designated Security covered by such Designated Securities except as provided in Section 8 and Section 10 hereof; but, if for any other reason, any Designated Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the subscription for, sale and delivery of the such Designated Securities not so delivered, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Section 8 and Section 10 hereof.

14. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters of the Designated Securities shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such Representatives jointly or by such Representatives, if any, as may be designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities.

All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent by email or registered mail to the applicable address of the Representatives as set forth in the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by email or registered mail to the applicable address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Barclays PLC Treasury; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 10(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by registered mail to such Underwriter at its address set forth in the Pricing Agreement. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

15. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 10 and 12 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Designated Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

16. The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the issue and subscription of the Designated Securities pursuant to this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Designated Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to each such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company or its affiliates (other than, if applicable, itself), stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to any of the transactions

 

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contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the several Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company; and (v) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

17. The Company agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding brought by any Underwriter or by any person controlling any Underwriter, arising out of or based upon this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement may be instituted in any state or federal court in The City and State of New York, and waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts in any such proceeding. The Company hereby designates Barclays Bank PLC (New York Branch) as its authorized agent (the “Authorized Agent”) upon which process may be served in any action based on this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement which may be instituted in any state or federal court in The City and State of New York by an Underwriter and expressly accepts the jurisdiction of any such court in respect of such action. Such designation shall be irrevocable. The Company represents and warrants that it will cause Barclays Bank PLC (New York Branch) to act as said agent for service of process, and the Company agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such designation in full force and effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon the Authorized Agent and written notice of such service to the Company (mailed or delivered to the Company at its respective address as aforesaid) shall be deemed, in every respect, effective service of process upon the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action based on this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement may be instituted by any Underwriter in any competent court in England.

18. Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

19. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance, with the laws of the State of New York.

20. Where a resolution measure is taken in relation to any BRRD undertaking or any member of the same group as that BRRD undertaking and that BRRD undertaking or any member of the same group as that BRRD undertaking is a party to this Agreement and/or the Pricing Agreement (any such party to this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement being an “Affected Party”), each other party to this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement, as applicable, agrees that it shall only be entitled to exercise any termination right under this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement, as applicable, against the Affected Party to the extent that it would be entitled to do so under the Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement, as applicable, were governed by the laws of any part of the United Kingdom. For the purpose of this clause, “resolution measure” means a “crisis prevention measure,” “crisis management measure” or “recognised third-country resolution action,” each with the meaning given in the “PRA Rulebook: CRR Firms and Non-Authorised Persons: Stay in Resolution Instrument 2015,” as may be amended from time to time (the “PRA Contractual Stay Rules”), provided, however, that “crisis prevention measure” shall be interpreted in the manner outlined in Rule 2.3 of the PRA Contractual Stay Rules; “BRRD undertaking,” “group,” “Special Resolution Regime” and “termination right” have the respective meanings given in the PRA Contractual Stay Rules.

21. Notwithstanding and to the exclusion of any other term of this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement or any other agreements, arrangements, or understanding between each Covered Party and each Counterparty, each Counterparty acknowledges and accepts that a Bail-in Liability arising under this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement may be subject to the exercise of Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority, and acknowledges, accepts, and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the effect of the exercise of the relevant Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority in relation to any Bail-in Liability of each Covered Party to such Counterparty under this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement, that (without limitation) may include and result in any of the following, or some combination thereof;

 

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(i) the reduction of all, or a portion, of such Bail-in Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon;

(ii) the conversion of all, or a portion, of such Bail-in Liability into shares, other securities or other obligations of the relevant Covered Party or another person, and the issue to or conferral on such Counterparty of such shares, securities or obligations;

(iii) the cancellation of such Bail-in Liability; or

(iv) the amendment or alteration of any interest, if applicable, thereon, the maturity or the dates on which any payments are due, including by suspending payment for a temporary period;

(b) the variation of the terms of this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement, as deemed necessary by the Relevant Resolution Authority, to give effect to the exercise of Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority.

For the purposes of this provision:

“Bail-in Legislation” means (i) in relation to a member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented, or which at any time implements, the BRRD, the relevant implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement as described in the EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule from time to time (the “EU Bail-in Legislation”), and (ii) in relation to the U.K., Part I of the UK Banking Act 2009, as amended, and any other law or regulation applicable in the UK relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (otherwise than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings) (the “UK Bail-in Legislation”)

“Bail-in Liability” means a liability in respect of which the relevant Bail-in Powers may be exercised.

“Bail-in Powers” means (i) in relation to a member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented, or which implements, the BRRD, any Write-down and Conversion Powers as defined in the EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule, in relation to the relevant EU Bail-in Legislation, or (ii) in relation to the U.K., the U.K. Write-down and Conversion Powers.

“BRRD” means Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, as amended or replaced from time to time.

“Counterparty” means each party to this Agreement and/or the Pricing Agreement, as the case may be, other than the relevant Covered Party, that is a counterparty of such Covered Party.

“Covered Party” means any party to this Agreement and/or any Pricing Agreement subject to the applicable Bail-in Legislation.

“EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule” means the document described as such, then in effect, and published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person) from time to time at the LMA website (as of the date of this Agreement at https://www.lma.eu.com/documents-guidelines/eu-bail-legislation-schedule under EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule.

“Relevant Resolution Authority” means the resolution authority with the ability to exercise any Bail-in Powers in relation to the relevant Covered Party.

“U.K. Write-down and Conversion Powers” means the powers under the U.K. Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or affiliate of a bank or investment firm, to cancel, reduce, transfer, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares,

 

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securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability.

22. (a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

For the purposes of this provision:

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

23. Each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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Very truly yours,

BARCLAYS PLC

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Date:

 

[Signature Page to Debt Securities Underwriting Agreement]


Annex 1

Pricing Agreement

[●]

[●]

As representative of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule I (the “Representative”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Barclays PLC (the “Company”) proposes to issue $[●] aggregate principal amount of [●]% [Senior][Subordinated] Notes due [●] (the “Notes”). Each of the Underwriters hereby undertakes to purchase at the subscription price set forth in Schedule II hereto, the amount of Notes set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto, such payment to be made at the Time of Delivery set forth in Schedule II hereto. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are several but not joint.

Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement—Standard Provisions, dated [●] (the “Underwriting Agreement”), is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Agreement, except that each representation and warranty with respect to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Prospectus and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Notes. Each reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representative designated to act on behalf of each of the Underwriters of Designated Securities pursuant to Section 14 of the Underwriting Agreement and the address referred to in such Section 14 is set forth in Schedule II hereto.

An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the form heretofore delivered to you, is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.

The Applicable Time for purposes of this Pricing Agreement is [●] New York time on [●]. Each “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act for which each party hereto has received consent to use in accordance with Section 7 of the Underwriting Agreement is listed in Schedule III hereto and is attached as Exhibit A hereto.

[Solely for the purposes of the requirements of Article 9(8) of the MiFID Product Governance rules under EU Delegated Directive 2017/593 (the “MiFID Product Governance Rules”) regarding the mutual responsibilities of manufacturers under the MiFID Product Governance Rules, (a) [●]/[each of the Underwriters designated an EU Manufacturer on Schedule II hereto] ([each an]/[the] “EU Manufacturer” [and together “the EU Manufacturers”]) acknowledges [to each other EU Manufacturer] that it understands the responsibilities conferred upon it under the MiFID Product Governance Rules relating to each of the product approval process, the target market and the proposed distribution channels as applying to the Notes and the related information set out in the [Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any other announcements] in connection with the Notes and (b) each of the Underwriters that is not an EU Manufacturer and the Company notes the application of the MiFID Product Governance Rules and acknowledges the target market and distribution channels identified as applying to the Notes by the EU Manufacturer[s] and the related information set out in the [Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any other announcements] in connection with the Notes.]


[Solely for the purposes of the requirements of 3.2.7R of the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the “UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules”) regarding the mutual responsibilities of manufacturers under the UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules, (a) each of the Underwriters designated a UK Manufacturer on Schedule II hereto ([each a] [the] “UK Manufacturer” [and together, the “UK Manufacturers”]) acknowledges [to each other UK Manufacturer] that it understands the responsibilities conferred upon it under the UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules relating to each of the product approval process, the target market and the proposed distribution channels as applying to the Notes and the related information set out in the [Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any other announcements] in connection with the Notes and (b) each of the Underwriters who is not a UK Manufacturer and the Company notes the application of the UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules and acknowledges the target market and distribution channels identified as applying to the Notes by the UK Manufacturer[s] and the related information set out in the [Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any other announcements] in connection with the Notes.]

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us the counterpart hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof, including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters on the one hand and the Company on the other.

[Signature Page Follows]


Very truly yours,

BARCLAYS PLC

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Accepted as of the date hereof

at New York, New York

On behalf of itself and each of the other Underwriters
[●]

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Debt Securities Pricing Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter

   Principal Amount of Notes  

[●]

   $ [●]  

[●]

   $ [●]  

[●]

   $ [●]  

Total

   $ []  


SCHEDULE II

Title of Designated Securities:

[●]% [Senior][Subordinated] Notes due [●]

Price to Public:

[●]% of principal amount

Subscription Price by Underwriters:

[●]% of principal amount

Form of Designated Securities:

The Notes will be represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company issued pursuant to the [Senior Debt Indenture dated January 17, 2018 (as heretofore amended and supplemented)] [Dated Subordinated Debt Indenture dated May 9, 2017 (as heretofore amended and supplemented)] between Barclays PLC and The Bank of New York Mellon, as supplemented by the [●] Supplemental Indenture to be dated on or about [●].

Securities Exchange, if any:

[None] [●]

Maturity Date:

The stated maturity of the principal of the Notes will be [●].

Interest Rate:

Interest will accrue on the Notes from the date of their issuance. Interest will accrue on the Notes at a rate of [●]% per year from and including the date of issuance.

Interest Payment Dates:

Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrear on [●] and [●] of each year, commencing on [●].

Record Dates:

The Business Day immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date (or, if the Notes are held in definitive form, the 15th Business Day preceding each Interest Payment Date).

Sinking Fund Provisions:

No sinking fund provisions.

Optional Redemption:

[The Notes are redeemable as described under “Description of [Senior][Subordinated] Notes—Optional Redemption” in the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below).]


Tax Redemption:

[The Notes are redeemable as described under “Description of [Senior][Subordinated] Notes—Tax Redemption” in the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below).]

Regulatory Event Redemption:

[The Notes are redeemable as described under “Description of Subordinated Notes—Regulatory Event Redemption” in the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below).]

Loss Absorption Disqualification Event Redemption:

[The Notes are also redeemable as described under “Description of [Senior] Notes—Loss Absorption Disqualification Event Redemption” in the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below).]

Time of Delivery:

[●] by [9:30 a.m.] New York time.

Specified Funds for Payment of Subscription Price of Designated Securities:

By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same day funds.

Value Added Tax:

(a) If the Company is obliged to pay any sum to the Underwriters under this Agreement and any value added tax (“VAT”) is properly charged on such amount, the Company shall pay to the Underwriters an amount equal to such VAT on receipt of a valid VAT invoice;

(b) If the Company is obliged to pay a sum to the Underwriters under this Agreement for any fee, cost, charge or expense properly incurred under or in connection with this Agreement (the “Relevant Cost”) and no VAT is payable by the Company in respect of the Relevant Cost under paragraph (a) above, the Company shall pay to the Underwriters an amount which:

(i) if for VAT purposes the Relevant Cost is consideration for a supply of goods or services made to the Underwriters, is equal to any input VAT incurred by the Underwriters on that supply of goods and services, but only if and to the extent that the Underwriters are unable to recover such input VAT from HM Revenue & Customs (whether by repayment or credit) provided, however, that the Underwriters shall reimburse the Company for any amount paid by the Company in respect of irrecoverable input VAT pursuant to this paragraph (i) if and to the extent such input VAT is subsequently recovered from HM Revenue & Customs (whether by repayment or credit);

(ii) if for VAT purposes the Relevant Cost is a disbursement properly incurred by the Underwriters under or in connection with this Agreement as agent on behalf of the Company, is equal to any VAT paid on the Relevant Cost by the Underwriters provided, however, that the Underwriters shall use best endeavors to procure that the actual supplier of the goods or services which the Underwriters received as agent issues a valid VAT invoice to the Company.

Closing Location:

[●]


Name and address of Representative:

Designated Representative: [●]

Address for Notices:

[●]

[Selling Restrictions:

[●]]

[EU Manufacturers:

[●]

[●]]

[UK Manufacturers:

[●]

[●]]

Other Terms and Conditions:

As set forth in the prospectus supplement dated [] relating to the Notes (the “Prospectus Supplement”), incorporating the Prospectus dated [●] relating to the Notes (the “Base Prospectus”).


SCHEDULE III

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus:

Final Term Sheet, dated [●], attached hereto as Exhibit A.


EXHIBIT A

Final Term Sheet, dated []

Exhibit 1.2

BARCLAYS PLC

Contingent Capital Securities

Underwriting Agreement — Standard Provisions

From time to time Barclays PLC, a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales (the “Company”), proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a “Pricing Agreement”) in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and deletions as the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and therein, to issue certain of the Company’s contingent capital securities, which may be convertible in accordance with their terms for stock or other securities of Barclays PLC or permanently written down to zero as specified in Schedule II to the applicable Pricing Agreement (the “Designated Securities”) and to issue to the firms named in Schedule I to such Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the “Underwriters” with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the Designated Securities specified therein).

The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated Securities shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto and in or pursuant to the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on August 14, 2018 (as heretofore amended and supplemented and as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time by a supplemental indenture thereto, the “Indenture”). The Designated Securities will be represented by one or more definitive global securities in book-entry form which will be deposited by, or on behalf of, the Company with The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its designated custodian.

1.    Particular issuances of Designated Securities may be made from time to time to the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, for whom the firms designated as representatives of the Underwriters of such Designated Securities in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto will act as representatives (the “Representatives”). The term “Representatives” also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of the Underwriters and to Underwriters that act without any firm being designated as their representatives. This Agreement shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company to issue any of the Designated Securities, or as an obligation of the Underwriters to subscribe for any of the Designated Securities. The obligation of the Company to issue any of the Designated Securities, and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to subscribe for any of the Designated Securities, shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify the aggregate principal amount or number of the Designated Securities, the initial public offering price of such Designated Securities, the subscription price to the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the names of the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the names of the Representatives of such Underwriters, if any, the aggregate principal amount or number of such Designated Securities to be subscribed for by each Underwriter, the commissions, if any, payable to the Underwriters with respect thereto, such other terms of the Designated Securities as are noted in such Pricing Agreement and shall set forth the date, time and manner of delivery of such Designated Securities, and payment therefor. Each Pricing Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not set forth in the Indenture and the registration statement and prospectus with respect thereto) the terms of such


Designated Securities. Each Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic communications or other rapid transmission device designed to produce a written record of communications transmitted. The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be several and not joint.

2.    The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that to the extent applicable to the Designated Securities:

(a)    An “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), on Form F-3 (File No. 333-    ) or such other file number as specified in the applicable Pricing Agreement) relating to the Designated Securities has been filed by the Company with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement; such registration statement and any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective on filing; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission; 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 Act has been received by the Company; and copies of such registration statement, including exhibits and all documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus included in such registration statement and any post-effective amendments thereto, have heretofore been delivered to the Representatives for each of the other Underwriters. The various parts of such registration statement, including all exhibits thereto but excluding Forms T-1 and, if applicable, including (i) any prospectus supplement relating to the Designated Securities that is filed with the Commission and deemed by virtue of Rule 430B under the Act to be part of such registration statement, each as amended at the time such part of such registration statement became effective, and (ii) the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in such registration statement on the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to any Designated Securities, each as amended on the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to any Designated Securities, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; any preliminary prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus supplement) relating to the Designated Securities included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”; such final prospectus in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act is hereinafter called the “Prospectus”; “Applicable Time” shall be as specified in the relevant Pricing Agreement; “Statutory Prospectus” as of any time means the prospectus (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any preliminary prospectus supplement) relating to the Designated Securities that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time, including any document incorporated by reference therein and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof, provided that for purposes of this definition, information contained in a form of prospectus that is deemed retroactively to be part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the Act shall be considered to be included in the Statutory Prospectus as of the actual time that form of prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act; “Free Writing

 

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Prospectus” means any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act relating to the Designated Securities; any reference herein to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form F-3 under the Act as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include any documents filed after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and so incorporated by reference; any reference to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall be deemed to refer to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the applicable Designated Securities in the form in which it is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such filing; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed or submitted under the Exchange Act after the date of the Registration Statement which are incorporated by reference therein;

(b)    No order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission;

(c)    The Statutory Prospectus, as supplemented by the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 7(a) hereof (collectively, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), as of the Applicable Time, did not 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; each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if any, listed in Schedule III to the applicable Pricing Agreement, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not 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; provided, however that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made in the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter expressly for use therein;

(d)    At the time of the filing of the Registration Statement, at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), and at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Act) made any offer relating to the Designated Securities in reliance on the exemption provided for in Rule 163 under the Act, the Company was a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act;

 

3


(e)    At the earliest time that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Act) of the Designated Securities the Company was not, and the Company is not, an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, including by virtue of the Company or any subsidiary in the preceding three years having been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or having been made the subject of a judicial or administrative decree or order as described in Rule 405 under the Act;

(f)    The Annual Report on Form 20-F most recently filed by the Company (the “Form 20-F”) and any other documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus, when such documents were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents, when so filed, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not, when so filed, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Securities expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any Preliminary Prospectus relating to such Designated Securities;

(g)    The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Statutory Prospectus conform, and any amendments or supplements thereto, when they become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and the Registration Statement and the Prospectus did not, when they became effective (including as of the most recent effective date of the part of the Registration Statement relating to the offering of the Designated Securities as determined pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) under the Act) or were so filed, as the case may be, and any amendments or supplements thereto will not, when they become effective or are so filed, as the case may be, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any Preliminary Prospectus relating to such Designated Securities;

