UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 15, 2023
THE ALLSTATE CORP ORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (847 ) 402-5000
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbols | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
| Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | ALL | New York Stock Exchange Chicago Stock Exchange | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
| Emerging growth company | |||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ____
Section 3 – Securities and Trading Markets
Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
Upon issuance of the Fixed Rate Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J, par value $1.00 per share and liquidation preference $25,000 per share (the “Series J Preferred Stock”), by The Allstate Corporation (the “Registrant”) on May 18, 2023, the ability of the Registrant to declare or pay dividends on, or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, shares of its common stock or any shares of the Registrant that rank junior to, or on parity with, the Series J Preferred Stock will be subject to certain restrictions in the event that the Registrant does not declare and pay (or set aside) dividends on the Series J Preferred Stock for the last preceding dividend period. The terms of the Series J Preferred Stock, including such restrictions, are more fully described in the Certificate of Designations for the Series J Preferred Stock, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On May 16, 2023, the Registrant filed a Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to establish the preferences, limitations and relative rights of the Series J Preferred Stock. The Certificate of Designations became effective upon filing, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Section 8 – Other Events
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On May 15, 2023, the Registrant entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Series J Preferred Stock Underwriting Agreement”) with BofA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Loop Capital Markets LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Representatives”), with respect to the offer and sale by the Registrant of an aggregate of 24,000,000 depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”), each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of the Series J Preferred Stock. The offering and sale of the Depositary Shares and Series J Preferred Stock were registered under the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-255698). On May 18, 2023, the Registrant closed the public offering of the Depositary Shares.
The following documents are being filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference: (i) the Series J Preferred Stock Underwriting Agreement, (ii) the Deposit Agreement, dated May 18, 2023, among the Registrant, Equiniti Trust Company, as depositary, and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts described therein, relating to the Depositary Shares; (iii) the Form of Series J Preferred Stock Certificate; (iv) the Form of Depositary Receipt; and (v) the validity opinion and consent of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP with respect to the Depositary Shares and the Series J Preferred Stock.
Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
2
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 1.1 | ||||||||
| 3.1 | ||||||||
| 4.1 | ||||||||
| 4.2 | ||||||||
| 4.3 | ||||||||
| 5.1 | ||||||||
| 23.1 | ||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL). | |||||||
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION | ||||||||||||||
| (Registrant) | ||||||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Christine M. DeBiase | |||||||||||||
| Name: | Christine M. DeBiase | |||||||||||||
| Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | |||||||||||||
| Date: | May 18, 2023 | |||||||||||||
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Exhibit 1.1
Execution Version
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
24,000,000 Depositary Shares
Each Representing a 1/1,000th
Interest in a Share of
Fixed Rate Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J
| UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT | ||
New York, New York
May 15, 2023
May 15, 2023
BofA Securities, Inc.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Loop Capital Markets LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
1585 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
As Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I
hereto
hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, an aggregate of 24,000,000 shares (the “Shares”) of its depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”), each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of its Fixed Rate Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J, par value $1.00 per share and liquidation preference $25,000 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). The shares of Preferred Stock represented by the Shares (the “Preferred Shares”), when issued, will be deposited against delivery of depositary receipts (the “Depositary Receipts”), which will evidence the Shares and will be issued by Equiniti Trust Company (the “Depositary”) under a deposit agreement, to be dated May 18, 2023 (the “Deposit Agreement”), among the Company, the Depositary and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts issued hereunder. The terms of the Preferred Stock will be set forth in a certificate of designations (the “Certificate of Designations”) to be filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:
(a) The Company meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-255698) under the Act, which has become effective, for the registration under the Act of the Shares and the Preferred Shares (such registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, as amended at the date of this Underwriting Agreement (the “Agreement”) and including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B under the Act, is hereinafter called the “Registration Statement”). No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission. If the Registration Statement is an automatic shelf registration statement as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, the Company is eligible to use the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration statement and the Company has not received notice that the Commission objects to the use of the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration statement. The Company proposes to file with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424 under the Act a supplement or supplements relating to the Shares and the Preferred Shares and the plan of distribution thereof to the form of prospectus included in the Registration Statement; such prospectus in the form in which it appears in the Registration Statement is hereinafter called the “Basic Prospectus;” and such Basic Prospectus, as so supplemented by the prospectus supplement or supplements relating to the Shares and the Preferred Shares in the form provided to the Underwriters by the Company and first used to confirm sales of the Shares (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Act), is hereinafter called the “Final Prospectus.” Any preliminary form or forms of the Final Prospectus which has heretofore been filed pursuant to Rule 424 is hereinafter called the “Preliminary Final Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, “free writing prospectus” means a free writing prospectus as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Act relating to the Shares and the Preferred Shares. “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the Preliminary Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, and the final term sheet or sheets relating to the Shares and the Preferred Shares set forth in Schedule II (the “Final Term Sheet”), considered together, as of 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 15, 2023 (the “Applicable Time”). Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on or before the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, or any free writing prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any free writing prospectus and the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, or any free writing prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.