 

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(h)    Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, there has not been, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, (i) any material change in the share capital, undated loan capital or dated loan capital of the Company other than such changes as have been disclosed in writing to the Representatives or (ii) any material adverse change in or affecting the business, financial condition, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis;

(i)    The Company and each of its principal subsidiaries, if any, have been duly incorporated or organized and are validly existing as corporations under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or organization with corporate power and authority to own their respective properties and conduct their respective businesses as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, and each has in full force and effect all permits, certificates, franchises, licenses, authorizations and similar approvals necessary in connection with the operation of its business with such exceptions as do not and will not materially adversely affect the business, financial condition, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. (The term “principal subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company which, together with its subsidiaries, held at the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus more than 10% of the assets, or for the year covered by such financial statements contributed more than 10% of the revenues or net income, of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis);

(j)    All of the issued shares of share capital of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and conform to the description thereof set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, and all such shares of each principal subsidiary, if any, have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and (except for directors’ qualifying shares or as specified in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests or claims, except such (of which the Company is aware of none) as do not materially adversely affect the value of such shares or interfere with the conduct of the business of the issuer of such shares or the Company’s control over such shares and such business;

(k)    The Company is in compliance with the relevant listing rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and the rules of the London Stock Exchange in relation to its ordinary shares;

(l)    The Designated Securities have been duly and validly authorized and, when the Designated Securities are issued and delivered against payment therefor pursuant to this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities, will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture; the Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company, is duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument of the Company enforceable in accordance with its

 

5


terms, except as enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general equity principles; the Indenture conforms, and the Designated Securities will conform, to the descriptions thereof set forth in the Prospectus or the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Designated Securities;

(m)    To the extent the Designated Securities are convertible into Conversion Shares (as defined in the Indenture) as specified in the applicable Pricing Agreement, the Company has taken all necessary action to approve and authorize the issue of the Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Designated Securities, and, when issued upon the conversion of the Designated Securities in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, will be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully paid and not subject to calls for further funds or pre-emption rights, and the Conversion Shares will conform in full to the description thereof set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented related to such Designated Securities;

(n)    The issue and sale of the Designated Securities, and the compliance by the Company with the provisions of the Designated Securities, this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities, and the Indenture and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will not (to the extent relevant to the issue and sale of the Designated Securities) (i) result in a breach or violation of any provisions of the Articles of Association of the Company or (ii) result in any 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 of the property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, which breach, violation, default, creation or imposition will have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or have an adverse effect on the Designated Securities; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Designated Securities, or the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities, the Indenture, except (A) the registration under the Act of the Designated Securities, (B) such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the subscription for and distribution of the Designated Securities by the Underwriters, (C) where applicable, the filing of approved listing particulars or an approved prospectus or other required documentation in accordance with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange and applicable law in connection with the listing of the Designated Securities on such securities exchange, (D) the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and (E) such other consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as have heretofore been, or will have been prior to each Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 5 hereof), obtained or made;

 

6


(o)    There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject, other than as set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and other than litigation or proceedings which in each case will not have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such litigation or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

(p)    The independent accountants of the Company who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, are or were, as applicable, independent public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

(q)    The offer and sale of the Designated Securities in the United States will not subject the Company to registration under, or result in a violation of, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”);

(r)    Other than as described or set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, no stamp or other similar issuance taxes or duties are payable in the United Kingdom by or on behalf of the Underwriters in connection with the issue of the Designated Securities, the issue of the Designated Securities to the Underwriters by the Company or the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereunder; and

(s)    Other than as described or set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, under current law applicable in the United Kingdom, all payments by the Company in respect of the Designated Securities may be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of any taxes, duties assessments or charges of whatever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of the United Kingdom or any political subdivision thereof or any authority therein or thereof having power to tax.

3.    (a) Each Underwriter of Designated Securities represents, warrants and agrees with the Company that, in connection with the sale and distribution of the Designated Securities, directly or indirectly, it (i) has only communicated or caused to be communicated, and will only communicate or cause to be communicated, an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”)) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of any Designated Securities in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company; and (ii) has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Designated Securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom;

 

7


(b)    Each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees with the Company that it has not offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available any Designated Securities to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of this provision, the expression retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

(i)    a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“EUWA”); or

(ii)    a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA; or

(iii)    not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”); and

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Designated Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Designated Securities;

(c)    If the relevant Pricing Agreement specifies that the restriction set out in Section 3(b) above does not apply, each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees with the Company that in relation to the United Kingdom, it has not made and will not make an offer of the Designated Securities to the public in the United Kingdom, other than:

(i)    Qualified investors: at any time to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;

(ii)    Fewer than 150 offerees: at any time to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation), as permitted under the UK Prospectus Regulation, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant Underwriter or Underwriters nominated by the Company for any such offer; or

(iii)    Other exempt offers: at any time in any other circumstances falling within section 86 of the FSMA,

provided, that no such offer of the Designated Securities referred to in (i) to (iii) above shall require any Underwriter or the Company to publish a prospectus pursuant to section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

 

8


For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of the Designated Securities to the public” in relation to any Designated Securities in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Designated Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Designated Securities;

(d)    Each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees with the Company that it has not offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available any Designated Securities to any retail investor in the European Economic Area. For the purposes of this provision, the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

(i)    a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “EU MiFID II”); or

(ii)    a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of EU MiFID II; or

(iii)    not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended, the “EU Prospectus Regulation”); and

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Designated Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Designated Securities;

(e)    If the relevant Pricing Agreement specifies that the restriction set out in Section 3(d) above does not apply, each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees with the Company that in relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each, a “Member State”), it has not made and will not make an offer of the Designated Securities to the public in that Member State, except that it may make an offer of the Designated Securities to the public in that Member State:

(i)    Qualified investors: at any time to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the EU Prospectus Regulation;

(ii)    Fewer than 150 offerees: at any time to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the EU Prospectus Regulation), as permitted under the EU Prospectus Regulation, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant Underwriter or Underwriters nominated by the Company for any such offer; or

 

9


(iii)    Other exempt offers: at any time in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the EU Prospectus Regulation,

provided, that no such offer of the Designated Securities referred to in (i) to (iii) above shall require any Underwriter or the Company to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the EU Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the EU Prospectus Regulation.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of the Designated Securities to the public” in relation to any Designated Securities in any Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Designated Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Designated Securities;

(f)    Each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees with the Company, with respect to sales of the Designated Securities in Canada, that, directly or indirectly, it shall sell the Designated Securities only to purchasers purchasing as principal that are both “accredited investors” as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or section 73.3 of the Securities Act (Ontario) and “permitted clients” as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations.

(g)    Each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees that:

(i)    it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell in Hong Kong, by means of any document, any Designated Securities other than to (a) “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong (the “SFO”) and any rules made under the SFO; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong (the “C(WUMP)O”) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the C(WUMP)O; and

(ii)    it has not issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, and will not issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Designated Securities, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to Designated Securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the SFO and any rules made under the SFO.

(h)    Each Underwriter acknowledges that the Prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (the “MAS”). Accordingly, each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees that it has not offered or sold any Designated Securities or caused the Designated Securities to be made the subject of an invitation for

 

10


subscription or purchase and will not offer or sell any Designated Securities or cause the Designated Securities to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and has not circulated or distributed, nor will it circulate or distribute, the Prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Designated Securities, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Designated Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289 of Singapore), as modified or amended from time to time (the “SFA”)) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the Designated Securities are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

(a)    a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

(b)    a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the Designated Securities pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

(1)    to an institutional investor or to a relevant person, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

(2)    where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

(3)    where the transfer is by operation of law;

(4)    as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

(5)    as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore.

 

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(i)    No “prospectus” or other “disclosure document” (as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 of Australia (the “Corporations Act”)) in relation to the Designated Securities has been, or will be, lodged with, or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”) or any other regulatory authority in Australia. Each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees that it:

(a)    has not (directly or indirectly) offered or invited applications, and will not offer or invite applications, for the issue, sale or purchase of, any Designated Securities in, to or from Australia (including an offer or invitation which is received by a person in Australia); and

(b)    has not distributed or published, and will not distribute or publish, the Prospectus or any other offering material or advertisement relating to the Designated Securities in Australia,

unless:

(i)    the aggregate consideration payable by each offeree or invitee is at least AUD500,000 (or its equivalent in an alternative currency and, in either case, disregarding moneys lent by the offeror or its associates) or the offer or invitation otherwise does not require disclosure to investors in accordance with Part 6D.2 or Part 7.9 of the Corporations Act and complies with the terms of any authority granted under the Banking Act of 1959 of Australia;

(ii)    the offer or invitation is not made to a person who is a “retail client” within the meaning of section 761G of the Corporations Act;

(iii)    such action complies with all applicable laws, regulations and directives in Australia (including without limitation, the licensing requirements set out in Chapter 7 of the Australian Corporations Act); and

(iv)    such action does not require any document to be lodged with ASIC or any other regulatory authority in Australia.

Each Underwriter acknowledges that the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not, and under no circumstances are to be construed as, an advertisement or public offering of any Designated Securities in Australia.

In addition, each underwriter represents, warrants and agrees that it will comply with Banking exemption No. 1 of 2018 dated March 21, 2018 promulgated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and which requires all offers and transfers to be in parcels of not less than AUD500,000 in aggregate principal amount. Banking exemption No. 1 does not apply to transfers which occur outside Australia.

 

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By applying for Designated Securities under the Prospectus, each person to whom Designated Securities are issued (an “Investor”):

(a)    will be deemed by the Company and each of the Underwriters to have acknowledged that if any Investor on-sells Designated Securities within 12 months from their issue, the Investor will be required to lodge a prospectus or other disclosure document (as defined in the Corporations Act) with ASIC unless either:

 

  (i)

that sale is to an investor within one of the categories set out in sections 708(8) or 708(11) of the Corporations Act to whom it is lawful to offer Designated Securities in Australia without a prospectus or other disclosure document lodged with ASIC; or

 

  (ii)

the sale offer is received outside Australia; and

(b)    will be deemed by the Company and each of the Underwriters to have undertaken not to sell those Designated Securities in any circumstances other than those described in paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) above for 12 months after the date of issue of such Designated Securities.

(j)    The Designated Securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended, the “FIEA”) and accordingly, each Underwriter represents and agrees that it has not, offered or sold, and undertakes that it will not offer or sell, any Designated Securities directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan or to others for re- offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any resident of Japan except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with the FIEA and other relevant laws and regulations of Japan. As used in this paragraph, “resident of Japan” means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organised under the laws of Japan.

(k)    Each Underwriter represents, warrants and agrees with the Company that it has not offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available any Designated Securities within Taiwan, the Republic of China (“Taiwan”) through a public offering or in circumstances which constitute an offer within the meaning of the Taiwan Securities and Exchange Act or relevant laws and regulations that requires a registration, filing or approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan and/or other regulatory authority of the Taiwan. Each Underwriter further represents, warrants and agrees with the Company that no person or entity in Taiwan is authorized to offer, sell or otherwise make available any Designated Securities or the provision of information relating to the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

(l)    Each Underwriter agrees that a determination will be made in relation to each issue about whether, for the purpose of the MiFID Product Governance rules under EU Delegated Directive 2017/593 (the “MiFID Product Governance Rules”) and/or the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the “UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules”), as applicable, any Underwriter subscribing for any Designated Securities is a manufacturer in respect of such Designated Securities, but that, otherwise, neither the Underwriters nor any of their respective affiliates will be a manufacturer for the purpose of the MiFID Product Governance Rules and/or UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules, respectively.

 

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4.    The several Underwriters are offering the Designated Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Designated Securities.

The total aggregate principal amount of Designated Securities to be subscribed for by all the Underwriters pursuant to such Pricing Agreement shall be the aggregate principal amount of Designated Securities set forth in Schedule I to such Pricing Agreement.

5.    Designated Securities to be subscribed for by each Underwriter pursuant to the Pricing Agreement will be represented by one or more global securities in book-entry form which will be deposited by, or on behalf of, the Company with DTC or its designated custodian, in each case against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the subscription price therefor payable to the order of the Company in same day funds. The time, place and date of such delivery of and payment for Designated Securities shall be as specified in such Pricing Agreement, or at such other time, place and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Designated Securities is herein called the “Time of Delivery”.

6.    The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of Designated Securities:

(a)    To prepare the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable Designated Securities, in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities, or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b) under the Act; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities and prior to the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities which shall be disapproved by the Representatives for such Designated Securities promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed and to furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus (or a notice in lieu of a prospectus pursuant to Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required in connection with the offering or sale of such Designated Securities, and during such period to advise the Representatives, as soon as practicable after the Company receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, 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 Act relating to the Designated Securities, of the suspension of the qualification of such Designated Securities, for offering or sale in any U.S. jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending

 

14


or supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, or of any such notice of objection or of any such suspension of any such qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;

(b)    To pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Designated Securities in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Act and the rules adopted thereunder;

(c)    Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Designated Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such U.S. jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of such Designated Securities, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or to take any other action which would subject it to service of process in suits other than those arising out of the offering or sale of such Designated Securities in any U.S. jurisdiction;

(d)    To furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and the Form 20-F and any other documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in such quantities as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or a notice in lieu of a prospectus pursuant to Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required in connection with the offering or sale of such Designated Securities at any time prior to the expiration of nine months from the date on which the offering of such Designated Securities commenced (the “Commencement Date”) and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus (or a notice in lieu of a prospectus pursuant to Rule 173(a) under the Act) is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or a notice in lieu of a prospectus pursuant to Rule 173(a) under the Act) in connection with sales of any of such Designated Securities at any time nine months or more after the Commencement Date, upon the request of the Representatives but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many copies as the

 

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Representatives may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act; provided, however, that if after the 90th day after the Commencement Date compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(d) would, in the opinion of United States counsel for the Company, require inclusion in the Prospectus of financial statements or portions thereof not theretofore made publicly available by the Company, or if the staff of the Commission shall require the inclusion of such financial statements, the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement such Prospectus on or before April 30 of the year in which the next Annual Report on Form 20-F of the Company is required to be filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act;

(e)    To make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

(f)    Unless otherwise specified in the Pricing Agreement, during the period beginning from the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities and continuing to and including the earlier of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for such Designated Securities, as notified to the Company by the Representatives, and (ii) the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company (other than pursuant to employee stock option or incentive plans or on the conversion of convertible securities outstanding on the date of this Agreement) which are substantially similar to such Designated Securities, without the prior written consent of the Representatives; and

(g)    If required by Rule 430B(h) under the Act, to prepare a form of prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such form of prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than may be required by Rule 424(b) under the Act; and to make no further amendment or supplement to such form of prospectus which shall be disapproved by the Representatives promptly after reasonable notice thereof.

7.    (a) The Company agrees to prepare a final term sheet, containing solely a description of the Designated Securities, in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act within the time required by such Rule.

(b)    The Company and each Underwriter agree that the Underwriters may prepare and use any Free Writing Prospectus (i) which contains only information describing the preliminary terms of the Designated Securities or their offering, (ii) which contains only information that (A) describes the final terms of the Designated Securities or their offering and (B) is included in the final term sheet described in Section 7(a) above or (iii) that is otherwise required to be filed with the Commission.

(c)    Each Underwriter represents that, other than as permitted under Section 7(b) above, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Designated Securities that would constitute a Free Writing Prospectus without the prior consent of the Company and that Schedule III to the applicable Pricing Agreement is a complete list of any free writing prospectus for which the Underwriters have received such consent.

 

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(d)    The Company represents and agrees that it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Designated Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior consent of the Underwriters and that Schedule III to the applicable Pricing Agreement is a complete list of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses for which the Company has received such consent.

(e)    The Company represents, warrants and agrees that it has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and that such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending.

(f)    The Company represents, warrants and agrees that if at any time prior to the time the Prospectus is filed with the Commission, any event occurred or occurs as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement (or any other registration statement relating to the Designated Securities) or the Statutory Prospectus or included or would include an 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 prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter a Pricing Disclosure Package as amended or supplemented which will correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission; provided, however, that the Company will prepare and furnish with charge to each Underwriter a Pricing Disclosure Package as amended or supplemented if such Pricing Disclosure Package was amended or supplemented solely as a result of an untrue statement or omission made in the Pricing Disclosure Package made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

8.    Except where otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Agreement, the Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following to the extent applicable: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Designated Securities under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 6(d) hereof) amendments and supplements thereto; (ii) the cost of printing or producing this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement, the Indenture, and any Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Designated Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 6(c) hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and legal investment surveys; (iv) any fees charged by any securities

 

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rating services for rating the Designated Securities; (v) any filing fees incident to securing any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority of the terms of the sale of the Designated Securities; (vi) all expenses in connection with the obtaining of any approval of the Company’s shareholders to the allotment and issuance of the Designated Securities; (vii) all expenses and listing fees in connection with the listing of the Designated Securities on any securities exchange; (viii) the cost of preparing and authenticating certificates for the Designated Securities; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee and the fees and disbursements for counsel of the Trustee in connection with the Designated Securities and the Indenture; (x) the costs and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; (xi) all stamp, registration and other similar taxes and duties payable in connection with the issue of the Designated Securities as contemplated by this Agreement; (xii) all expenses incurred for preparing, reproducing and filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; and (xiii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, under the applicable Pricing Agreement which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 8. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section 8, Section 6(d), Section 10 and Section 13 hereof and in the Pricing Agreement, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on sales of any of the Designated Securities by them (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, sales contemplated by this Agreement), and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

8-bis. (a) The Company undertakes, prior to making any offering of Designated Securities, to make a determination in relation to each issue of Designated Securities of the classification of the Designated Securities being offered pursuant to section 309B(1)(a) of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289 of Singapore) (the “SFA”) and whether the Designated Securities constitute “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018 (the “SF (CMP) Regulations”) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products), or capital markets products other than prescribed capital markets products.

(b)    The Company shall, prior to making any offering of Designated Securities, provide notice in writing of the classification of the Designated Securities to the “relevant persons”, within the meaning of Regulation 3(b) of the SF (CMP) Regulations.

(c)    The Underwriters acknowledge and agree that for purposes of Section 8-bis(b), the legend entitled “Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification” appearing on any prospectus supplement to the Prospectus, the final term sheet relating to the relevant Designated Securities or Pricing Agreement for each series of Designated Securities classified by the Company as prescribed capital markets products shall constitute sufficient written notice to the Underwriters (in their capacity as “relevant persons”).

 

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9.    The obligations of the Underwriters under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall be subject, in their reasonable discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company herein are, at and as of the Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and, except as otherwise provided in the Pricing Agreement, the following additional conditions:

(a)    The final term sheet contemplated by Section 7(a) shall have been filed by the Company with the Commission within the time period prescribed by Rule 433(d) under the Act; the Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act and in accordance with Section 6(a) hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission and no 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 Act shall have been received; and all requests to the Company for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives’ reasonable satisfaction;

(b)    United States and (if requested) English legal counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to the Representatives such opinion or opinions, dated such Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives;

(c)    Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, United States legal counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion, dated such Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives;

(d)    Clifford Chance LLP, English legal counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives;

(e)    At the Applicable Time relating to such Designated Securities and also at the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, the independent accountants of the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter or letters, dated the date of the Applicable Time and a letter dated such Time of Delivery, respectively, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives to the effect set forth in Annex I to the Pricing Agreement;

(f)    Since the Applicable Time relating to the Designated Securities, there shall not have been, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, (i) any material change in the share capital, undated loan capital or dated loan capital of the Company other than such changes as have been disclosed to the Representatives, or (ii) any material change in or affecting the business, financial condition, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the effect of which in each case is, in the Representatives’ judgment after consultation with the Company, so material and adverse

 

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as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Designated Securities, on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

(g)    Since the Applicable Time relating to the Designated Securities, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities or preferred stock by Moody’s Investors Service Ltd. or S&P Global Ratings UK Limited and (ii) neither such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities or preferred stock;

(h)    Since the Applicable Time relating to the Designated Securities (i) neither the United States nor the United Kingdom shall have become engaged in hostilities which have resulted in the declaration of a national emergency or war, (ii) there shall not have been any generally published change or development involving a prospective change in U.S. or United Kingdom taxation directly affecting the Designated Securities or the imposition of exchange controls by the United States or the United Kingdom, (iii) there shall not have been a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally or in securities of the Company on the New York Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange, or a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York declared by either U.S. federal or New York state authorities or a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in the United Kingdom declared by authorities in the United Kingdom, the effect of which in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii), in the judgment of the Representatives after consultation with the Company, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

(i)    The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representatives at the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities, certificates of directors or officers of the Company, reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery and as to the performance by the Company of all its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, and the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives certificates of directors or officers of the Company, reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, as to the matters set forth in Section 9(a) hereof; and

(j)    The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished such other documents as reasonably requested by the Representatives and set forth in the Pricing Agreement.

10.    (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement

 

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of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Act) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act and any other prospectus relating to the Designated Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any other prospectus relating to the Designated Securities or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

(b)    Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any other prospectus relating to the Designated Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any other prospectus relating to the Designated Securities, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.

(c)    Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party

 

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of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.

(d)    If the indemnification provided for in this Section 10 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities on the other from the offering of the Designated Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters. The relative benefits received by any person appointed by the Company to act as “qualified independent underwriter” within the meaning of Rule 5121 of the FINRA rules (in such capacity, the “Qualified Independent Underwriter”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Designated Securities shall be deemed to be equal to the compensation, if any, received by the Qualified Independent Underwriter for acting in such capacity. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred

 

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by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the applicable Designated Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission and the Qualified Independent Underwriter, in its capacity as such, shall in no event be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the compensation, if any, received by the Qualified Independent Underwriter for acting in such capacity exceeds the amount of any damage which the Qualified Independent Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of the Qualified Independent Underwriter’s acting in such capacity in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters of Designated Securities in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such Designated Securities and not joint.

(e)    The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Qualified Independent Underwriter, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Qualified Independent Underwriter may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, other federal or state statutory laws or regulations or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon the Qualified Independent Underwriter’s acting (or alleged failing to act) as such “qualified independent underwriter” and will reimburse the Qualified Independent Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Qualified Independent Underwriter or any such person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred.

(f)    Section 10(c) shall apply to any action brought against the Qualified Independent Underwriter or any such person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 10(e), except that the Company shall be liable for the expenses of one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) for the Qualified Independent Underwriter and any such person (collectively), separate and in addition to counsel for the persons who may seek indemnification pursuant to Section 10(e), in any such action (to the extent the legal position of the Qualified Independent Underwriter or such person differs from the other indemnified parties or may be subject to different claims and defenses than the other indemnified parties).

(g)    The obligations of the Company under this Section 10 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 10 shall be

 

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in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company (including any person who, with this consent, is named in the Registration Statement, as about to become a director of the Company), to the authorized representative of the Company in the United States and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

11.    (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to subscribe for the Designated Securities for which it has agreed to subscribe under the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities at a Time of Delivery, the Representatives may in their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to subscribe for such Designated Securities on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do not arrange for the subscription for such Designated Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to subscribe for such Designated Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, the Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for the subscription for such Designated Securities, or the Company notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the subscription for such Designated Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone such Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section 11 with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities.

(b)    If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the subscription for the Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount or number of such Designated Securities which remains unsubscribed for does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount or number of all the Designated Securities to be subscribed for at such Time of Delivery, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to subscribe for the Designated Securities for which such Underwriter agreed to subscribe hereunder at such Time of Delivery and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to subscribe for its pro rata share (based on the principal amount or number of Designated Securities for which such Underwriter agreed to subscribe hereunder) of the Designated Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

(c)    If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the subscription for the Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount or

 

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number of such Designated Securities which remains unsubscribed for exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount or number of all the Designated Securities to be subscribed for at such Time of Delivery, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to subscribe for Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 10 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

12.    The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Designated Securities.

13.    If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 11 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Designated Security covered by such Designated Securities except as provided in Section 8 and Section 10 hereof; but, if for any other reason, any Designated Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the subscription for, sale and delivery of the such Designated Securities not so delivered, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Section 8 and Section 10 hereof.

14.    In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters of the Designated Securities shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such Representatives jointly or by such Representatives, if any, as may be designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities.

All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent by email or registered mail to the applicable address of the Representatives as set forth in the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by email or registered mail to the applicable address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Barclays PLC Treasury; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 10(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by registered mail to such Underwriter at its address set forth in the Pricing Agreement. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

 

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15.    This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 10 and 12 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Designated Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

16.    The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the issue and subscription of the Designated Securities pursuant to this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Designated Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s- length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to each such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company or its affiliates (other than, if applicable, itself), stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the several Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company; and (v) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

17.    The Company agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding brought by any Underwriter or by any person controlling any Underwriter, arising out of or based upon this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement may be instituted in any state or federal court in The City and State of New York, and waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts in any such proceeding. The Company hereby designates Barclays Bank PLC (New York Branch) as its authorized agent (the “Authorized Agent”) upon which process may be served in any action based on this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement which may be instituted in any state or federal court in The City and State of New York by an Underwriter and expressly accepts the jurisdiction of any such court in respect of such action. Such designation shall be irrevocable. The Company represents and warrants that it will cause Barclays Bank PLC (New York Branch) to act as said agent for service of process, and the Company agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such designation in full force and effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon the Authorized Agent and written notice of such service to the Company (mailed or delivered to the Company at its respective address as aforesaid) shall be deemed, in every respect, effective service of process upon the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action based on this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement may be instituted by any Underwriter in any competent court in England.

 

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18.    Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

19.    This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance, with the laws of the State of New York.

20.    Where a resolution measure is taken in relation to any BRRD undertaking or any member of the same group as that BRRD undertaking and that BRRD undertaking or any member of the same group as that BRRD undertaking is a party to this Agreement and/or the Pricing Agreement (any such party to this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement being an “Affected Party”), each other party to this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement, as applicable, agrees that it shall only be entitled to exercise any termination right under this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement, as applicable, against the Affected Party to the extent that it would be entitled to do so under the Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement, as applicable, were governed by the laws of any part of the United Kingdom. For the purpose of this clause, “resolution measure” means a “crisis prevention measure,” “crisis management measure” or “recognised third-country resolution action,” each with the meaning given in the “PRA Rulebook: CRR Firms and Non-Authorised Persons: Stay in Resolution Instrument 2015,” as may be amended from time to time (the “PRA Contractual Stay Rules”), provided, however, that “crisis prevention measure” shall be interpreted in the manner outlined in Rule 2.3 of the PRA Contractual Stay Rules; “BRRD undertaking,” “group,” “Special Resolution Regime” and “termination right” have the respective meanings given in the PRA Contractual Stay Rules.

21.    Notwithstanding and to the exclusion of any other term of this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement or any other agreements, arrangements, or understanding between each Covered Party and each Counterparty, each Counterparty acknowledges and accepts that a Bail-in Liability arising under this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement may be subject to the exercise of Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority, and acknowledges, accepts, and agrees to be bound by:

(a)    the effect of the exercise of the relevant Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority in relation to any Bail-in Liability of each Covered Party to such Counterparty under this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement, that (without limitation) may include and result in any of the following, or some combination thereof;

(i)    the reduction of all, or a portion, of such Bail-in Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon;

(ii)    the conversion of all, or a portion, of such Bail-in Liability into shares, other securities or other obligations of the relevant Covered Party or another person, and the issue to or conferral on such Counterparty of such shares, securities or obligations;

(iii)    the cancellation of such Bail-in Liability; or

 

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(iv)    the amendment or alteration of any interest, if applicable, thereon, the maturity or the dates on which any payments are due, including by suspending payment for a temporary period;

(b)    the variation of the terms of this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement, as deemed necessary by the Relevant Resolution Authority, to give effect to the exercise of Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority.

For the purposes of this provision:

“Bail-in Legislation” means (i) in relation to a member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented, or which at any time implements, the BRRD, the relevant implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement as described in the EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule from time to time (the “EU Bail-in Legislation”), and (ii) in relation to the U.K., Part I of the UK Banking Act 2009, as amended, and any other law or regulation applicable in the UK relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (otherwise than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings) (the “UK Bail-in Legislation”)

“Bail-in Liability” means a liability in respect of which the relevant Bail-in Powers may be exercised.

“Bail-in Powers” means (i) in relation to a member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented, or which implements, the BRRD, any Write-down and Conversion Powers as defined in the EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule, in relation to the relevant EU Bail-in Legislation, or (ii) in relation to the U.K., the U.K. Write-down and Conversion Powers.

“BRRD” means Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, as amended or replaced from time to time.

“Counterparty” means each party to this Agreement and/or the Pricing Agreement, as the case may be, other than the relevant Covered Party, that is a counterparty of such Covered Party.

“Covered Party” means any party to this Agreement and/or any Pricing Agreement subject to the applicable Bail-in Legislation.

“EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule” means the document described as such, then in effect, and published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person) from time to time at the LMA website (as of the date of this Agreement at https://www.lma.eu.com/documents-guidelines/eu-bail-legislation-schedule under EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule.

 

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“Relevant Resolution Authority” means the resolution authority with the ability to exercise any Bail-in Powers in relation to the relevant Covered Party.

“U.K. Write-down and Conversion Powers” means the powers under the U.K. Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or affiliate of a bank or investment firm, to cancel, reduce, transfer, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability.

22.    (a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b)    In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

For the purposes of this provision:

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i)    a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii)    a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii)    a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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23.    Each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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Very truly yours,

BARCLAYS PLC

 

Name:  

Title:

 

Date:

 

 

[Signature Page to Contingent Captial Securities Underwriting Agreement]


Annex 1

Pricing Agreement

[●]

[●]

As representative of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule I (the “Representative”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Barclays PLC (the “Company”) proposes to issue $[•] aggregate principal amount of [●]% Contingent Capital Securities due [●] (the “ Designated Securities”). [The Designated Securities may be convertible in accordance with their terms for stock or other securities of Barclays PLC as described in the Prospectus Supplement (as defined in Schedule II hereto).] / [The Designated Securities may be permanently written down to zero in accordance with their terms as described in the Prospectus Supplement (as defined in Schedule II hereto).] Each of the Underwriters hereby undertakes to purchase at the subscription price set forth in Schedule II hereto, the amount of Designated Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto, such payment to be made at the Time of Delivery set forth in Schedule II hereto. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are several but not joint.

Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement—Standard Provisions, dated [●] (the “Underwriting Agreement”), is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; [provided that, for the purposes of this letter, new Section 2(r) shall be included as follows: “The Company will promptly make a valid election in respect of the Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 475C of the Corporation Tax Act 2009 (“CTA 2009”). Following the making of a valid election pursuant to Section 475C of the CTA 2009, all payments of interest in respect of the Securities will be deductible by the Company in computing its taxable profit for United Kingdom corporate income tax purposes and the Securities will be “hybrid capital instruments” for United Kingdom tax purposes. The Securities are not being issued in consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, any arrangements the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, of which is to secure a tax advantage;”] and each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Agreement, except that each representation and warranty with respect to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Prospectus and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Designated Securities. Each reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representative designated to act on behalf of each of the Underwriters of Designated Securities pursuant to Section 14 of the Underwriting Agreement and the address referred to in such Section 14 is set forth in Schedule II hereto. [The Underwriter appointed by the Company to act as Qualified Independent Underwriter pursuant to Section 10 of the Underwriting Agreement is set forth in Schedule II hereto.]


An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the form heretofore delivered to you, is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.

The Applicable Time for purposes of this Pricing Agreement is [•] New York time on [•]. Each “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act for which each party hereto has received consent to use in accordance with Section 7 of the Underwriting Agreement is listed in Schedule III hereto and is attached as Exhibit A hereto.

[Solely for the purposes of the requirements of Article 9(8) of the MiFID Product Governance rules under EU Delegated Directive 2017/593 (the “MiFID Product Governance Rules”) regarding the mutual responsibilities of manufacturers under the MiFID Product Governance Rules, (a) [•]/[each of the Underwriters designated an EU Manufacturer on Schedule II hereto] ([each an]/[the] “EU Manufacturer” [and together “the EU Manufacturers”]) acknowledges [to each other EU Manufacturer] that it understands the responsibilities conferred upon it under the MiFID Product Governance Rules relating to each of the product approval process, the target market and the proposed distribution channels as applying to the Designated Securities and the related information set out in the [Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any other announcements] in connection with the Designated Securities and (b) each of the Underwriters that is not an EU Manufacturer and the Company notes the application of the MiFID Product Governance Rules and acknowledges the target market and distribution channels identified as applying to the Designated Securities by the EU Manufacturer[s] and the related information set out in the [Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any other announcements] in connection with the Designated Securities.]

[Solely for the purposes of the requirements of 3.2.7R of the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the “UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules”) regarding the mutual responsibilities of manufacturers under the UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules, (a) each of the Underwriters designated a UK Manufacturer on Schedule II hereto ([each a] [the] “UK Manufacturer” [and together, the “UK Manufacturers”]) acknowledges [to each other UK Manufacturer] that it understands the responsibilities conferred upon it under the UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules relating to each of the product approval process, the target market and the proposed distribution channels as applying to the Designated Securities and the related information set out in the [Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any other announcements] in connection with the Designated Securities and (b) each of the Underwriters who is not a UK Manufacturer and the Company notes the application of the UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules and acknowledges the target market and distribution channels identified as applying to the Designated Securities by the UK Manufacturer[s] and the related information set out in the [Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any other announcements] in connection with the Designated Securities.]

 

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Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification – Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289 of Singapore) (the “SFA”), the Company has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Regulation 3(b) of the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018 (the “SF (CMP) Regulations”) that the Designated Securities are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the SF (CMP) Regulations) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us the counterpart hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof, including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters on the one hand and the Company on the other.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

34


Very truly yours,

BARCLAYS PLC

 

Name:  

Title:

 

 

Accepted as of the date hereof

at New York, New York

On behalf of itself and each of the other Underwriters

[●]

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

[Signature Page to Contingent Capital Pricing Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter

  

Principal Amount of

Designated Securities

 

[●]

   $ [ ●] 

[●]

   $ [ ●] 

[●]

   $ [ ●] 

Total

   $ [ ●] 


SCHEDULE II

Title of Designated Securities:

[●]% Contingent Capital Securities [due [●]]

Price to Public:

[●]% of principal amount

Subscription Price by Underwriters:

[●]% of the aggregate principal amount with respect to the Designated Securities

[In addition, the Company agrees to pay a structuring fee of [●]% on the aggregate principal amount of the Designated Securities to [●]]

Form of Designated Securities:

The Designated Securities will be represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company issued pursuant to the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture dated August 14, 2018 (as heretofore amended and supplemented), between Barclays PLC and The Bank of New York Mellon, London branch, as supplemented by the [●] Supplemental Indenture to be dated on or about [●].

Securities Exchange, if any:

[None] [●]

Interest Rate:

[●]

Interest Payment Dates:

[●]

Record Dates:

The regular record dates for the Designated Securities will be the business day immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date (or, if the Designated Securities are held in definitive form, the 15th business day preceding each Interest Payment Date).

Sinking Fund Provisions:

No sinking fund provisions.


Redemption Provisions for Designated Securities:

Subject to certain conditions, the Designated Securities are redeemable, at the option of the Company, (i) on any [Reset] / [Call] Date (ii) in the event of various tax law changes and (iii) in the event of certain regulatory changes or events, in each case as specified in the preliminary prospectus supplement dated [●] (as supplemented by the final term sheet dated [●]) relating to the Designated Securities.

Time of Delivery:

[●] by [9:30 a.m.] New York time.

Specified Funds for Payment of Subscription Price of Designated Securities:

By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same day funds.