(b) (i) As of the date hereof, when the Final Prospectus is first filed or transmitted for filing pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, when, prior to the Time of Delivery (as hereinafter defined), any amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective (including the filing of any document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement), when any supplement to the Final Prospectus is filed with the Commission, and at the Time of Delivery, (A) the Registration Statement, as amended as of any such time and the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of any such time, complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder, (B) the Registration Statement, as amended as of any such time, does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and does not and will not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and (C) the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of such time, does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and does not and will not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that, in the case of each of (A), (B), and (C), the Company makes no representations or warranties as to (x) the parts of the Registration Statement which constitute the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the trustee under any series of the Company’s outstanding debt securities; (y) the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement
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thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter specifically for use therein; or (z) any statement which does not constitute part of the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 412(c) under the Act.
(ii) As of the Applicable Time, the Time of Sale Prospectus did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to (A) the information contained in or omitted from the Time of Sale Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter specifically for use therein; or (B) any statement which does not constitute part of the Time of Sale Prospectus pursuant to Rule 412(c) under the Act.
(iii) The information included in each “issuer free writing prospectus” within the meaning of Rule 433(h) under the Act relating to the Shares and the Preferred Shares (each, an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), other than the Final Term Sheet, including those identified in Schedule III hereto, as of its date, did not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as of such date. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the Time of Sale Prospectus did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to (A) the information contained in or omitted from such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Time of Sale Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter specifically for use therein; or (B) any statement which does not constitute part of the Time of Sale Prospectus pursuant to Rule 412(c) under the Act.
(c) Each document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, at the time they were, or hereafter are, filed with the Commission, complied or will comply and, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Shares and the Preferred Shares is required to be delivered under the Act in connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer, will comply in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(d) The Company has been since the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement, and continues to be, a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) and has not been, and continues not to be, an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act), in each case at all times relevant under the Act in connection with the offering of the Shares. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedules II and III hereto, and electronic road shows each furnished to you before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to,
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and will not, without your prior consent, prepare, use or refer to any free writing prospectus.
(e) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(f) Each subsidiary of the Company listed in Schedule IV hereto (each, a “Principal Subsidiary”) has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as an insurance company or a corporation, as the case may be, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Principal Subsidiaries are currently the only operating insurance companies that are “significant subsidiaries” of the Company as that term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act.
(g) All of the issued shares of capital stock of each Principal Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, and are owned of record directly or indirectly by the Company or another Principal Subsidiary, as the case may be, free and clear of any security interest, claim, lien or encumbrance.
(h) Each Principal Subsidiary is duly licensed or authorized as an insurer or reinsurer in each jurisdiction where it is required to be so licensed or authorized, except where the failure to be so licensed or authorized in any such jurisdiction does not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; the Company and each Principal Subsidiary have made all required filings under applicable insurance holding company statutes, and each is duly licensed or authorized as an insurance holding company in each jurisdiction where it is required to be so licensed or authorized, except where the failure to have made such filings or to be so licensed or authorized in any such jurisdiction does not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; the Company and each Principal Subsidiary have all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications of and from all insurance regulatory authorities to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, except where the failure to have such authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications does not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and none of the Company or any Principal Subsidiary has received any notification from any insurance regulatory authority to the effect that any additional authorization, approval, order, consent, registration or qualification from such insurance regulatory authority is needed to be obtained by any of the Company or any Principal Subsidiary in any case where it could be reasonably expected that (x) the Company or any Principal Subsidiary would in fact be required either to obtain any such additional authorization, approval, order,
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consent, registration or qualification or cease or otherwise limit writing certain business and (y) obtaining such authorization, approval, order, consent, license, certificate, permit, registration or qualification or limiting such business would have a material adverse effect on the business, financial position or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(i) Each Principal Subsidiary is in compliance with the requirements of the insurance laws and regulations of its state of incorporation and the insurance laws and regulations of other jurisdictions which are applicable to such Principal Subsidiary, and has filed all notices, reports, documents or other information required to be filed thereunder, except where the failure to so comply or file would not have a material adverse effect on the business, financial position or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(j) Other than as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened.
(k) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(l) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company or any other entity; the outstanding capital stock of the Company conforms to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus.
(m) The Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized and, when validly executed and delivered by the Company and the Depositary, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability; such Deposit Agreement will conform to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus.