Value Added Tax:

(a)    If the Company is obliged to pay any sum to the Underwriters under this Agreement and any value added tax (“VAT”) is properly charged on such amount, the Company shall pay to the Underwriters an amount equal to such VAT on receipt of a valid VAT invoice;

(b)    If the Company is obliged to pay a sum to the Underwriters under this Agreement for any fee, cost, charge or expense properly incurred under or in connection with this Agreement (the “Relevant Cost”) and no VAT is payable by the Company in respect of the Relevant Cost under paragraph (a) above, the Company shall pay to the Underwriters an amount which:

(i)    if for VAT purposes the Relevant Cost is consideration for a supply of goods or services made to the Underwriters, is equal to any input VAT incurred by the Underwriters on that supply of goods and services, but only if and to the extent that the Underwriters are unable to recover such input VAT from HM Revenue & Customs (whether by repayment or credit) provided, however, that the Underwriters shall reimburse the Company for any amount paid by the Company in respect of irrecoverable input VAT pursuant to this paragraph (i) if and to the extent such input VAT is subsequently recovered from HM Revenue & Customs (whether by repayment or credit);

(ii)    if for VAT purposes the Relevant Cost is a disbursement properly incurred by the Underwriters under or in connection with this Agreement as agent on behalf of the Company, is equal to any VAT paid on the Relevant Cost by the Underwriters provided, however, that the Underwriters shall use best endeavors to procure that the actual supplier of the goods or services which the Underwriters received as agent issues a valid VAT invoice to the Company.

 

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Closing Location:

[●]

Name and address of Representative:

Designated Representative: [●] Address for Notices: [●]

[Name and address of Qualified Independent Underwriter:

Qualified Independent Underwriter:

[●] Address for Notices: [●]]

[Selling Restrictions:

[●]]

[EU Manufacturers:

[●]

[●]]

[UK Manufacturers:

[●]

[●]]

Other Terms and Conditions:

As set forth in the prospectus supplement dated [●] relating to the Designated Securities (the “Prospectus Supplement”), incorporating the Prospectus dated [●] relating to the Designated Securities (the “Base Prospectus”).

 

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SCHEDULE III

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus:

Final Term Sheet, dated [●], attached hereto as Exhibit A.


EXHIBIT A

Final Term Sheet, dated []

Exhibit 4.3

 

 

BARCLAYS PLC,

Issuer,

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, LONDON BRANCH,

as Trustee

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON SA/NV, LUXEMBOURG BRANCH

as Senior Debt Security Registrar

 

 

NINTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of March 1, 2021

 

 

To the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of January 17, 2018,

Between Barclays PLC

and

The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
ARTICLE I  
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION  
SECTION 1.01    Definitions      1  
SECTION 1.02    Effect of Headings      1  
SECTION 1.03    Separability Clause      2  
SECTION 1.04    Benefits of Instrument      2  
SECTION 1.05    Relation to Base Indenture      2  
SECTION 1.06    Construction and Interpretation      2  
ARTICLE II  
AMENDMENTS TO THE BASE INDENTURE  
SECTION 2.01    Amendments to the Base Indenture      2  
ARTICLE III  
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS  
SECTION 3.01    Effectiveness      8  
SECTION 3.02    Ratification and Integral Part      8  
SECTION 3.03    Priority      8  
SECTION 3.04    Successors and Assigns      8  
SECTION 3.05    Counterparts      8  
SECTION 3.06    Governing Law      8  

 

-i-


NINTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of March 1, 2021 (the “Ninth Supplemental Indenture”), among BARCLAYS PLC, a public limited company registered in England and Wales (herein called the “Company”), having its registered office at 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP, United Kingdom, THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, LONDON BRANCH, a New York banking corporation, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”), having a Corporate Trust Office at One Canada Square, London E14 5AL, United Kingdom, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON SA/NV, LUXEMBOURG BRANCH, as Senior Debt Security Registrar, having an office at 2-4 Rue Eugene Ruppert, Vertigo Building – Polaris, Luxembourg, 2453, Luxembourg, to the SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES INDENTURE, dated as of January 17, 2018, between the Company and the Trustee (as heretofore amended and supplemented, the “Base Indenture” and, together with this Ninth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(d) of the Base Indenture permits supplements thereto without the consent of Holders of Senior Debt Securities, when authorized by, or pursuant to, a Board Resolution or Delegated Person Resolution, to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Base Indenture with respect to Senior Debt Securities issued on or after the date hereof;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Base Indenture to amend certain provisions in relation to events of default, to reflect certain regulatory developments as related to Senior Debt Securities, and to amend certain related defined terms and provisions of the Base Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution and delivery of this Ninth Supplemental Indenture; and

WHEREAS, the Company has requested, and hereby requests, that the Trustee join with the Company in the execution and delivery of this Ninth Supplemental Indenture;

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS NINTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Trustee and the Senior Debt Security Registrar mutually agree as follows with regard to the Base Indenture:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 1.01 Definitions. Except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used in this Ninth Supplemental Indenture that are defined in the Base Indenture shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Base Indenture.

SECTION 1.02 Effect of Headings. The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

1


SECTION 1.03 Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Ninth Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 1.04 Benefits of Instrument. Nothing in this Ninth Supplemental Indenture, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under the Indenture.

SECTION 1.05 Relation to Base Indenture. This Ninth Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Base Indenture and the provisions set out in Article II apply to Senior Debt Securities authenticated, delivered and issued on or after the date of this Ninth Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 1.06 Construction and Interpretation. Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Ninth Supplemental Indenture, refer to this Ninth Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Ninth Supplemental Indenture;

(b) the terms defined in the singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa;

(c) references herein to a specific Section or Article refer to Sections or Articles of this Ninth Supplemental Indenture;

(d) wherever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Ninth Supplemental Indenture, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation;”

(e) references to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns; and

(f) the use of “or” is not intended to be exclusive unless expressly indicated otherwise.

ARTICLE II

AMENDMENTS TO THE BASE INDENTURE

SECTION 2.01 Amendments to the Base Indenture.

The Base Indenture is hereby amended as follows:

(a) References to Section 5.01, 5.02 and 5.03 (and sub-sections therein) included in the Base Indenture will be replaced with references to Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture, as amended hereby.

 

2


(b) Section 1.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended to include the following definitions:

Enforcement Event” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

Monetary Judgment” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

Non-Payment Event” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

Performance Obligation” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

Winding-Up Event” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

(c) For purposes of the Base Indenture, the term “Event of Default” shall mean “Enforcement Event” as defined in this Ninth Supplemental Indenture, except that the term “Event of Default” as used in Sections 3.05(c)(ii)(B) and 6.07 of the Base Indenture and Article 8 of the Base Indenture shall mean “Winding-Up Event.”

(d) Section 1.04(d) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“Upon receipt by the Trustee from any Holder of Senior Debt Securities of a particular series of any direction referred to in Section 5.12 with respect to Senior Debt Securities of such series, if the Trustee shall not have taken the action specified in such direction, then the Trustee may set a record date for determining the Holders of Outstanding Senior Debt Securities of such series entitled to join in such direction. The Trustee will notify the Company and the Holders of Outstanding Senior Debt Securities of such series of any such record date so fixed. The Holders of Outstanding Senior Debt Securities of such series as of the close of business on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date.”

(e) Section 2.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding “and to the exclusion of any other term of the Senior Debt Securities or” after “Notwithstanding”.

(f) Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“Section 5.01 Enforcement Events and Remedies.

(a) A “Winding-Up Event”, whenever used herein with respect to a particular series of Senior Debt Securities shall result if (i) a court of competent jurisdiction in England (or such other jurisdiction in which the Company may be organized) makes an order for the Company’s winding-up which is not successfully appealed within thirty (30) days of the making of such order, (ii) the Company’s shareholders adopt an effective resolution for the Company’s winding-up (other than, in the case of either (i) or (ii) above, under or in connection with a scheme of reconstruction, merger or amalgamation not involving a bankruptcy or insolvency) or (iii) following the appointment of an administrator of the Company, the administrator gives notice that it intends to declare and distribute a dividend.

 

3


(b) If a Winding-Up Event occurs, the outstanding principal amount of the relevant series of Senior Debt Securities, together with any accrued but unpaid interest thereon, shall become immediately due and payable, without the need of any further action on the part of the Trustee, the Holders or any other Person.”

(c) If the Company fails to pay any amount that has become due and payable under the Senior Debt Securities of the relevant series and such failure continues for fourteen (14) days, the Trustee may provide a written notice of such failure to the Company. If within a period of fourteen (14) days following the provision of such notice, the failure continues and has not been cured nor waived (a “Non-Payment Event”), the Trustee may, at its discretion, and without further notice to the Company, institute proceedings in England (or such other jurisdiction in which the Company may be organized) (but not elsewhere) for the winding-up of the Company and/or prove in a winding-up of the Company and/or claim in a liquidation or administration of the Company.”

(d) In addition to the remedies for a Non-Payment Event provided in paragraph (c) above of this Section, the Trustee may, without further notice, institute such proceedings against the Company as the Trustee may deem fit to enforce any term, obligation or condition binding on the Company under a particular series of Senior Debt Securities, this Senior Debt Securities Indenture or any supplemental indenture hereto (other than any payment obligation of the Company under or arising from the Senior Debt Securities of such series, this Senior Debt Securities Indenture or any supplemental indenture hereto, including, without limitation, payment of any principal or interest, including Additional Amounts) (such obligation, a “Performance Obligation”); provided always that the Trustee (acting on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Senior Debt Securities of such series) and the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Senior Debt Securities may not enforce, and may not be entitled to enforce or otherwise claim, against the Company any judgment or other award given in such proceedings that requires the payment of money by the Company, whether by way of damages or otherwise (a “Monetary Judgment”), except by proving such Monetary Judgment in a winding-up of the Company and/or by claiming such Monetary Judgment in an administration of the Company. By its acquisition of the Senior Debt Securities of the relevant series, each Holder and Beneficial Owner of such Senior Debt Securities acknowledges and agrees that such Holder and Beneficial Owner will not seek to enforce or otherwise claim, and will not direct the Trustee (acting on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Senior Debt Securities of any series) to enforce or otherwise claim, a Monetary Judgment against the Company in connection with the Company’s breach of a Performance Obligation, except by proving such Monetary Judgment in the winding up of the Company and/or by claiming such Monetary Judgment in an administration of the Company.

(e) Other than the limited remedies specified in this Article 5, and subject to paragraph (g) below of this Section, no remedy against the Company shall be available to the Trustee (acting on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial

 

4


Owners of the Senior Debt Securities of any series) or the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Senior Debt Securities, whether for the recovery of amounts owing in respect of a particular series of Senior Debt Securities or under this Senior Debt Securities Indenture or any supplemental indenture hereto, or in respect of any breach by the Company of any of the Company’s obligations under or in respect of the terms of such Senior Debt Securities or under this Senior Debt Securities Indenture or any supplemental indenture hereto in relation thereto; provided, however, that the Company’s obligations to, and rights of, the Trustee under Section 6.07 of the Base Indenture and the Trustee’s rights to have money collected applied first to pay amounts due to it under such Section pursuant to Section 5.06 of the Base Indenture expressly survive any Enforcement Event.

(f) An “Enforcement Event” shall occur (i) upon the occurrence of a Winding-Up Event, (ii) upon the occurrence of a Non-Payment Event or (iii) upon a breach by the Company of a Performance Obligation, in each case with respect to the relevant series of the Senior Debt Securities.

(g) Notwithstanding the limitation on remedies specified under this Article 5, (1) the Trustee shall have such powers as are required to be authorized to it under the Trust Indenture Act in respect of the rights of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Senior Debt Securities of any series under the provisions of this Senior Debt Securities Indenture and any supplemental indenture hereto, and (2) nothing shall impair the right of a Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Senior Debt Securities of any series under the Trust Indenture Act, absent such Holder’s or Beneficial Owner’s consent, to sue for any payment due but unpaid with respect to the relevant Senior Debt Securities.

(h) Subject to applicable law and except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Senior Debt Securities, no Holder or Beneficial Owner may exercise, claim or plead any right of set-off, compensation or retention in respect of any amount owed to it by the Company arising under, or in connection with, the Senior Debt Securities and this Senior Debt Securities Indenture or any supplemental indenture hereto and each Holder and Beneficial Owner shall, by virtue of its holding of any Senior Debt Security, be deemed to have waived all such rights of set-off, compensation or retention. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any amounts due and payable to any Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Senior Debt Securities by the Company in respect of, or arising under, the Senior Debt Securities or this Senior Debt Securities Indenture or any supplemental indenture hereto are discharged by set-off, such Holder or Beneficial Owner shall, subject to applicable law and except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Senior Debt Securities, immediately pay to the Company an amount equal to the amount of such discharge (or, in the event of its winding-up or administration, the liquidator or administrator of the Company, as the case may be) and, until such time as payment is made, shall hold an amount equal to such amount in trust for the Company (or the liquidator or administrator of the Company, as the case may be) and, accordingly, any such discharge shall be deemed not to have

 

5


taken place. By its acquisition of the Senior Debt Securities, each Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to be bound by these provisions relating to waiver of set-off.

(i) No Holder of such Senior Debt Securities shall be entitled to proceed directly against the Company except as described in Section 5.07 hereof.

(j) No recourse for the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Senior Debt Security, or for any claim based thereon or on any Coupon or otherwise in respect thereof or of such Coupon and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Senior Debt Securities Indenture, or in any Senior Debt Security or in any Coupon, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that to the extent lawful all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Senior Debt Securities Indenture and the issue of the Senior Debt Securities.”

(g) Section 5.02 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by being deleted in its entirety and replaced with “[RESERVED].”

(h) Section 5.03 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by being deleted in its entirety and replaced with “[RESERVED].”

(i) Section 5.13 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“Section 5.13 Waiver of Certain Past Enforcement Events. (a) Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Senior Debt Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Senior Debt Securities of such series waive any past Enforcement Event that results from a breach by the Company of a Performance Obligation. Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Senior Debt Securities of such series shall not be entitled to waive any past Enforcement Event that results from a Winding-Up Event or a Non-Payment Event.

(b) Upon the occurrence of any waiver permitted by paragraph (a) above of this Section, such Enforcement Event shall cease to exist, and any Enforcement Event with respect to any series arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured and not to have occurred for every purpose of this Senior Debt Securities Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Enforcement Event or impair any right consequent thereon.”

 

6


(j) Section 6.02 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“Section 6.02 Notice of Enforcement Events. Within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of any Enforcement Event hereunder with respect to Senior Debt Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 1.06 to Holders of Senior Debt Securities of such series notice of such Enforcement Event hereunder actually known to the Trustee, unless such Enforcement Event shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if a trust committee of Responsible Officers of the Trustee determine in good faith that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Senior Debt Securities of such series.”

(k) Section 8.03 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by inserting “(including, if and to the extent required by the Capital Regulations at such time, the prior consent of the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority),” after “law and regulation”.

(l) Section 10.04(a)(i) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by inserting “and” before “any premium”.

(m) Section 10.04(a)(iv) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by inserting “and” before “premium, if any”.

(n) Section 11.12 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by deleting “applicable to the Group in force at the relevant time.”

(o) Section 12.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“Notwithstanding and to the exclusion of any other term of the Senior Debt Securities or any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the Company and any Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Senior Debt Securities, by acquiring any Senior Debt Securities, each Holder and Beneficial Owner of the Senior Debt Securities acknowledges, accepts, agrees to be bound by, and consents to, the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority that may result in (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Senior Debt Securities; (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion of, the principal amount of, or interest on, the Senior Debt Securities into shares or other securities or other obligations of the Company or another person (and the issue to, or conferral on, the Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Senior Debt Securities such shares, securities or obligations); (iii) the cancellation of the Senior Debt Securities; and/or (iv) the amendment or alteration of the maturity, if any, of the Senior Debt Securities, or amendment of the amount of interest due on the Senior Debt Securities, or the dates on which interest becomes payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; which U.K. Bail-in Power may be exercised by means of a variation of the terms of the Senior Debt Securities solely to give effect to the exercise by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority of such U.K. Bail-in Power. Each Holder and Beneficial Owner further acknowledges and agrees that the rights of Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Senior Debt Securities

 

7


are subject to, and will be varied, if necessary, solely to give effect to, the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority. For the avoidance of doubt, this consent and acknowledgment is not a waiver of any rights Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Senior Debt Securities may have at law if and to the extent that any U.K. Bail-in Power is exercised by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority in breach of laws applicable in England.”

ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 3.01 Effectiveness. This Ninth Supplemental Indenture shall become effective upon its execution and delivery.

SECTION 3.02 Ratification and Integral Part. The Base Indenture as supplemented by this Ninth Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, including without limitation all the rights, immunities and indemnities of the Trustee, and this Ninth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed an integral part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.

SECTION 3.03 Priority. This Ninth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided. The provisions of this Ninth Supplemental Indenture shall, subject to the terms hereof, supersede the provisions of the Base Indenture to the extent the Base Indenture is inconsistent herewith.

SECTION 3.04 Not Responsible for Recitals. The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any authenticating agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Ninth Supplemental Indenture, except that the Trustee represents and warrants that it has duly authorized, executed and delivered this Ninth Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 3.05 Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in the Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Ninth Supplemental Indenture, by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 3.06 Counterparts. This Ninth Supplemental Indenture may be executed manually, by facsimile or by electronic signature in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

SECTION 3.07 Governing Law. This Ninth Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except for the waiver of set-off provisions set forth in Section 5.01(h) of the Base Indenture as amended hereby, which shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Ninth Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

BARCLAYS PLC
By:  

/s/ Miray Muminoglu

  Name: Miray Muminoglu
  Title: Managing Director

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, LONDON BRANCH, AS TRUSTEE
By:  

/s/ Tom Vanson

  Name: Tom Vanson
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON SA/NV, LUXEMBOURG BRANCH, AS SENIOR DEBT SECURITY REGISTRAR
By:  

/s/ Tom Vanson

  Name: Tom Vanson
  Title: Authorized Signatory

{Signature Page to Ninth Supplemental Indenture}

 

9

Exhibit 4.6

 

 

 

BARCLAYS PLC,

as Issuer,

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, LONDON BRANCH,

as Trustee

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON SA/NV, LUXEMBOURG BRANCH,

as Dated Subordinated Debt Security Registrar

 

 

THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

 

Dated as of March 1, 2021

To the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of May 9, 2017, between Barclays PLC and The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as Trustee

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

SECTION 1.01

 

Definitions; Effect of Headings

     -1-  

SECTION 1.02

 

Separability Clause

     -1-  

SECTION 1.03

 

Benefits of Instrument

     -2-  

SECTION 1.04

 

Relation to Base Indenture

     -2-  

SECTION 1.05

 

Construction and Interpretation

     -2-  
ARTICLE II

 

AMENDMENTS TO THE BASE INDENTURE

 

SECTION 2.01

 

Amendments to the Base Indenture.

     -2-  
ARTICLE III

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

SECTION 3.01

 

Effectiveness

     -4-  

SECTION 3.02

 

Ratification and Integral Part

     -4-  

SECTION 3.03

 

Priority

     -4-  

SECTION 3.04

 

Not Responsible for Recitals

     -4-  

SECTION 3.05

 

Successors and Assigns

     -5-  

SECTION 3.06

 

Counterparts

     -5-  

SECTION 3.07

 

Governing Law

     -5-  

 

-i-


THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of March 1, 2021 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), among BARCLAYS PLC, a public limited company registered in England and Wales (herein called the “Company”), having its registered office at 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP, United Kingdom, THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, LONDON BRANCH, a New York banking corporation, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”), having its Corporate Trust Office at One Canada Square, London E14 5AL, United Kingdom, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON SA/NV, LUXEMBOURG BRANCH, as Dated Subordinated Debt Security Registrar, having an office at 2-4 Rue Eugene Ruppert, Vertigo Building – Polaris, Luxembourg, 2453, Luxembourg, to the DATED SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES INDENTURE, dated as of May 9, 2017, between the Company and the Trustee, as amended and supplemented from time to time (the “Base Indenture” and, together with this Third Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(d) of the Base Indenture permits supplements thereto without the consent of Holders of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, when authorized by, or pursuant to a Board Resolution or Delegated Person Resolution, to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Base Indenture with respect to Dated Subordinated Debt Securities issued on or after the date hereof;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Base Indenture to modify certain definitions and to reflect certain relevant regulatory developments as related to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities;

WHEREAS, the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture; and

WHEREAS, the Company has requested, and hereby requests, that the Trustee join with the Company in the execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture;

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Trustee and the Dated Subordinated Debt Security Registrar mutually agree as follows with regard to the Base Indenture:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 1.01 Definitions; Effect of Headings. Except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used in this Third Supplemental Indenture that are defined in the Base Indenture shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Base Indenture. The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 1.02 Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Third Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

-1-


SECTION 1.03 Benefits of Instrument. Nothing in this Third Supplemental Indenture, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under the Indenture.

SECTION 1.04 Relation to Base Indenture. This Third Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Base Indenture and the provisions set out in Article II apply to Dated Subordinated Debt Securities authenticated, delivered and issued on or after the date of this Third Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 1.05 Construction and Interpretation. Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Third Supplemental Indenture, refer to this Third Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Third Supplemental Indenture;

(b) the terms defined in the singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa;

(c) references herein to a specific Section or Article refer to Sections or Articles of this Third Supplemental Indenture;

(d) wherever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Third Supplemental Indenture, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation;”

(e) references to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns; and

(f) the use of “or” is not intended to be exclusive unless expressly indicated otherwise.

ARTICLE II

AMENDMENTS TO THE BASE INDENTURE

SECTION 2.01 Amendments to the Base Indenture. The Base Indenture shall hereby be amended as follows:

(a) Section 1.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended to include the following definition:

secondary non-preferential debts” shall have the meaning given to it in the U.K. Banks and Building Societies (Priorities on Insolvency) Order 2018 and any other law or regulation applicable to the Company which is amended by the U.K. Banks and Building Societies (Priorities on Insolvency) Order 2018, as each may be amended or replaced from time to time.

(b) The following defined term included in Section 1.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby replaced with the following definition:

 

-2-


Senior Creditors” with respect to a particular series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, means creditors of the Company (i) who are unsubordinated creditors; (ii) who are subordinated creditors (whether in the event of a winding-up or administration of the Company or otherwise) other than (x) those whose claims by law rank, or by their terms are expressed to rank, pari passu with or junior to the claims of the Holders of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or (y) those whose claims are in respect of Parity Obligations or Junior Obligations; or (iii) who are creditors in respect of any secondary non-preferential debts.

(c) Section 2.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding “and to the exclusion of any other term of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or” after “Notwithstanding”.

(d) Section 3.01(p) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding “in respect of the proceedings instituted pursuant to” before “Section 5.02”.

(e) Section 8.03 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding “and/or the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority” after “PRA”.

(f) Section 10.04(a)(i) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding “and” before “any premium.”

(g) Section 10.04(a)(iv) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding “and” before “premium, if any.”

(h) Section 11.09(a) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended as follows:

(i) deleting “or” at the end of clause (ii); and

(ii) inserting new clauses (iv) and (v) as follows: “(iv) the Company would have to treat the relevant series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or any part thereof as a derivative or an embedded derivative for United Kingdom tax purposes; or (v) the Company would, in the future, have to bring into account a taxable credit if the principal amount of the relevant series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities were written down or converted;”.

(i) Section 13.01(a) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“Notwithstanding and to the exclusion of any other term of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the Company and any Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, by acquiring any Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, each Holder and Beneficial Owner of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities acknowledges, accepts, agrees to be bound by, and consents to the exercise of, any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority that may result in (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities; (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion of, the principal amount

 

-3-


of, or interest on, the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities into shares or other securities or other obligations of the Company or another person (and the issue to, or conferral on, the Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities such shares, securities or obligations); (iii) the cancellation of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities; and/or (iv) the amendment or alteration of the maturity of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, or amendment of the amount of interest due on the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, or the dates on which interest becomes payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; which U.K. Bail-in Power may be exercised by means of a variation of the terms of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities solely to give effect to the exercise by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority of such U.K. Bail-in Power. Each Holder and Beneficial Owner further acknowledges and agrees that the rights of Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities are subject to, and will be varied, if necessary, solely to give effect to, the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority. For the avoidance of doubt, this consent and acknowledgment is not a waiver of any rights Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities may have at law if and to the extent that any U.K. Bail-in Power is exercised by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority in breach of laws applicable in England.”

ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 3.01 Effectiveness. This Third Supplemental Indenture shall become effective upon its execution and delivery.

SECTION 3.02 Ratification and Integral Part. The Base Indenture as supplemented and amended by this Third Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, including without limitation all the rights, immunities and indemnities of the Trustee, and this Third Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed an integral part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.

SECTION 3.03 Priority. This Third Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided. The provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture shall, subject to the terms hereof, supersede the provisions of the Base Indenture to the extent the Base Indenture is inconsistent herewith.

SECTION 3.04 Not Responsible for Recitals . The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any authenticating agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Third Supplemental Indenture, except that the Trustee represents and warrants that it has duly authorized, executed and delivered this Third Supplemental Indenture.

 

-4-


SECTION 3.05 Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in the Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Third Supplemental Indenture, by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 3.06 Counterparts. This Third Supplemental Indenture may be executed manually, by facsimile or by electronic signature in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

SECTION 3.07 Governing Law. This Third Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except for the subordination provisions set forth in Section 12.01 and the waiver of set-off provisions set forth in Section 5.04(d), in each case as set forth in the Base Indenture as amended hereby, which are governed by, and construed in accordance with English law.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

-5-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Third Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

BARCLAYS PLC
By:  

/s/ Miray Muminoglu

  Name: Miray Muminoglu
  Title: Managing Director
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, LONDON BRANCH, AS TRUSTEE
By:  

/s/ Tom Vanson

  Name: Tom Vanson
  Title: Authorized Signatory
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON SA/NV,
LUXEMBOURG BRANCH, AS DATED
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITY REGISTRAR
By:  

/s/ Tom Vanson

  Name: Tom Vanson
  Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Third Supplemental Indenture]

 

1

Exhibit 4.9

 

 

 

BARCLAYS PLC,

as Issuer,

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, LONDON BRANCH,

as Trustee

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON SA/NV, LUXEMBOURG BRANCH,

as Contingent Capital Security Registrar

 

 

FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of March 1, 2021

 

 

To the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, dated as of August 14, 2018,

among the Issuer, the Trustee and the Contingent Capital Security Registrar

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I

PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

SECTION 1.01.

   Definitions; Effect of Headings.      2  

SECTION 1.02.

   Separability Clause.      2  

SECTION 1.03.

   Benefits of Instrument.      2  

SECTION 1.04.

   Relation to Base Indenture.      2  

SECTION 1.05.

   Construction and Interpretation      2  
ARTICLE II

 

AMENDMENTS TO THE BASE INDENTURE

 

SECTION 2.01.

   Amendments to the Base Indenture      3  
ARTICLE III

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

SECTION 3.01.

   Effectiveness      10  

SECTION 3.02.

   Ratification and Integral Part      10  

SECTION 3.03.

   Priority      10  

SECTION 3.04.

   Not Responsible for Recitals      10  

SECTION 3.05.

   Successors and Assigns      11  

SECTION 3.06.

   Counterparts      11  

SECTION 3.07.

   Governing Law      11  

 

ii


FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of March 1, 2021 (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”), among BARCLAYS PLC, a public limited company registered in England and Wales, as Issuer (hereinafter called the “Company”), having its registered office at 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP, United Kingdom, THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, LONDON BRANCH, a New York banking corporation, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”), having its Corporate Trust Office at One Canada Square, London E14 5AL, United Kingdom and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON SA/NV, LUXEMBOURG BRANCH, as Contingent Convertible Security Registrar, having an office at 2-4 Rue Eugene Ruppert, Vertigo Building – Polaris, Luxembourg, L-2453, Luxembourg (herein called the “Contingent Convertible Security Registrar,” as amended hereinafter, the “Contingent Capital Security Registrar”), to the CONTINGENT CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES INDENTURE, dated as of August 14, 2018 among the Company, the Trustee and the Contingent Convertible Security Registrar, as amended and supplemented from time to time (as amended hereinafter, the “Contingent Capital Securities Indenture” or the “Base Indenture” and, together with this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(d) of the Base Indenture permits supplements thereto without the consent of Holders of Contingent Convertible Securities (as amended herein after, the “Contingent Capital Securities”), when authorized by, or pursuant to a Board Resolution or Delegated Person Resolution, to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Base Indenture with respect to Contingent Capital Securities issued on or after the date hereof;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Base Indenture to modify the provisions of the Base Indenture to allow for either the conversion for stock or other securities of the Company or the permanent write-down to zero of Contingent Capital Securities upon the occurrence of certain events and to amend certain related defined terms and provisions of the Base Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution and delivery of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture; and

WHEREAS, the Company has requested, and hereby requests, that the Trustee join with the Company in the execution and delivery of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture;

 

- 1 -


NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Trustee and the Contingent Capital Security Registrar mutually agree as follows with regard to the Base Indenture:

ARTICLE I

PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 1.01. Definitions; Effect of Headings.

Except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used in this Fifth Supplemental Indenture that are defined in the Base Indenture shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Base Indenture. The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 1.02. Separability Clause.

In case any provision in this Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 1.03. Benefits of Instrument.

Nothing in this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under the Indenture.

SECTION 1.04. Relation to Base Indenture.

This Fifth Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Base Indenture and the provisions set out in Article II apply to Contingent Capital Securities (as defined herein) authenticated, delivered and issued on or after the date of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 1.05. Construction and Interpretation.

Unless the express otherwise requires:

(a) the words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, refer to this Fifth Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture;

(b) the terms defined in the singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa;

(c) references herein to a specific Section or Article refer to Sections or Articles of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture;

(d) wherever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation;”

 

- 2 -


(e) references to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns; and

(f) the use of “or” is not intended to be exclusive unless expressly indicated otherwise.

ARTICLE II

AMENDMENTS TO THE BASE INDENTURE

SECTION 2.01. Amendments to the Base Indenture.

The Base Indenture is hereby amended as follows:

(a) All references to “Contingent Convertible Security” and “Contingent Convertible Securities” in the Base Indenture are amended by deleting them in their entirety and replacing them with “Contingent Capital Security” and “Contingent Capital Securities,” respectively.

(b) All references to the “Contingent Convertible Securities Indenture” in the Base Indenture are amended by deleting them in their entirety and replacing them with “Contingent Capital Securities Indenture” and the Indenture is hereinafter referred to as the “Contingent Capital Securities Indenture” or the “Indenture.”

(c) Section 1.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended to include the following definitions:

Accrued Interest” means, in respect of each Contingent Capital Security of the applicable series following the occurrence of the circumstances described in Section 3.16 (if applicable) and subject to the provisions described therein, any accrued but unpaid interest on such Contingent Capital Security, which excludes any interest cancelled or deemed cancelled in accordance with the provisions set forth in Sections 3.12 or 3.13 hereof.

Automatic Write-Down” with respect to each relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities issued under this Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, shall have the meaning set forth in the supplemental indenture establishing the terms for such series of Contingent Capital Securities.

Contingent Capital Regulatory Event” means, in respect of a particular series of Contingent Capital Securities, a change in the regulatory classification of such Contingent Capital Securities that occurs on or after the issue date of such Contingent Capital Securities and that does, or would be likely to, result in the whole or any part of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Contingent Capital Securities of the relevant series at any time being excluded from, or ceasing to count towards, the Group’s Tier 1 Capital.

Conversion Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.

Conversion Shares” with respect to each relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities issued under this Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, shall have the meaning set forth in the supplemental indenture establishing the terms for such series of Contingent Capital Securities.

 

- 3 -


EU CRD” means: (i) Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investments firms, as amended before IP completion day; and (ii) Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC, as amended before IP completion day.

IP completion day” has the meaning given in the U.K. European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020.

secondary non-preferential debts” shall have the meaning given to it in the U.K. Banks and Building Societies (Priorities on Insolvency) Order 2018 and any other law or regulation applicable to the Company which is amended by the U.K. Banks and Building Societies (Priorities on Insolvency) Order 2018, as each may be amended or replaced from time to time.

Tax Event” has the meaning specified in Section 11.12.

Tier 1 Capital” means Tier 1 Capital for the purposes of the Capital Regulations.

U.K. CRD” means the legislative package consisting of:

(i) the U.K. CRD Regulation;

(ii) the law of the United Kingdom or any part of it (as amended or replaced in accordance with domestic law from time to time), which immediately before IP completion day implemented Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC and its implementing measures, such Directive as amended before IP completion day; and

(iii) direct EU legislation (as defined in the Withdrawal Act), which immediately before IP completion day implemented EU CRD as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the Withdrawal Act and as the same may be amended or replaced in accordance with domestic law from time to time.

U.K. CRD Regulation” means Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investments firms, as amended before IP completion day, as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the Withdrawal Act and as the same may be further amended or replaced in accordance with domestic law from time to time.

Withdrawal Act” means the United Kingdom European Union (Withdrawal Act) 2018.

 

- 4 -


Write-Down Date” with respect to each relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities issued under this Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, shall have the meaning set forth in the supplemental indenture establishing the terms for such series of Contingent Capital Securities.

(d) The following defined terms included in Section 1.01 of the Base Indenture are hereby replaced with the following respective definitions:

Automatic Conversion” with respect to each relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities issued under this Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, shall have the meaning set forth in the supplemental indenture establishing the terms for such series of Contingent Capital Securities.

Capital Regulations” means, at any time, the laws, regulations, requirements, standards, guidelines and policies relating to capital adequacy and/or minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities and/or loss absorbing capacity for credit institutions of either (i) the PRA and/or (ii) any other national or European authority, in each case then in effect in the United Kingdom (or in such other jurisdiction in which the Company may be organized or domiciled) and applicable to the Group including U.K. CRD.

Conversion Date” with respect to each relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities issued under this Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, shall have the meaning set forth in the supplemental indenture establishing the terms for such series of Contingent Capital Securities.

Distributable Items” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Capital Regulations, but amended so that for so long as there is any reference therein to “before distributions to holders of own funds instruments” it shall be read as a reference to “before distributions to holders of Parity Securities, the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities or any Junior Securities.”

Senior Creditors” with respect to a particular series of Contingent Capital Securities, means creditors of the Company (i) who are unsubordinated creditors; (ii) whose claims are, or are expressed to be, subordinated (whether only in the event of the winding-up or administration of the Company or otherwise) to the claims of unsubordinated creditors of the Company but not further or otherwise; (iii) who are creditors in respect of any secondary non-preferential debts; or (iv) whose claims are, or are expressed to be, junior to the claims of other creditors of the Company, whether subordinated or unsubordinated, other than those whose claims rank, or are expressed to rank, pari passu with, or junior to, the claims of the Holders of the Contingent Capital Securities.

(e) Section 2.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding “and to the exclusion of any other term of the Contingent Capital Securities or” after “Notwithstanding”.

 

- 5 -


(f) Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by:

i. inserting a new clause (ff) after Section 3.01(ee) as follows: “provisions, if any, for write-downs in the principal amount of Contingent Capital Securities of the series and the effect, if any, of such write-downs on interest payable on such Contingent Capital Securities and any additional or other provisions relating to such write-down, including any triggering event that may give rise to such write-down (which may include, but shall not be limited to, certain regulatory capital events) and the terms upon which such write-down should occur; and”; and

ii. replacing “(ff)” of Section 3.01(ff) with “(gg)”.

(g) Section 3.14 (b) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“Subject as set out under Section 3.16, interest in respect of any series of Contingent Capital Securities will only be due and payable on any relevant Interest Payment Date to the extent it is not cancelled or deemed cancelled in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3.12 or 3.13 hereof. Any interest cancelled or deemed cancelled (in each case, in whole or in part) in the circumstances described in sections 3.12 or 3.13 hereof shall not be due and shall not accumulate or be payable at any time thereafter, and Holders and Beneficial Owners of such Contingent Capital Securities shall have no rights thereto or to receive any additional interest or compensation as a result of such cancellation or deemed cancellation in respect of such Contingent Capital Securities.”