(n) The Preferred Shares and the Shares have been duly authorized by the Company and, when the Preferred Shares and the Shares are issued and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, the Preferred Shares deposited with the Depositary pursuant to the Deposit Agreement will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable; upon such deposit of the Preferred Shares with the Depositary pursuant to the Deposit Agreement and the due execution by the Depositary of the Deposit Agreement and the Depositary Receipts in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, the Shares will entitle the holder thereof to the benefits provided in the Deposit Agreement and the Depositary Receipts; the issuance of the Shares and the Preferred Shares is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any
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securityholder of the Company or other entity; the Certificate of Designations has been duly authorized by the Company and, prior to the Time of Delivery (as defined herein), will have been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; the form of certificate representing the Preferred Stock and the Shares each complies with the requirements of Delaware law, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Amended and Restated Bylaws and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”); the Shares and the Preferred Shares will conform to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and such statements conform to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same.
(o) The issuance of the Preferred Shares, the issuance and sale of the Shares and compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Preferred Shares, the Shares, the Deposit Agreement and this Agreement will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument for borrowed money to which the Company or any Principal Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any of its Principal Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Principal Subsidiaries is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company or the organizational documents of any of its Principal Subsidiaries or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or insurance regulatory authority or other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Principal Subsidiaries or any of their properties, in each case, other than such breaches, conflicts, violations or defaults which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and no authorization, approval, order, consent, registration or qualification of or with any such court or insurance regulatory authority or other governmental agency or body is required for the issuance of the Preferred Shares or the issuance and sale of the Shares, except such authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters, in each case other than such authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications which (individually or in the aggregate) the failure to make, obtain or comply with would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(p) Except as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, there has not been any material adverse change in, or any adverse development which materially affects, the business, properties, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole from the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, there has not been any material increase in the consolidated capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of options and stock appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance shares and upon conversions of convertible securities, in each case which were outstanding on the date of the latest balance sheet incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus) or any material increase in the consolidated long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus.
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(q) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(r) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; in each case, within the meaning of and to the extent required by Section 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act; the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(s) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(t) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are effective in providing reasonable assurance that material information required to be disclosed in its reports filed with or submitted to the Commission under the Exchange Act is made known to management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and the Company’s principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
2. Purchase and Sale.
The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company at a purchase price of $24.7500 per Share for 14,000,000 Shares sold to institutional investors and $24.2125 per Share for 10,000,000 Shares sold to other investors, the number of Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto, subject to such adjustments as Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) in its sole discretion shall make, or cause to be made, to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.
3. Payment and Delivery of the Shares. Delivery of and payment for the Shares shall be made at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on May 18, 2023, or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall
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designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 11 hereof or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Shares is herein called the “Time of Delivery.” Delivery of the Shares shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same day funds to an account specified by the Company. Delivery of the Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives otherwise instruct.
4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Shares for sale to the public as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus.
5. Company Covenants. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of the Shares:
(a) (i) To prepare the Final Prospectus as amended and supplemented in relation to the Shares and the Preferred Shares in a form approved by the Representatives and to timely file such Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act; (ii) to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date hereof and prior to the Time of Delivery for the Shares unless the Representatives shall have had a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon any such amendment or supplement prior to any filing thereof; (iii) to advise the Representatives promptly of any such amendment or supplement after the Time of Delivery and furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; (iv) to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, and during such same period to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of (I) the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement or amendment to the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, (II) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, (III) the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or (IV) any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;
(b) To furnish to you a copy of each proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus without your consent;
(c) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriters that the Underwriters otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder;
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(d) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Shares at a time when the Final Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, to furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus as amended or supplemented in such quantities as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request, and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Time of Sale 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such period to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request 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 Time of Sale Prospectus or a supplement to the Time of Sale Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;
(e) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify the Shares and the Preferred Shares for offering and sale under the securities and insurance securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Shares, provided that in connection therewith, the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise subject to such taxation;
(f) To furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Final 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 is required at any time in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act), and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Final 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Final Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in 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 Final Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus in order to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request 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 Final Prospectus or a supplement to the Final Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;
(g) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, an earning 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;
9 | ||||||||
(h) During a period of 30 days from the date of this Agreement, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company which are substantially similar to the Shares and the Preferred Shares, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that the foregoing sentence shall not apply to the Shares to be sold hereunder;
(i) Not to take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares;
(j) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds;” and
(k) To use its best efforts to effect the listing of the Shares on the NYSE within 30 days of the Time of Delivery for the Shares.