(h) The Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding the following as Section 3.16:

“Section 3.16 Interest Cancellation Following a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event. Where the supplemental indenture establishing the terms of any relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities provides that this Section 3.16 applies, then if the whole of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of any series of Contingent Capital Securities, is excluded from, or ceases to count towards, the Group’s Tier 1 Capital and this constitutes a Contingent Capital Regulatory Event, but the Company has not exercised its option to redeem the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities pursuant to the relevant supplemental indenture establishing the terms for such Contingent Capital Securities, the Company will not exercise its discretion in accordance with Section 3.12 hereof to cancel interest that would be payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date following the occurrence of such Contingent Capital Regulatory Event. If, despite this undertaking, the Company does not make an interest payment (in whole or in part) on any such Interest Payment Date, such payment will thereafter (notwithstanding any other term of the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities) be deemed not to be cancelled and to be due and payable, subject to the following paragraph.

The above provision is without prejudice to the limitations and restrictions on interest payments set forth in Section 3.13 hereof which will continue to apply to such series of Contingent Capital Securities.”

 

- 6 -


(i) Section 5.01(b) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“If a Winding-Up Event occurs before the occurrence of a Capital Adequacy Trigger Event with respect to a particular series of Contingent Capital Securities, subject to the subordination provisions of Section 12.01 and any subordination provisions in any supplemental indenture hereto, the outstanding principal amount of the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities and, if Section 3.16 applies to the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities, Accrued Interest (if applicable) shall become immediately due and payable without the need of any further action on the part of the Trustee, the Holders or any other Person.”

(j) Section 5.02 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding the phrase “and subject as set out under Section 3.16 if applicable,” after “hereof”.

(k) Section 5.04(b) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by deleting the phrase “a breach by the Company of a Performance Obligation,” and replacing it with “a breach by the Company of (x) a Performance Obligation or (y) if Section 3.16 is applicable to the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities, the undertaking set out under Section 3.16,”.

(l) Section 8.03 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding the phrase “and/or the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority” after “the PRA.”

(m) Section 10.04(a)(i) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding “and” before “any premium.”

(n) Section 10.04(a)(iv) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding “and” before “premium, if any.”

(o) Section 11.04(e) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by deleting the phrase “Automatic Conversion” and replacing it with “Automatic Conversion or an Automatic Write-Down, as the case may be and as set forth in the supplemental indenture establishing the terms for such series of Contingent Capital Securities,”.

(p) The Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding the following as Section 11.12:

“(a) Subject to the limitations and conditions specified in Section 11.08 hereof unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Contingent Capital Securities, the Company may, at any time, at the Company’s option, redeem the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Securities to be redeemed, together with any accrued but unpaid interest (which excludes any interest cancelled or deemed cancelled in accordance with Sections 3.12 and 3.13 hereof, but subject to Section 3.16 hereof if applicable) to (but excluding) the date fixed for redemption, if the Company determines that as a result of a change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations of a Taxing Jurisdiction, including any treaty to which the relevant Taxing Jurisdiction is a party, or a change in an official application of those laws

 

- 7 -


or regulations, including any decision of any court or tribunal, which becomes effective on or after the issue date of the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities (and, in the case of a successor entity, which becomes effective on or after the date of such successor entity’s assumption of the Company’s obligations):

(i) the Company will or would be required to pay to Holders of the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities Additional Amounts;

(ii) the Company would not be entitled to claim a deduction in respect of any payments in respect of the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities in computing the Company’s taxation liabilities or the value of such deduction would be materially reduced;

(iii) the Company would not, as a result of the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities being in issue be able to have the losses or deductions set-off against the profits or gains or profits or gains offset by the losses or deductions, of companies with which the Company is or would otherwise be so grouped for applicable United Kingdom tax purposes (whether under the group relief system current as at the issue date of the relevant Contingent Capital Securities or any similar system or systems having like effect as may from time to time exist);

(iv) the Company would, in the future, have to bring into account a taxable credit if the principal amount of the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities were written down or if the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities were converted into Conversion Shares, or

(v) the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities or any part thereof would become treated as a derivative or an embedded derivative for United Kingdom tax purposes,

(each such change in tax law or regulation or the official application thereof, a “Tax Event”);

provided, however, that the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities may only be redeemed pursuant to this Section 11.12 if, in the case of each Tax Event, the consequences of the Tax Event cannot be avoided by the Company’s taking reasonable measures available to the Company.

(b) Prior to the delivery of any notice of redemption as a result of a Tax Event the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel of recognized standing, chosen by the Company, confirming that the Company is entitled to exercise its right of redemption under this Section 11.12.”

 

- 8 -


(q) Section 12.01(b) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“(b) If:

(i) an order is made, or an effective resolution is passed, for the winding-up of the Company (except in any such case for a solvent winding-up solely for the purpose of a merger, reconstruction or amalgamation); or

(ii) following the appointment of an administrator of the Company, the administrator gives notice that it intends to declare and distribute a dividend,

then (1) if such events specified in (i) or (ii) above occur with respect to a particular series of Contingent Capital Securities prior to the date on which a Capital Adequacy Trigger Event for such series of Contingent Capital Securities occurs, there shall be payable by the Company in respect of each such Contingent Capital Security (in lieu of any other payment by the Company), such amount, if any, as would have been payable to a Holder of Contingent Capital Securities if, on the day prior to the commencement of such winding-up or administration and thereafter, such Holder of Contingent Capital Securities were the holder of the most senior class of preference shares in the capital of the Company, having an equal right to a return of assets in such winding-up or administration to, and so ranking pari passu with, the holders of such class of preference shares (if any) from time to time issued by the Company that has a preferential right to a return of assets in such winding-up or administration, and so ranking ahead of the holders of all other classes of issued shares for the time being in the capital of the Company, but ranking junior to the claims of Senior Creditors, and on the assumption that the amount that such Holder of Contingent Capital Securities was entitled to receive in respect of such preference shares, on a return of assets in such winding-up or administration, was an amount equal to the principal amount of the relevant Contingent Capital Security, together with any damages (if payable) and if Section 3.16 applies to the relevant series of Contingent Capital Securities, Accrued Interest (if applicable), and (2) if such events specified in (i) or (ii) above occur with respect to a particular series of Contingent Capital Securities on or after the date on which a Capital Adequacy Trigger Event for such series of Contingent Capital Securities occurs but before the Conversion Date or the Write-Down Date, as applicable, for such series of Contingent Capital Securities, then for purposes of determining the claim of a Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Contingent Capital Securities in such winding-up or administration, the Conversion Date in respect of an Automatic Conversion or the Write-Down Date in respect of an Automatic Write-Down, as applicable, for such series of Contingent Capital Securities shall be deemed to have occurred immediately before the occurrence of such events specified in (i) or (ii) above.”

(r) Section 13.01(a) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“Notwithstanding and to the exclusion of any other term of the Contingent Capital Securities or any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the Company and any Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Contingent Capital Securities, by acquiring any Contingent Capital Securities, each Holder and Beneficial Owner of the Contingent Capital Securities acknowledges, accepts,

 

- 9 -


agrees to be bound by, and consents to, the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority that may result in (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Contingent Capital Securities; (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion of, the principal amount of, or interest on, the Contingent Capital Securities into shares or other securities or other obligations of the Company or another person (and the issue to, or conferral on, the Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Contingent Capital Securities such shares, securities or obligations); (iii) the cancellation of the Contingent Capital Securities; and/or (iv) the amendment or alteration of the maturity, if any, of the Contingent Capital Securities, or amendment of the amount of interest due on the Contingent Capital Securities, or the dates on which interest becomes payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; which U.K. Bail-in Power may be exercised by means of a variation of the terms of the Contingent Capital Securities solely to give effect to the exercise by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority of such U.K. Bail-in Power. Each Holder and Beneficial Owner further acknowledges and agrees that the rights of Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Contingent Capital Securities are subject to, and will be varied, if necessary, solely to give effect to, the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority. For the avoidance of doubt, this consent and acknowledgment is not a waiver of any rights Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Contingent Capital Securities may have at law if and to the extent that any U.K. Bail-in Power is exercised by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority in breach of laws applicable in England.”

ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 3.01. Effectiveness. This Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall become effective upon its execution and delivery.

SECTION 3.02. Ratification and Integral Part. The Base Indenture as supplemented and amended by this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, including without limitation all the rights, immunities and indemnities of the Trustee, and this Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed an integral part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.

SECTION 3.03. Priority. This Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided. The provisions of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall, subject to the terms hereof, supersede the provisions of the Base Indenture to the extent the Base Indenture is inconsistent herewith.

SECTION 3.04. Not Responsible for Recitals . The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any authenticating agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, except that the Trustee represents and warrants that it has duly authorized, executed and delivered this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

 

- 10 -


SECTION 3.05. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in the Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 3.06. Counterparts. This Fifth Supplemental Indenture may be executed manually, by facsimile or by electronic signature in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

SECTION 3.07. Governing Law. This Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except for the subordination provisions set forth in Section 12.01 and the waiver of set-off provisions set forth in Section 5.04(d), in each case as set forth in the Base Indenture as amended hereby, which are governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law.

 

- 11 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fifth Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

BARCLAYS PLC
By:   /s/ Miray Muminoglu
  Name:   Miray Muminoglu
  Title:   Managing Director

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee
By:   /s/ Tom Vanson
  Name: Tom Vanson
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON SA/NV, LUXEMBOURG BRANCH, as Contingent Capital Security Registrar
By:   /s/ Tom Vanson
  Name: Tom Vanson
  Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to the Fifth Supplemental Indenture]

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

 

NEW YORK

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.

 

PARIS

 

BRUSSELS

 

FRANKFURT

 

COLOGNE

 

MOSCOW

 

2 London Wall Place

London EC2Y 5AU

T: +44 20 7614 2200

F: +44 20 7600 1698

 

clearygottlieb.com

 

David I. Gottlieb: +44 20 7614 2230

dgottlieb@cgsh.com

 

ROME

 

MILAN

 

HONG KONG

 

BEIJING

 

BUENOS AIRES

 

SÃO PAULO

 

ABU DHABI

 

SEOUL

 

 

March 1, 2021

 

Barclays PLC

1 Churchill Place

London E14 5HP

United Kingdom

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special U.S. counsel to Barclays PLC, a public limited company incorporated under the law of England and Wales (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of a registration statement on Form F-3 (such registration statement, including the documents incorporated by reference therein but excluding Exhibits 25.1, 25.2 and 25.3, hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”) relating to the offering from time to time, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable), of (i) its senior debt securities (the “Senior Debt Securities”), (ii) its dated subordinated debt securities (the “Dated Subordinated Debt Securities”), (iii) its contingent capital securities (the “Contingent Capital Securities” and, together with the Senior Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities, the “Securities”) and (iv) its ordinary shares (the “Ordinary Shares”). The Securities and the Ordinary Shares being registered under the Registration Statement will be offered on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to the provisions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture dated as of January 17, 2018 between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 7, 2020 among the Company, the Trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg Branch, as registrar (the “Registrar”) and the Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2021 among the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar (as so supplemented, the “Senior Debt Securities Indenture”). The Dated Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture dated as of May 9, 2017 between the Company and the Trustee, as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 23, 2020 among the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar and the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2021 among the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar (as so supplemented, the “Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture”). The Contingent Capital Securities are to be issued under an indenture dated as of August 14, 2018 among the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar, as supplemented by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 12, 2020 among the Company, the Trustee and

 

LOGO


Barclays PLC, p. 2

 

the Registrar and the Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2021 among the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar (as so supplemented, the “Contingent Capital Securities Indenture”).

In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have reviewed the Registration Statement. We have also reviewed:

 

  (a)

an executed copy of the Senior Debt Securities Indenture;

 

  (b)

an executed copy of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture; and

 

  (c)

an executed copy of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture,

in each case filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. In addition, we have made such investigations of law as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. In addition, we have assumed and have not verified (i) the accuracy as to factual matters of each document we have reviewed and (ii) that the Securities in global form, and any Securities in definitive form issued in exchange therefor, will conform to the forms thereof set forth in the board resolution or supplemental indenture, as the case may be, pursuant to which such Securities will be issued.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further assumptions and qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that:

 

  1.

When the issuance, execution and delivery by the Company of the Senior Debt Securities of a series have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, and when such Senior Debt Securities have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and sold as described in the Registration Statement and the supplement or supplements to the prospectus relating to such Senior Debt Securities, such Senior Debt Securities will constitute valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Senior Debt Securities Indenture.

 

  2.

When the issuance, execution and delivery by the Company of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities of a series have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, and when such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and sold as described in the Registration Statement and the supplement or supplements to the prospectus relating to such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities will constitute valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture.


Barclays PLC, p. 3

 

  3.

When the issuance, execution and delivery by the Company of the Contingent Capital Securities of a series have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture, and when such Contingent Capital Securities have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and sold as described in the Registration Statement and the supplement or supplements to the prospectus relating to such Contingent Capital Securities, such Contingent Capital Securities will constitute valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture.

Insofar as the foregoing opinions relate to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of any agreement or obligation of the Company, (a) we have assumed that the Company and each other party to such agreement or obligation has satisfied or, prior to the issuance of the Securities, will satisfy, those legal requirements that are applicable to it to the extent necessary to make such agreement or obligation enforceable against it (except that no such assumption is made as to the Company regarding matters of the federal law of the United States of America or the law of the State of New York that in our experience normally would be applicable to general business entities with respect to such agreement or obligation), (b) such opinions are subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity, (c) we express no opinion with respect to the effect of any mandatory choice of law rules and (d) such opinions are subject to the effect of judicial application of foreign laws or foreign governmental actions affecting creditors’ rights.

In rendering the opinions expressed above, we have further assumed that (a) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will or have become effective and comply with all applicable laws, (b) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws at the time the Securities are offered or issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement, (c) the Securities will be offered, issued, sold and delivered in compliance with applicable law and any requirements therefor set forth in any corporate action authorizing such Securities, the indentures and any other agreement governing those Securities and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and the prospectus and prospectus supplement, pricing supplement and/or term sheet applicable to such Securities, (d) the Securities will be sold and delivered to, and paid for by, the purchasers at the price specified in, and in accordance with the terms of, an agreement or agreements duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (e) the Company will duly authorize the offering and issuance of the Securities and will duly authorize, approve and establish the final terms and conditions thereof and will take any other appropriate additional corporate action, (f) the terms of all Securities will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement and in the prospectus and prospectus supplement, pricing supplement and/or term sheet applicable to such Securities and to the terms of the applicable indenture or agreement (as may be amended or supplemented), (g) the terms of the Securities will not violate any applicable law, conflict with any matter of public policy, result in a default under, or breach of, any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company or violate any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and (h) certificates, if required, representing the Securities will be duly executed and delivered and, to the extent required by the applicable indenture or agreement, duly authenticated and countersigned.


Barclays PLC, p. 4

 

In rendering the opinions expressed above, we have assumed that each series of Securities will be issued with an original aggregate principal amount (or in the case of Securities issued at original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) of U.S.$2,500,000 or more.

We express no opinion as to the subject matter jurisdiction of any United States federal court to adjudicate any action relating to the Securities where jurisdiction based on diversity of citizenship under 28 U.S.C. §1332 does not exist.

We note that any designation in the Securities or any applicable agreement governing those Securities of the U.S. federal courts sitting in New York City as the venue for actions or proceedings relating to such Securities is (notwithstanding any waiver thereof) subject to the power of such courts to transfer actions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1404(a) or to dismiss such actions or proceedings on the grounds that such a federal court is an inconvenient forum for such an action or proceeding.

We express no opinion relating to any subordination or waiver of set-off provision in any Security to the extent it purports to be governed by the law of England and Wales.

With respect to our opinion expressed above as it relates to Securities denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, we note that by statute New York provides that a judgment or decree rendered in a currency other than the currency of the United States shall be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment or decree. There is no corresponding federal statute and no controlling Federal court decision on this issue. Accordingly, we express no opinion as to whether a Federal court would award a judgment in a currency other than U.S. dollars or, if it did so, whether it would order conversion of the judgment into U.S. dollars. In addition, to the extent that any Securities or applicable agreement governing those Securities includes a provision relating to indemnification against any loss in obtaining currency due from a court judgment in another currency, we express no opinion as to the enforceability of such provision.

The foregoing opinions are limited to the federal law of the United States of America and the law of the State of New York. With respect to matters governed by the law of England and Wales, we have relied on the opinion of Clifford Chance LLP dated March 1, 2021, as English counsel to the Company, which has been filed as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement.

We hereby consent to the use of our name in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement and in any prospectus supplement related thereto under the heading “Validity of Securities,” and to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the


Barclays PLC, p. 5

 

Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

 

CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN & HAMILTON LLP

By: 

 

/s/ David I. Gottlieb

  David I. Gottlieb, a Partner

Exhibit 5.2

 

   

CLIFFORD CHANCE LLP

 

10 UPPER BANK STREET

LONDON

E14 5JJ

TEL +44 20 7006 1000

FAX +44 20 7006 5555

DX 149120 CANARY WHARF 3

 

WWW.CLIFFORDCHANCE.COM

 

 

Barclays PLC

1 Churchill Place

London E14 5HP

  

Our ref: SS/70-41010480

Direct Dial: +44 20 7006 2977

E-mail: simon.sinclair@cliffordchance.com

 

1 March 2021

Barclays PLC

Form F-3—Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933

We have acted, and have prepared this letter, on the instructions of Barclays PLC (the “Company”) in connection with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-3 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on or around 1 March 2021 for the purpose of registering:

 

(a)

The Company’s debt securities, in one or more series, which are unsubordinated obligations (“Senior Debt Securities”), which are to be issued pursuant to, and governed by, an indenture dated as of 17 January 2018 (the “Senior Debt Securities Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Sixth Supplemental Indenture to the Senior Debt Securities Indenture dated as of 7 May 2020 and the Ninth Supplemental Indenture to the Senior Debt Securities Indenture dated as of 1 March 2021;

 

(b)

The Company’s debt securities, in one or more series, which are subordinated obligations having a stated maturity (“Dated Subordinated Debt Securities”), which are to be issued pursuant to, and governed by, an indenture dated as of 9 May 2017 (the “Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture”) between the Company and the Trustee, as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture to the Dated Subordinated Securities Indenture dated as of 23 September 2020 and the Third Supplemental Indenture to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture dated as of 1 March 2021;

CLIFFORD CHANCE LLP IS A LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES UNDER NO. OC323571. THE FIRM’S REGISTERED OFFICE AND PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IS AT 10 UPPER BANK STREET LONDON E14 5JJ. THE FIRM USES THE WORD “PARTNER” TO REFER TO A MEMBER OF CLIFFORD CHANCE LLP OR AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT WITH EQUIVALENT STANDING AND QUALIFICATIONS. THE FIRM IS AUTHORISED AND REGULATED BY THE SOLICITORS REGULATION AUTHORITY.