6. Fees and Expenses. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Shares and the Preferred Shares under the Act and all other expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by or referred to by the Company, and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing this Agreement, any Blue Sky Survey and any Legal Investment Memoranda in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares and the Preferred Shares; (iii) all reasonable expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares and the Preferred Shares for offering and sale under state securities and insurance securities laws as provided in Section 5(e) 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) the filing fees incident to securing any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Shares; (v) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Shares; (vi) the cost of preparing and filing the Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the cost of preparing the Shares, the Preferred Shares and Depositary Receipts, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters; (vii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar; (viii) the fees and expenses of the Depositary and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Depositary; (ix) the fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Preferred Stock and all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Shares on the NYSE; (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, Section 8 and Section 10 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
7. Conditions to Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Shares at the Time of Delivery shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the execution
10 | ||||||||
of this Agreement and as of such Time of Delivery, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) The Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the Shares and the Preferred Shares shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives’ reasonable satisfaction.
(b) Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to you their written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery for the Shares, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, to the effect set forth in Schedule V hereto.
(c) Elliot Stultz, Deputy General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Allstate Insurance Company, shall have furnished to you his written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery for the Shares, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, to the effect set forth in Schedule VI hereto.
(d) The Representatives shall have received from Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Time of Delivery and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended and supplemented and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for this purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(e) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, General Counsel, Treasurer, or Controller of the Company, dated the Time of Delivery, to the effect that the signatory of such certificate has carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and this Agreement and that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Time of Delivery with the same effect as if made on the Time of Delivery and the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Time of Delivery;
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened; and
(iii) since the date of the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus there has occurred no event required to be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Final Prospectus, and there has been no document required to be filed under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder which, upon filing, would be deemed to be incorporated by
11 | ||||||||
reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus which has not been so filed.
(f) On the date hereof, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the date hereof, to the effect set forth in Schedule VII hereto. As of the Time of Delivery, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated as of the Time of Delivery, reaffirming, as of such date, all of the statements set forth in Schedule VII hereto and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.
(g) Subsequent to the effective date of this Agreement, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s securities by any of Moody’s Investors Service Inc. or S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., or any public notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.
(h) The Certificate of Designations shall have been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
(i) The Representatives shall have received from the Depositary a copy of the certificate evidencing the deposit of the Preferred Shares delivered at the Time of Delivery.
(j) Prior to or at the Time of Delivery, the Company shall have furnished or shall furnish to the Representatives such additional certificates of officers of the Company as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 7 shall not have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be cancelled at, or at any time prior to, the Time of Delivery by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.
The documents required to be delivered by this Section 7 shall be delivered at the office of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel to the Underwriters, at 71 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, at the Time of Delivery.
8. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the sale of the Shares provided herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 7 (other than Section 7(d)) hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 12(i) hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure by the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through Morgan Stanley on demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Shares.
9. Covenants of the Underwriters; Offering Restrictions.
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(a) Each Underwriter represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, other than (x) the Final Term Sheet and (y) one or more term sheets relating to the Shares containing customary information and conveyed to purchasers of Shares and that would not constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a free writing prospectus. The Underwriters acknowledge and agree that, except for information consistent in all material respects with the Final Term Sheet and except as may be set forth in Schedule II or III, the Company has not authorized or approved any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Act) for use in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriters.
(b) Each Underwriter acknowledges, represents and agrees that it has not offered, sold or delivered and it will not offer, sell or deliver, any of the Shares, in or from any jurisdiction, including those jurisdictions set forth on Schedule VIII, except under circumstances that are reasonably designed to result in compliance with the applicable securities laws and regulations thereof.
10. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter, within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof 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 or (ii) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including those set forth on Schedule II or III hereof 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case arising in connection with this Section 10 to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter specifically for inclusion
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in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 10 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 10, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party: (i) will not relieve the indemnifying party from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses; and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below) and to participate in and assume the defense of the claim associated with such action; provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if: (A) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (B) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (C) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (D) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (y) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 10 is unavailable to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and by the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Shares; provided, however, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Shares) be responsible for any amount in excess of the total price at which the applicable Shares underwritten by
14 | ||||||||
it and distributed to the public were offered to the public. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally shall contribute 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 of the Underwriters, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things: (i) whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other; (ii) the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge; (iii) access to information; and (iv) the opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), 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. For purposes of this Section 10, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).
11. Defaulting Underwriters. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail at the Time of Delivery to purchase and pay for any of the Shares agreed to be purchased by the Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Shares set forth opposite their names on Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate amount of Shares set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Shares which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate amount of Shares which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Shares to be purchased at the Time of Delivery, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Shares and if such non-defaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Shares, this Agreement will terminate without any liability to any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 11, the Time of Delivery shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes to the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, and the Final Prospectus (including by means of a free writing prospectus) or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company and any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
12. Termination. This Agreement is subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the
15 | ||||||||
Shares, if at any time prior to such time (i) trading in the Company’s securities shall have been suspended by the Commission, (ii) trading in securities generally on the NYSE shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such Exchange, (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplements thereto).
13. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 10 hereof, and will survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares. The provisions of Sections 8 and 10 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.
14. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to BofA Securities, Inc., 114 West 47th Street, NY8-114-07-01, New York, NY 10036, Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal, Facsimile: (212) 901-7881, Email: dg.hg_ua_notices@bofa.com; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk, 3rd Floor, facsimile number (212) 834-6081; Loop Capital Markets LLC, 111 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1901, Chicago, Illinois 60604, Attention: Loop Compliance Department, email: compliance@loopcapital.com, telephone: (312) 913-2275 or (888) 294-8898, facsimile number: (312) 922-7137; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, 29th Floor, New York, New York 10036, facsimile number (212) 507-8999, Attention: Investment Banking Division; and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, facsimile number (704) 410-0326, Attention: Transaction Management; tmgcapitalmarkets@wellsfargo.com; with a copy to Mayer Brown LLP, 71 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attn: Edward S. Best, Esq.; if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Secretary; with a copy to Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attn: John M. Schwolsky, Esq. and Benjamin Nixon, Esq.
15. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agent and controlling persons referred to in Section 10 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assignee by reason merely of such purchase.
16. Time; “Business Day”. As used herein, the term “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.
17. Fiduciary Duties. The Company acknowledges that in connection with the offering of the Shares: (a) the Underwriters have acted at arms’ length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company or any other person, (b) the Underwriters owe the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, and (c) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Company. The Company waives to the full
16 | ||||||||
extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Shares.
18. Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.
19. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
20. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
21. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the letter from the Underwriters to the Company confirming the written information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Company by the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in Section 10(a), represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Underwriters with respect to the preparation of any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, the conduct of the offering and the purchase and sale of the Shares.
22. Counterparts. This 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 respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this Agreement, if any, shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code..
23. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(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
17 | ||||||||
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.
(c) As used in this Section 23:
“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.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
By: /s/Alexandra T. Band
Name: Alexandra T. Band
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement (Series J Preferred)
The foregoing Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the
date first above written.
confirmed and accepted as of the
date first above written.
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
LOOP CAPITAL MARKETS LLC
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
For themselves and the other Underwriters
named in Schedule I to the foregoing Agreement
named in Schedule I to the foregoing Agreement
By: BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
By: /s/Randolph Randolph
Name: Randolph Randolph
Title: Managing Director
Name: Randolph Randolph
Title: Managing Director
By: J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
By: /s/Robert Bottamedi
Name: Robert Bottamedi
Title: Executive Director
Name: Robert Bottamedi
Title: Executive Director
By: LOOP CAPITAL MARKETS LLC
By: /s/Sidney Dillard
Name: Sidney Dillard
Title: Partner
Name: Sidney Dillard
Title: Partner
By: MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
By: /s/Victoria Franco
Name: Victoria Franco
Title: Vice President
Name: Victoria Franco
Title: Vice President
By: WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
By: /s/ Carolyn Hurley
Name: Carolyn Hurley
Title: Managing Director
Name: Carolyn Hurley
Title: Managing Director
Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement (Series J Preferred)
SCHEDULE I
Underwriters | Total Number of Shares to be Purchased | ||||
| BofA Securities, Inc. | 4,533,600 | ||||
| J.P. Morgan Securities LLC | 4,533,600 | ||||
| Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC | 4,533,600 | ||||
| Wells Fargo Securities, LLC | 4,533,600 | ||||
| Loop Capital Markets LLC | 2,265,600 | ||||
| Academy Securities, Inc. | 720,000 | ||||
| Cabrera Capital Markets LLC | 720,000 | ||||
| Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC | 720,000 | ||||
| R. Seelaus & Co., LLC | 720,000 | ||||
| Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC | 720,000 | ||||
Total | 24,000,000 | ||||
SCHEDULE I-1 | ||||||||
SCHEDULE II
FINAL TERM SHEET
Relating to Preliminary Prospectus