(c)

The Company’s contingent capital securities, in one or more series, which are subordinated obligations, either convertible into ordinary shares of the Company or subject to permanent write-down, in either case, upon the occurrence of a Capital Adequacy Trigger Event (“Contingent Capital Securities”), which are to be issued pursuant to, and governed by, an indenture dated as of 14 August 2018 (the “Contingent Capital Securities Indenture”) between the Company and the Trustee, as supplemented by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture to the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture dated as of 12 August 2020 and the Fifth Supplemental Indenture to the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture dated as of 1 March 2021; and

 

(d)

The Company’s ordinary shares of 25 pence each in the share capital of the Company (the “Shares”).

 

1.

INTRODUCTION

 

1.1

Opinion Documents

This Opinion relates to the Issue Documents.

 

1.2

Defined Terms

In this Opinion:

 

  1.2.1

DocuSign Platform” means the cloud based electronic signing platform owned and run by DocuSign Inc.;

 

  1.2.2

Issue Documents” means the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture and the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture;

 

  1.2.3

Securities” means the Senior Debt Securities, the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and the Contingent Capital Securities;

 

  1.2.4

terms defined or given a particular construction in the Registration Statement have the same meaning in this Opinion unless a contrary indication appears;

 

  1.2.5

headings in this Opinion are for ease of reference only and shall not affect its interpretation; and

 

  1.2.6

all references in this Opinion to paragraphs mean paragraphs in this Opinion.

 

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1.3

Legal review

In connection with the giving of this Opinion:

 

  1.3.1

we have reviewed only the documents referred to in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 (Documents and Enquiries) and completed only the searches and enquiries referred to in paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 (Documents and Enquiries) and any references to such documents in this Opinion are to those documents as originally executed. Certain of such documents have been executed using the DocuSign Platform;

 

  1.3.2

we have not verified the facts or the reasonableness of any statements (including statements as to foreign law) contained in any of the Issue Documents or the Registration Statement, save as expressly specified in paragraph 2.5 (Taxation Statements in the Registration Statement);

 

  1.3.3

we have not been responsible for ensuring that the Registration Statement contains all material facts;

 

  1.3.4

we have not been responsible for ensuring that the Registration Statement complies with the requirements of any competent authority; and

 

  1.3.5

we have not been responsible for ensuring that any issuance of Securities or Shares registered on the Registration Statement comply with legal and regulatory requirements of any jurisdiction.

 

1.4

Applicable Law

This Opinion is governed by English law, relates only to English law as applied by the English courts as at today’s date and does not extend to the laws of any other jurisdiction (save as described in paragraph 1.5 (Taxation)). All non-contractual obligations and any other matters arising out of or in connection with this Opinion are governed by English law.

 

1.5

Taxation

We express no opinion on any taxation matter, and none is implied or may be inferred, save as expressly specified in paragraph 2.5 (Taxation statements in the Registration Statement). In respect of those tax matters, this opinion is confined to, and given on the basis of, English law, United Kingdom tax law and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) published practice in force or applied in the United Kingdom as at today’s date.

 

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1.6

Assumptions and Reservations

The opinions given in this Opinion are given on the basis of our understanding of the terms of the Issue Documents and the assumptions set out in Schedule 2 (Assumptions) and are subject to the reservations set out in Schedule 3 (Reservations) to this Opinion. The opinions given in this Opinion are strictly limited to the matters stated in paragraph 2 (Opinions) and do not extend to any other matters.

 

2.

OPINIONS

We are of the opinion that:

 

2.1

Corporate Existence

The Company is a company duly incorporated in England.

 

2.2

Share Capital

Shares registered on the Registration Statement, when issued by the Company, will, upon the passing of all necessary resolutions and the taking of all necessary corporate action in connection therewith, and assuming the issue price of the shares is not less than the nominal value thereof and is fully paid on issue, be duly authorised and validly issued and fully paid and will not be subject to further call or contribution under English law.

 

2.3

Legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations

In any proceedings taken in England for the enforcement of the Issue Documents, the obligations expressed to be assumed by the Company in the Issue Documents would be recognised by the English courts as legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and would be enforceable in the English courts.

 

2.4

Subordination

 

  2.4.1

The subordination provisions applicable to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities as set out in Section 12.01 of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture constitute legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company.

 

  2.4.2

The subordination provisions applicable to the Contingent Capital Securities as set out in Section 12.01 of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture constitute legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company.

 

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2.5

Taxation Statements in the Registration Statement

The statements in the Registration Statement under the headings “United Kingdom Taxation of Senior Debt Securities” and “United Kingdom Taxation of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities” are correct in all material respects.

 

3.

ADDRESSEES AND PURPOSE

The scope and content of this Opinion solely have regard to the interest of the Company in accordance with its instructions. This Opinion is provided in connection with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-3 and is addressed to and is solely for the Company and it may not, without our prior written consent, be relied upon for any other purpose or be disclosed to or relied upon by any other person save as provided below.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the headings “United Kingdom Taxation of Senior Debt Securities”, “United Kingdom Taxation of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities”, “Service of Process and Enforcement of Liabilities” and “Validity of Securities” in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

/s/ Clifford Chance LLP

 

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SCHEDULE 1

DOCUMENTS AND ENQUIRIES

 

1.

DOCUMENTS

We have reviewed only the following documents for the purposes of this Opinion.

 

  (a)

The final form of the Registration Statement expected to be filed with the SEC on 1 March 2021.

 

  (b)

A copy of the Senior Debt Securities Indenture.

 

  (c)

A copy of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture.

 

  (d)

A copy of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture.

 

  (e)

A copy of the certificate of incorporation of the Company dated 20 July 1896.

 

  (f)

A copy of the certificate of incorporation on re-registration of the Company dated 15 February 1982.

 

  (g)

A copy of the certificate of incorporation on change of name of the Company dated 1 January 1985.

 

  (h)

A copy of the articles of association of the Company as adopted by special resolution passed on 30 April 2010 and amended by special resolution passed on 25 April 2013, certified a true copy by Sophie Lukaszewski.

 

  (i)

A copy of the power of attorney granted by the Issuer dated 21 June 2016 in favour of each of Miray Muminoglu, Billy Suid, Timothy Allen, Keith Harding and Oihana Bessonart.

 

  (j)

A copy of the extracts from the minutes of a meeting of the board of directors of the Company held on 15 December 2016, certified a true copy by Patrick Gonsalves (the “2016 Resolutions”).

 

  (k)

A copy of the approval of the Group Finance Director of the Company dated 21 February 2017, certified a true copy by Anita Erling.

 

  (l)

A copy of the power of attorney granted by the Issuer dated 19 June 2017, in favour of each of Miray Muminoglu, Timothy Allen, Stuart Frith and Daniel David.

 

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  (m)

A copy of the approval of the Group Finance Director of the Company dated 20 February 2018, certified a true copy by Sophie Lukaszewski.

 

  (n)

A copy of the extracts from the minutes of a meeting of the board of directors of the Issuer held on 28 March 2018, certified a true copy by Gemma Tremlett (the “2018 Resolutions”).

 

  (o)

A copy of the power of attorney granted by the Issuer dated 15 June 2018, in favour of each of Miray Muminoglu, Timothy Allen, Stuart Frith and Daniel David.

 

  (p)

A copy of the power of attorney granted by the Issuer dated 30 March 2020, in favour of Miray Muminoglu and Stuart Frith.

 

  (q)

A copy of the approval of the Group Finance Director of the Company dated 24 February 2021, certified a true copy by Sophie Lukaszewski.

 

2.

SEARCHES AND ENQUIRIES

 

  (a)

A search was conducted with the Registrar of Companies in respect of the Company on 1 March 2021.

 

  (b)

An enquiry by telephone was made at the Central Index of Winding Up Petitions at the Insolvency and Companies List in London at 10:24 a.m. on 1 March 2021 with respect to the Issuer. The presentation of a petition for the winding up of the Issuer may be subject to the temporary restrictions imposed by Schedule 10 of the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

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SCHEDULE 2

ASSUMPTIONS

 

1.

ORIGINAL AND GENUINE DOCUMENTATION

 

  (a)

All signatures (including any electronic signatures), stamps and seals are genuine, all original documents are authentic, all deeds and counterparts were executed in single physical form and all copy documents supplied to us as photocopies or in portable document format (PDF) or other electronic form are genuine, accurate, complete and conform to the originals.

 

  (b)

The copies of the certificate of incorporation, certificate of incorporation on change of name, certificate of re-registration and articles of association of the Issuer provided to us are accurate and complete as of the date of this Opinion.

 

  (c)

The person whose name and electronic signature appears in the signature block of the Issue Documents is the person who signed the Issue Documents.

Where, for the purposes of paragraphs 1(a) and 1(c) of this Schedule 2:

 

  (d)

sign” or “signed” means, in relation to the Issue Documents executed with an electronic signature, the process by which the signatory has applied such electronic signature to the Issue Documents; and

 

  (e)

electronic signature” means the signature in electronic form applied to the Issue Documents that is intended by the signatory to take effect as their signature including, without limitation, an image of the signatory’s handwritten signature, the typed name of the signatory, a signature generated by the signatory with a stylus on a touch pad or screen and any signature created by the signatory in accordance with the processes of an electronic signing platform.

 

2.

CORPORATE AUTHORITY

 

  (a)

In resolving to sign the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement and enter into or sign any documents issued in connection therewith, including the Issue Documents, the Group Finance Director and the Board of Directors of the Company acted (and when electing to issue any Securities (constituted by the Issue Documents) or Shares, will act) in good faith to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members and in accordance with any other duty.

 

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  (b)

Each director of the Company has disclosed any interest which he or she may have in the transactions contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Issue Documents in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 and the Company’s articles of association and none of the directors has any interest in such transactions except to the extent permitted by the Company’s articles of association.

 

  (c)

The 2016 Resolutions and the 2018 Resolutions were duly passed at a properly constituted and quorate meeting of duly appointed directors of the Company and have not been amended or rescinded and are in full force and effect.

 

  (d)

Each approval by the Group Finance Director of the Company referred to in Schedule 1 (Documents and Enquiries) has not been amended or rescinded and is in full force and effect.

 

  (e)

The extracts from the minutes referred to in Schedule 1 (Documents and Enquiries) are a true record of the proceedings at the meetings of the board of directors of the Company.

 

  (f)

The entry into and execution of the Issue Documents is duly authorised by the Company in accordance with the resolutions referred to in Schedule 1 (Documents and Enquiries).

 

  (g)

The person, if other than the person whose signature it purports to be, who attached any electronic signature to any of the documents listed in Schedule 1 (Documents and Enquiries) on behalf of another person, had the authority of the latter person to do so.

 

  (h)

Any relevant power of attorney granted by the Issuer referred to in Schedule 1 (Documents and Enquiries) had not been revoked and was in full force and effect at the time of execution of the relevant Issue Document, as applicable.

 

3.

CORPORATE CAPACITY OF THE PARTIES OTHER THAN THE COMPANY

Each party (other than the Company) to the Issue Documents has the capacity, power and authority to enter into and to exercise its rights and to perform its obligations under the Issue Documents.

 

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4.

EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS

The Issue Documents are duly executed and delivered by each party thereto and (in the case of the Company), are executed by a person duly authorised pursuant to the approvals referred to in paragraphs (i) to (q) of Schedule 1 (Documents and Enquiries).

 

5.

DOCUMENTS NOT GOVERNED BY ENGLISH LAW

 

  (a)

The obligations expressed to be assumed by the parties to the Issue Documents constitute their legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations under the laws of the State of New York (other than Section 5.01(h) of the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, Sections 5.04(d) and 12.01 of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture and Sections 5.04(d) and 12.01 of the Contingent Capital Securities Indenture) and words and phrases used in the Issue Documents have the same meaning and effect as they would if the Issue Documents were governed by English law.

 

  (b)

The submission to the jurisdiction of any federal or state court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York by the Company contained in the Issue Documents is legal, valid and binding under the laws of the State of New York.

 

  (c)

The choice of the laws of the State of New York to govern the Issue Documents is a valid choice under the laws of the State of New York.

 

6.

OTHER ARRANGEMENTS AND ACTS

Save for those listed in Schedule 1 (Documents and Enquiries), there is no other agreement, instrument, other arrangement or relationship between any of the parties to the Issue Documents which modifies, supersedes or conflicts with any of the Issue Documents.

 

7.

TAX MATTERS

The Company is resident only in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes.

 

8.

SEARCHES AND ENQUIRIES

There has been no alteration in the status or condition of the Company as disclosed by the searches and enquiries referred to in Schedule 1 (Documents and Enquiries). However, it is our experience that the searches and enquiries referred to in paragraphs 2(a) and 2(b) in Schedule 1 (Documents and Enquiries) may be unreliable. In particular,

 

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they are not conclusively capable of disclosing whether or not insolvency proceedings have been commenced in England, nor do they indicate whether or not insolvency proceedings have begun elsewhere. Further, the presentation of a petition for the winding up of the Issuer may be subject to the temporary restrictions imposed by Schedule 10 of the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

9.

OTHER LAWS

All acts, conditions or things required to be fulfilled, performed or effected in connection with the Issue Documents, the Securities and the Shares under the laws of any jurisdiction other than England have been duly fulfilled, performed and effected.

 

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SCHEDULE 3

RESERVATIONS

 

1.

ENFORCEABILITY OF CLAIMS

In this Opinion “enforceable” means that an obligation is of a type which the English courts may enforce. It does not mean that those obligations will be enforced in all circumstances in accordance with the terms of the Securities. In particular:

 

  (a)

paragraphs 2.3 (Legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations) and 2.4 (Subordination) of this Opinion are subject to any limitations arising from (i) insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, administration, moratorium, reorganisation and similar laws, (ii) any reconstruction, arrangement or compromise and (iii) any other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors or any class of creditors;

 

  (b)

the power of an English court to order specific performance of an obligation or any other equitable remedy is discretionary and, accordingly, an English court might make an award of damages where specific performance of an obligation or any other equitable remedy is sought;

 

  (c)

where any person is vested with a discretion or may determine a matter in its opinion, that person may be required to exercise its discretion in good faith, reasonably and for a proper purpose, and to form its opinion in good faith and on reasonable grounds;

 

  (d)

enforcement may be limited by the provisions of English law applicable to an agreement held to have been frustrated by events happening after its execution;

 

  (e)

proceedings to enforce a claim may become barred under the Limitation Act 1980 or the Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984 or may be or become subject to a defence of set-off or counterclaim;

 

  (f)

a party to a contract may be able to avoid its obligations under that contract (and may have other remedies) where it has been induced to enter into that contract by a misrepresentation or where there has been any bribe or other corrupt conduct and the English courts will generally not enforce an obligation if there has been fraud; and

 

  (g)

any provision to the effect that any calculation, determination or certification is to be conclusive and binding may not be effective if such calculation, determination or certification is fraudulent, arbitrary or manifestly incorrect and an English court may regard any certification, determination or calculation as no more than prima facie evidence.

 

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2.

GOVERNING LAW

 

  (a)

The English courts may refuse to apply a provision of the laws of the State of New York if application of that provision of the laws of the State of New York would be manifestly incompatible with English public policy.

 

  (b)

The parties’ choice of the laws of the State of New York as the governing law of the Issue Documents and the Securities does not restrict the English courts from applying the overriding mandatory provisions of English law.

 

  (c)

We express no opinion on the binding effect of the choice of law provisions in the Issue Documents and the Securities insofar as they relate to non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with the Issue Documents and the Securities.

 

3.

JURISDICTION

If any proceedings are brought in the English courts by the Company, in some circumstances, those courts may accept jurisdiction, notwithstanding the provisions of the Issue Documents providing that any state or federal court in the City and the State of New York or in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, as applicable, has exclusive jurisdiction in relation thereto.

 

4.

ENFORCEMENT OF FOREIGN JUDGMENT

 

  (a)

There are no reciprocal arrangements in force between the United States of America and the United Kingdom for the recognition or enforcement of judgments. Accordingly, a judgment by any state or federal court in the City and State of New York is not enforceable directly in England but may be recognised and enforced by the English courts according to common law principles. A judgment by those courts will not be enforced by the English courts if:

 

  (i)

the proceedings in which the judgment was given were opposed to natural justice;

 

  (ii)

the judgment was obtained by fraud;

 

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  (iii)

the enforcement of the judgment would be contrary to English public policy;

 

  (iv)

an order has been made and remains effective under section 9 of the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1933 applying that section to judgments of those courts;

 

  (v)

before the date on which those courts gave judgment, the matter in dispute had been the subject of a final judgment of another court having jurisdiction whose judgment is enforceable in England;

 

  (vi)

the judgment is for multiple damages within the meaning of section 5(3) of the Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980;

 

  (vii)

the judgment is based on a rule of law specified by the Secretary of State under section 5(4) of the Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980 as concerned with the prohibition of restrictive trade practices;

 

  (viii)

the judgment is on a claim for contribution in respect of damages awarded by a judgment falling within (vi) or (vii) above;

 

  (ix)

the judgment is based on foreign measures which the Secretary of State specifies as regulating and controlling international trade and which, in so far as they apply to persons carrying on business in the United Kingdom, are damaging or threaten to damage the trading interests of the United Kingdom; or

 

  (x)

the bringing of proceedings in those courts was contrary to an agreement under which the dispute in question was to be settled otherwise than by proceedings in those courts.