Supplement dated May 15, 2023 to
Prospectus dated April 30, 2021
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
24,000,000 DEPOSITARY SHARES EACH REPRESENTING A 1/1,000TH INTEREST IN A SHARE OF FIXED RATE NONCUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES J
FINAL TERM SHEET
Dated May 15, 2023
| Issuer: | The Allstate Corporation | ||||
| Security Type: | Depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”) each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of Fixed Rate Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J, of the Issuer (the “Preferred Stock”) | ||||
| Format: | SEC Registered | ||||
| Size: | $600,000,000 (24,000,000 Depositary Shares) | ||||
| Liquidation Preference: | $25,000 per share of Preferred Stock (equivalent of $25 per Depositary Share) | ||||
| Term: | Perpetual | ||||
| Dividend Rate (Noncumulative): | 7.375% per annum, only when, as and if declared | ||||
| Dividend Payment Dates: | Quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing October 15, 2023 | ||||
| Trade Date: | May 15, 2023 | ||||
| Settlement Date: | May 18, 2023 (T+3) | ||||
| Use of Proceeds: | The Issuer intends to use the net proceeds from this offering of Depositary Shares for general corporate purposes due to the redemption of all outstanding shares of the Issuer’s Series G Fixed Rate Noncumulative Preferred Stock and the corresponding depositary shares on April 17, 2023. | ||||
| Optional Redemption: | The Issuer may, at its option, redeem the shares of Preferred Stock (i) in whole but not in part at any time prior to July 15, 2028, within 90 days after the occurrence of a “rating agency event” at a redemption price equal to $25,500 per share (equivalent to $25.50 per Depositary Share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to any undeclared dividends, to, but excluding, the redemption date, or (ii) (a) in whole but not in part at any time prior to July 15, 2028, within 90 days after the occurrence of a “regulatory capital event,” or (b) in whole or in part, from time to time, on any dividend payment date on or after July 15, 2028, in each case, at a redemption price equal to $25,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per Depositary Share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to any undeclared dividends, to, but excluding, the redemption date. | ||||
SCHEDULE II 1 | ||||||||
| Listing: | Application will be made to list the Depositary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “ALL PR J”. If approved for listing, trading of the Depositary Shares on the NYSE is expected to commence within a 30-day period after the original issuance date of the Depositary Shares. | ||||
| CUSIP/ISIN of Depositary Shares: | 020002 788 / US0200027888 | ||||
| Public Offering Price: | $25.00 per Depositary Share | ||||
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions: | $11,375,000 | ||||
| Joint Book-Runners: | BofA Securities, Inc. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Loop Capital Markets LLC Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC Wells Fargo Securities, LLC | ||||
Co-Managers: | Academy Securities, Inc. Cabrera Capital Markets LLC Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC R. Seelaus & Co., LLC Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC | ||||
We expect that delivery of the Depositary Shares will be made against payment therefor on or about May 18, 2023, which is three business days following the date of pricing of the Depositary Shares (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+3”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade their Depositary Shares on any date prior to two business days before delivery will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Depositary Shares initially will settle in T+3, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of Depositary Shares who wish to trade their Depositary Shares on any date prior to two business days before delivery should consult their own advisor.
The Allstate Corporation has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus and related prospectus supplement) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus supplement and prospectus for this offering in that registration statement, and other documents that The Allstate Corporation has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by searching the SEC online database (EDGAR®) at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, you may obtain a copy of the prospectus by contacting BofA Securities, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-294-1322; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC collect at 1-212-834-4533; Loop Capital Markets LLC toll-free at 1-888-294-8898; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC toll-free at 1-866-718-1649 or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC toll-free at 1-800-645-3751.
SCHEDULE II 2 | ||||||||
SCHEDULE III
ISSUER FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES
Company press release, dated May 15, 2023, announcing the pricing of the offering of Shares.
| SCHEDULE III | ||||||||
SCHEDULE IV
| Principal Subsidiary | Jurisdiction of Incorporation | ||||
| Allstate Insurance Company | Illinois | ||||
| SCHEDULE IV | ||||||||
SCHEDULE V
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP OPINION
Provided under separate cover.
SCHEDULE V 1 | ||||||||
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
NEGATIVE ASSURANCE LETTER
Provided under separate cover.
753744770 | SCHEDULE VI-2 | |||||||
SCHEDULE VI
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OPINION
Provided under separate cover.
| SCHEDULE VI | ||||||||
SCHEDULE VII
Pursuant to Section 7(f) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:
(a) They are an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;
(b) In their opinion, the financial statements and financial statement schedules, certain summary and selected consolidated financial and operating data, and any supplementary financial information and schedules (and, if applicable, pro forma financial information) audited by them and included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the related published rules and regulations thereunder; and, they have performed a review in accordance with the procedures specified by The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) for a review of interim financial information as described in PCAOB AU 722, Interim Financial Information, of the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, and any supplementary financial information and schedules, selected financial data, pro forma financial information, prospective financial statements and/or condensed financial statements derived from audited financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus, Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, or the Registration Statement, for the periods specified in such letter, and, as indicated in their report thereon, copies of which have been furnished to the representatives of the Underwriters (the “Representatives”);
(c) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other information referred to below, a reading of the latest available interim and annual financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, inspection of the minute books of the Company and its subsidiaries since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, inquiries of officials of the Company and its subsidiaries responsible for financial and accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that:
(i) the unaudited consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows and certain summary and selected consolidated financial and operating data included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the related published rules and regulations thereunder and generally accepted accounting principles, applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus;
(ii) any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented do not agree with the corresponding items in the unaudited consolidated financial statements from which such data and items were derived, and any such unaudited data and items were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis for the corresponding amounts in the audited
SCHEDULE VII 1 | ||||||||
consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented;
(iii) the unaudited financial statements which were not included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented but from which were derived any unaudited condensed financial statements referred to in clause (c)(i) and any unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and referred to in clause (c)(ii) were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis for the audited consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented;
(iv) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements;
(v) as of a specified date not more than five business days prior to the date of such letter, there have been any changes in the consolidated capital stock or any increase in the consolidated debt, or any decreases in consolidated total investments or shareholder equity, or other items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts shown in the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, except in each case for changes, increases or decreases which the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter; and
(vi) for the period from the date of the latest financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the specified date referred to in clause (c)(v) there were any decreases in consolidated premiums earned, consolidated net investment income, or other items specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with the comparable period of the preceding year and with any other period of corresponding length specified by the Representatives, except in each case for decreases or increases which the Final Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter.
In addition to the examination referred to in their report(s) included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and the limited procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures referred to in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) above, they have carried out certain procedures as specified in their letter, not constituting an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial information specified by the Representatives, which are derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, which appear or are incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement specified by the Representatives, and have compared certain of such specified amounts, percentages and financial information with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and have found them to be in agreement.
SCHEDULE VII 2 | ||||||||
SCHEDULE VIII
Offering Restrictions
Canada
European Economic Area
United Kingdom
Hong Kong
Japan
Singapore
Taiwan
Korea
Switzerland
| SCHEDULE VIII | ||||||||
Exhibit 3.1
Certificate of Designations
of
Fixed Rate Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J
of
The Allstate Corporation
The Allstate Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), in accordance with the provisions of Sections 103 and 151 thereof, does hereby certify:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”), by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation and applicable law, the Board authorized the issuance and sale by the Corporation of shares of its preferred stock and the formation of a Pricing Committee (the “Committee”) at a meeting duly convened and held on September 26, 2019, and pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Committee in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the resolutions of the Board, the Committee adopted the following resolution by written consent on May 15, 2023, creating a series of 24,000 shares of preferred stock of the Corporation designated as “Fixed Rate Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J”.
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation and applicable law, a series of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, preferences, and relative participating, optional, or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations, and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:
Section 1. Designation. There is hereby created out of the authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock of the Corporation a series of preferred stock designated as the “Fixed Rate Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J” (the “Series J Preferred Stock”). Each share of Series J Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series J Preferred Stock.
Section 2. Number of Shares. The authorized number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall be 24,000. Shares of Series J Preferred Stock that are purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall not be reissued as shares of such series and shall become authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock.
Section 3. Definitions. As used herein with respect to Series J Preferred Stock:
(a) “Agent Members” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).
(b) “Business Day” means any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday or (ii) a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed.
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(c) “Bylaws” means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation, as the same may be amended from time to time.
(d) “Certificate of Designations” means the Certificate of Designations relating to the Series J Preferred Stock, as it may be amended from time to time.
(e) “Certificate of Incorporation” means the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, and shall include the Certificate of Designations.
(f) “Certificated Series J Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(a).
(g) “Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
(h) “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share (or such other par value, or no par value, as such common stock may have from time to time), of the Corporation.
(i) “Depositary Shares” means the depositary shares, each representing a one-thousandth (1/1,000th) interest in a share of the Series J Preferred Stock, evidenced by depositary receipts.
(j) “Dividend Declaration and Payment Restrictions” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(f).
(k) “Dividend Disbursement Agent” means Equiniti Trust Company, in its capacity as dividend disbursement agent.
(l) “Dividend Parity Stock” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation that ranks on parity with the Series J Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends and in the distribution of assets upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the business and affairs of the Corporation.
(m) “Dividend Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(b).
(n) “Dividend Period” means each period from and including a Dividend Payment Date, to, but excluding, the next successive Dividend Payment Date; provided, that the first Dividend Period will be the period from and including May 18, 2023 to, but excluding, the first Dividend Payment Date; provided further, that for any share of Series J Preferred Stock issued after the date of original issue of the Series J Preferred Stock, the first Dividend Period for such shares may commence on and include such other date as the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board shall determine and publicly disclose.
(o) “Dividend Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
(p) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(q) “Global Depositary” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(b).
2
(r) “Global Legend” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(b).
(s) “Global Series J Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(b).
(t) The terms “Holder” and “Holder of Series J Preferred Stock” each mean a Person in whose name one or more shares of the Series J Preferred Stock are registered.