 

  (b)

If the English court gives judgment for the sum payable under a judgment of the state or federal courts in the City and State of New York, the English judgment would be enforceable by the methods generally available for the enforcement of English judgments. These give the court a discretion whether to allow enforcement by any particular method, taking into account all relevant circumstances. In addition, it may not be possible to obtain an English judgment or the court may not exercise its discretion to enforce any English judgment if the judgment debtor is subject to any insolvency or similar proceedings, if there is a delay, if an appeal is pending or anticipated against the English judgment in England or against the foreign judgment in the state or federal courts in the City and State of New York or if the judgment debtor has any set-off or counterclaim against the judgment creditor.

 

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5.

CHOICE OF LAW

If any obligation arising under the Issue Documents or the Securities is or is to be performed in a jurisdiction outside England, it may not be enforceable in the English courts to the extent that performance would be illegal or contrary to public policy under the laws of the other jurisdiction. Further, an English court may give effect to any overriding mandatory provisions of the law of the place of performance insofar as they render the performance unlawful or otherwise take into account the law of the place of performance in relation to the manner of performance and to the steps to be taken in the event of defective performance.

 

6.

DEFAULT INTEREST AND INDEMNITIES BETWEEN PARTIES

 

  (a)

Any provision of the Securities or the Issue Documents requiring any person to pay amounts imposed in circumstances of breach or default may be held to be unenforceable on the grounds that it is a penalty. If the Issue Documents or the Securities do not provide a contractual remedy for late payment of any amount payable thereunder that is a substantial remedy within the meaning of the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 as amended the person entitled to that amount may have a right to statutory interest (and to payment of certain fixed sums) in respect of that late payment at the rate (and in the amount) from time to time prescribed pursuant to that Act. Any term of the Issue Documents or the Securities may be void to the extent that it excludes or varies that right to statutory interest, or purports to confer a contractual right to interest that is not a substantial remedy for late payment of that amount, within the meaning of that Act. We express no opinion as to whether any such provisions in the Issue Documents or the Securities do in fact constitute a “substantial remedy” in compliance with the conditions set out in Section 9 of such Act.

 

  (b)

There is some possibility that an English court would hold that a judgment on the Issue Documents or the Securities, whether given in an English court or elsewhere, would supersede the Issue Documents or the Securities, so that any obligations relating to the payment of interest after the judgment would not be held to survive the judgment.

 

  (c)

Any undertaking or indemnity in relation to stamp duties may be void under the provisions of Section 117 of the Stamp Act 1891.

 

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  (d)

An English court may in its discretion decline to give effect to any provision for the payment of legal costs incurred by a litigant.

 

7.

BANKING ACT 2009

The opinions set out in the letter are subject to any limitations arising from any measures taken pursuant to the stabilisation powers under the special resolution regime under the Banking Act 2009 (as amended).

 

8.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

 

  (a)

The effectiveness of any provision of any agreement or instrument which allows an invalid provision to be severed in order to save the remainder of its provisions will be determined by the English courts in their discretion.

 

  (b)

In some circumstances an English court may terminate or suspend proceedings commenced before it and an English court may be prevented from adjudicating upon a particular claim or issue if this would be inconsistent with the judgment of a foreign court binding upon the parties, being a judgment entitled to recognition in England and Wales.

 

  (c)

Any provision in the Issue Documents or the Securities which confers, purports to confer or waives a right of set-off or similar right may be ineffective against a liquidator or creditor.

 

  (d)

This Opinion is subject to the effects of any United Nations, European Union or United Kingdom sanctions or other similar measures implemented or effective in the United Kingdom with respect to any party to any Issue Document or to any transfer of, or payment in respect of, a Security which is, or is controlled by or otherwise connected with, a person resident in, incorporated in or constituted under the laws of, or carrying on business in a country to which any such sanctions or other similar measures apply, or is otherwise the target of any such sanctions or other similar measures.

 

  (e)

The confirmation provided in paragraph 2.5 (Taxation Statements in the Registration Statement) is subject to the following specific reservations:

 

  (i)

We give no confirmation as to any section of the Registration Statement other than the confirmation set out in paragraph 2.5 (Taxation Statements in the Registration Statement); and

 

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  (ii)

The confirmation is given solely on the basis set out in paragraph 2.5 (Taxation Statements in the Registration Statement) and in particular is limited to matters governed by English law, the tax law of the United Kingdom and HMRC’s published practice in force or applied in the United Kingdom as at today’s date.

 

  (f)

No opinion is given as to the title to the Shares including, but without limitation, as to whether the legal and beneficial ownership of the Shares is vested in any particular person.

 

  (g)

The Opinion in paragraph 2.2(Share Capital) does not extend to any issue of Shares upon conversion of any Contingent Capital Securities.

 

  (h)

The Opinion in paragraph 2.5 (Taxation Statements in the Registration Statement) that certain statements are correct in all material respects is given with regard to the context in which those statements are made and takes into account the disclaimers and qualifications which are applied to those statements in the Registration Statement.

 

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Exhibit 23.1

 

LOGO

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors Barclays PLC:

We consent to the use of our report dated 17 February 2021, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Barclays PLC and subsidiaries as of 31 December 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated income statements, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statements of changes in equity, and consolidated cash flow statements for each of the years in the three-year period 31 December 2020, and the related notes and specific disclosures described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements as being part of the consolidated financial statements, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December, 2020, which report appears in the Annual Report on Form 20-F of Barclays PLC for the year ended 31 December, 2020, incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the registration statement.

/s/ KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP

London, United Kingdom

March 1, 2021

Exhibit 24.1

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Reference is hereby made to the proposed registration by Barclays PLC (“Barclays”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) of (i) debt securities, (ii) contingent capital securities and (iii) ordinary shares, in each case which may be offered and sold by Barclays (collectively, “Securities”). Such Securities will be registered on one or more registration statements on Form F-3 (including amendments thereto), or on such other form or forms promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as may be necessary or advisable to effect such registration (each such registration statement, a “Registration Statement”).

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints any Director of Barclays or the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary of Barclays, and each of them, with full power in each of them to act alone, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign one or more Registration Statements, any and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) and any subsequent registration statement in respect of the Securities that is to be effective upon filing by Barclays pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

This Power of Attorney shall continue in full force and effect for a period of three (3) years from the date hereof and may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but which taken together, shall constitute one instrument.

[Remainder of this page left intentionally blank.]


Date: February 26, 2021     By:  

/s/ Nigel Higgins

      Nigel Higgins
      Group Chairman
Date: February 26, 2021     By:  

/s/ James Staley

      James Staley
      Group Chief Executive
      (Principal Executive Officer) and Executive Director
Date: February 26, 2021     By:  

/s/ Tushar Morzaria

      Tushar Morzaria
      Group Finance Director
      (Principal Financing Officer and Principal Accounting
Officer) and Executive Director
Date: February 26, 2021     By:  

/s/ Michael Ashley

      Michael Ashley
      Non-executive Director
Date: February 26, 2021     By:  

/s/ Timothy Breedon CBE

      Timothy Breedon CBE
      Non-executive Director
Date: February 26, 2021     By:  

/s/ Sir Ian Cheshire

      Sir Ian Cheshire
      Non-executive Director
Date: February 26, 2021     By:  

/s/ Mohamed A. El-Erian

      Mohamed A. El-Erian
      Non-executive Director
Date: February 26, 2021     By:  

/s/ Dawn Fitzpatrick

      Dawn Fitzpatrick
      Non-executive Director
Date: February 26, 2021     By:  

/s/ Mary Francis CBE

      Mary Francis CBE
      Non-executive Director
Date: February 26, 2021     By:  

/s/ Crawford Gillies

      Crawford Gillies
      Non-executive Director
Date: February 26, 2021     By:  

/s/ Dr. Brian Gilvary

      Dr. Brian Gilvary
      Non-executive Director
Date: February 26, 2021     By:  

/s/ Diane Schueneman

      Diane Schueneman
      Non-executive Director

[Signature page of Power of Attorney]

Exhibit 24.2

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Reference is hereby made to the proposed registration by Barclays PLC (“Barclays”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) of (1) (i) debt securities, (ii) contingent capital securities and (iii) ordinary shares, in each case which may be offered and sold by Barclays (collectively, “Securities”); (2) ordinary shares to be issued, from time to time, by Barclays (the “Shares”) pursuant to the Barclays Group Sharepurchase Plan and Barclays Group Share Value Plan; and (3) American Depositary Shares of Barclays evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (the “ADRs”). Such Securities will be registered on one or more registration statements on Form F-3 (including amendments thereto), such Shares will be registered on one or more registration statements on Form S-8 and such ADRs will be registered on one or more registration statements on Form F-6, or each on such other form or forms promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as may be necessary or advisable to effect such registration (each such registration statement, a “Registration Statement”). In connection with each Registration Statement, Barclays will file a Form F-N to appoint an agent for service of process in the United States (the “Form F-N”).

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints any Director of Barclays or the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary of Barclays, and each of them, with full power in each of them to act alone, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign one or more Registration Statements, any and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) and any subsequent registration statement in respect of the Securities that is to be effective upon filing by Barclays pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and one or more Form F-Ns and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

This Power of Attorney shall continue in full force and effect for a period of three (3) years from the date hereof and may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but which taken together, shall constitute one instrument.

[Remainder of this page left intentionally blank.]


Date: March 1, 2021   By:  

/s/ Joseph Noto

    Name:   Joseph Noto
    Title:   Authorized Representative in the United States; Treasurer – Americas, Barclays Bank PLC (New York branch)

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A

TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)  

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

New York   13-5160382

(Jurisdiction of incorporation

if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

240 Greenwich Street

New York, New York

  10286
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Legal Department

The Bank of New York Mellon

240 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10286

(212) 635-1270

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

BARCLAYS PLC

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

England   None

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1 Churchill Place

London E14 5HP, United Kingdom

  N.A.
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

Senior Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


Item 1.

General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the Trustee:

(a)    Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Superintendent of Financial Services of the State of New York   

One State Street, New York, N.Y. 10004-1417 and

    Albany, N.Y. 12203

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

New York Clearing House Association

  

33 Liberty Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10045

550 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20429

New York, N.Y. 10005

(b)    Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

 

Item 2.

Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

Item 16.

List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

 

1.    -    A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York (formerly Irving Trust Company)) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735.)
4.    -    A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 with Registration Statement No. 333-207042.)
6.    -    The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act. (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-188382.)
7.    -    A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in London, England, on the 26th day of February, 2021.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By:  

/s/ Tom Vanson

Name:   Tom Vanson
Title:   Vice President


EXHIBIT 7

(Page i of iii)

 

 

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

of 240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y. 10286

And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,

a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business December 31, 2020, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

 

     Dollar amounts in thousands  

ASSETS

  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     5,412,000  

Interest-bearing balances

     155,123,000  

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     47,940,000  

Available-for-sale debt securities

     105,304,000  

Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading

     64,000  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

     0  

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     12,902,000  

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0  

Loans and leases held for investment

     25,616,000  

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     320,000  

Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance

     25,296,000  

Trading assets

     8,415,000  

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     3,099,000  

Other real estate owned

     1,000  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     1,690,000  

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0  

Intangible assets

     7,030,000  

Other assets

     14,239,000  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     386,515,000  
  

 

 

 


EXHIBIT 7

(Page ii of iii)

 

LIABILITIES

  

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     208,980,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     83,359,000  

Interest-bearing

     125,621,000  

In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs

     133,019,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     6,242,000  

Interest-bearing

     126,777,000  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices

     0  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     2,381,000  

Trading liabilities

     3,644,000  

Other borrowed money:

  

(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     325,000  

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     0  

Other liabilities

     8,910,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     357,259,000  
  

 

 

 

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0  

Common stock

     1,135,000  

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     11,571,000  

Retained earnings

     16,496,000  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     54,000  

Other equity capital components

     0  

Total bank equity capital

     29,256,000  

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     0  

Total equity capital

     29,256,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     386,515,000  
  

 

 

 

 

ii


EXHIBIT 7

(Page iii of iii)

 

I, Emily Portney, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Emily Portney            

Chief Financial Officer            

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.

 

Thomas P. Gibbons
          
Samuel C. Scott
       

            Directors

  
Joseph J. Echevarria           
                   
                   

 

iii

Exhibit 25.2

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE

PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)  

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

New York   13-5160382

(Jurisdiction of incorporation

if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

240 Greenwich Street

New York, New York

  10286
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Legal Department

The Bank of New York Mellon

240 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10286

(212) 635-1270

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

BARCLAYS PLC

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

England   None

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

1 Churchill Place

London E14 5HP, United Kingdom

  N.A.
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

Dated Subordinated Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


Item 1.

General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the Trustee:

(a)    Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Superintendent of Financial Services of the State of New York

  

One State Street, New York, N.Y. 10004-1417 and

    Albany, N.Y. 12203

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

New York Clearing House Association

  

33 Liberty Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10045

550 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20429

New York, N.Y. 10005

(b)    Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

 

Item 2.

Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

Item 16.

List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

 

1.    -    A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York (formerly Irving Trust Company)) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735.)
4.    -    A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 with Registration Statement No. 333-207042.)
6.    -    The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act. (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-188382.)
7.    -    A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in London, England, on the 26th day of February, 2021.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By:  

/s/ Tom Vanson

Name:   Tom Vanson
Title:   Vice President


EXHIBIT 7

(Page i of iii)

 

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

of 240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y. 10286

And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,

a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business December 31, 2020, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

 

     Dollar amounts in thousands  

ASSETS

  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     5,412,000  

Interest-bearing balances

     155,123,000  

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     47,940,000  

Available-for-sale debt securities

     105,304,000  

Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading

     64,000  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

     0  

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     12,902,000  

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0  

Loans and leases held for investment

     25,616,000  

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     320,000  

Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance

     25,296,000  

Trading assets

     8,415,000  

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     3,099,000  

Other real estate owned

     1,000  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     1,690,000  

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0  

Intangible assets

     7,030,000  

Other assets

     14,239,000  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     386,515,000  
  

 

 

 


EXHIBIT 7

(Page ii of iii)

 

LIABILITIES

  

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     208,980,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     83,359,000  

Interest-bearing

     125,621,000  

In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs

     133,019,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     6,242,000  

Interest-bearing

     126,777,000  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices

     0  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     2,381,000  

Trading liabilities

     3,644,000  

Other borrowed money:

  

(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     325,000  

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     0  

Other liabilities

     8,910,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     357,259,000  
  

 

 

 

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0  

Common stock

     1,135,000  

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     11,571,000  

Retained earnings

     16,496,000  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     54,000  

Other equity capital components

     0  

Total bank equity capital

     29,256,000  

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     0  

Total equity capital

     29,256,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     386,515,000  
  

 

 

 

 

ii


EXHIBIT 7

(Page iii of iii)

 

I, Emily Portney, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Emily Portney            

Chief Financial Officer            

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.

 

Thomas P. Gibbons
          
Samuel C. Scott
       

            Directors

  
Joseph J. Echevarria           
                   
                   

 

iii

Exhibit 25.3

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE

PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)  

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

New York   13-5160382

(Jurisdiction of incorporation

if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

240 Greenwich Street

New York, New York

  10286
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Legal Department

The Bank of New York Mellon

240 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10286

(212) 635-1270

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

BARCLAYS PLC

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

England   None

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1 Churchill Place

London E14 5HP, United Kingdom

  N.A.
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

Contingent Capital Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


Item 1.

General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the Trustee:

(a)    Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Superintendent of Financial Services of the State of New York  

One State Street, New York, N.Y. 10004-1417 and

    Albany, N.Y. 12203

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

New York Clearing House Association

 

33 Liberty Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10045

550 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20429

New York, N.Y. 10005

(b)    Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

 

Item 2.

Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

Item 16.

List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

 

1.    -    A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York (formerly Irving Trust Company)) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735.)
4.    -    A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 with Registration Statement No. 333-207042.)
6.    -    The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act. (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-188382.)
7.    -    A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in London, England, on the 26th day of February, 2021.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By:  

/s/ Tom Vanson

Name:   Tom Vanson
Title:   Vice President


EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

of 240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y. 10286

And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,

a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business December 31, 2020, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

 

     Dollar amounts in thousands  

ASSETS

  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     5,412,000  

Interest-bearing balances

     155,123,000  

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     47,940,000  

Available-for-sale debt securities

     105,304,000  

Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading

     64,000  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

     0  

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     12,902,000  

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0  

Loans and leases held for investment

     25,616,000  

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     320,000  

Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance

     25,296,000  

Trading assets

     8,415,000  

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     3,099,000  

Other real estate owned

     1,000  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     1,690,000  

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0  

Intangible assets

     7,030,000  

Other assets

     14,239,000  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     386,515,000  
  

 

 

 


EXHIBIT 7

 

LIABILITIES

  

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     208,980,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     83,359,000  

Interest-bearing

     125,621,000  

In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs

     133,019,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     6,242,000  

Interest-bearing

     126,777,000  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices

     0  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     2,381,000  

Trading liabilities

     3,644,000  

Other borrowed money:

  

(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     325,000  

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     0  

Other liabilities

     8,910,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     357,259,000  
  

 

 

 

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0  

Common stock

     1,135,000  

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     11,571,000  

Retained earnings

     16,496,000  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     54,000  

Other equity capital components

     0  

Total bank equity capital

     29,256,000  

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     0  

Total equity capital

     29,256,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     386,515,000  
  

 

 

 


EXHIBIT 7

 

I, Emily Portney, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Emily Portney            

Chief Financial Officer            

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.

 

Thomas P. Gibbons
          
Samuel C. Scott
       

            Directors

  
Joseph J. Echevarria