(u) “Junior Stock” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation hereafter authorized over which the Series J Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the business and affairs of the Corporation.
(v) “Liquidation Preference Amount” means $25,000 per share of Series J Preferred Stock.
(w) “Nonpayment Event” has the meaning specified in Section 9(b).
(x) “Person” means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
(y) “Preferred Stock” means any and all series of preferred stock of the Corporation, including the Series J Preferred Stock.
(z) “Preferred Stock Directors” has the meaning specified in Section 9(b).
(aa) “Rating Agency” means any nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act that then publishes a rating for the Company.
(bb) “Rating Agency Event” means that any Rating Agency amends, clarifies or changes the criteria it uses to assign equity credit to securities such as the Series J Preferred Stock, which amendment, clarification or change results in (a) the shortening of the length of time the Series J Preferred Stock is assigned a particular level of equity credit by that Rating Agency as compared to the length of time the Series J Preferred Stock would have been assigned that level of equity credit by that Rating Agency or its predecessor on the initial issuance of the Series J Preferred Stock; or (b) the lowering of the equity credit (including up to a lesser amount) assigned to the Series J Preferred Stock by that Rating Agency compared to the equity credit assigned by that Rating Agency or its predecessor on the initial issuance of the Series J Preferred Stock.
(cc) “Redemption Date” means any date fixed for redemption in accordance with Section 7.
(dd) “Registrar” means Equiniti Trust Company, in its capacity as registrar.
(ee) “Regulatory Capital Event” means the Corporation’s good faith determination that, as a result of:
3
• any amendment to, or change in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States or any other governmental agency or instrumentality as may then have group-wide oversight of the Corporation’s regulatory capital that is enacted or becomes effective after the initial issuance of the Series J Preferred Stock,
• any proposed amendment to, or change in, those laws, rules or regulations that is announced or becomes effective after the initial issuance of the Series J Preferred Stock, or
• any official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws, rules or regulations that is announced after the initial issuance of the Series J Preferred Stock,
there is more than an insubstantial risk that the liquidation preference per share of the Series J Preferred Stock outstanding from time to time would not qualify as capital (or a substantially similar concept) for purposes of any group capital standard to which the Corporation is or will be subject.
(ff) “Series J Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.
(gg) “Senior Stock” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series J Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the business and affairs of the Corporation.
(hh) “Transfer Agent” means Equiniti Trust Company, in its capacity as transfer agent.
(ii) “Voting Parity Stock” means, with regard to any election or removal of a Preferred Stock Director or any other matter as to which the holders of Series J Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as specified in Section 9, any and all series of Preferred Stock (other than the Series J Preferred Stock) that rank equally with the Series J Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends, whether bearing dividends on a non-cumulative or cumulative basis, including, but not limited to, any Dividend Parity Stock, and having voting rights equivalent to those described in Section 9(b).
Section 4. Ranking. The Series J Preferred Stock will rank senior to the Common Stock and all other Junior Stock, senior to or on a parity with each other series of Preferred Stock (except for any Senior Stock that may be issued upon the requisite vote or consent of the holders of at least a two-thirds of the shares of the Series J Preferred Stock at the time outstanding and entitled to vote and the requisite vote or consent of all other series of Preferred Stock), with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and junior to all existing and future indebtedness and other non-equity claims on the Corporation.
Section 5. Dividends.
(a) Holders of Series J Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board, out of funds or property legally available therefor under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, noncumulative cash dividends on the Liquidation Preference Amount
4
at an annual rate equal to 7.375% (the “Dividend Rate”) on each Dividend Payment Date for each Dividend Period.
Holders of the Series J Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, securities or other property, other than dividends (if any) declared and payable on the Series J Preferred Stock as specified in this Section 5 (subject to the other provisions herein).
(b) If declared by the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board, the Corporation shall pay dividends on the Series J Preferred Stock on a noncumulative basis quarterly, in arrears, on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on October 15, 2023 (each a “Dividend Payment Date”). If any date on which dividends would otherwise be payable is not a Business Day, then the Dividend Payment Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day without any adjustment to the amount of dividends paid. Dividends payable on the Series J Preferred Stock shall be computed by the Dividend Disbursement Agent on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward. Dividends on the Series J Preferred Stock shall cease to accrue on the Redemption Date, if any, unless the Corporation defaults in the payment of the redemption price of the shares of the Series J Preferred Stock called for redemption in accordance with Section 7.
(c) Dividends on the Series J Preferred Stock will not be cumulative and will not be mandatory. If the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board does not declare a dividend on the Series J Preferred Stock in respect of a Dividend Period, then no dividend will be deemed to have accrued for such Dividend Period, be payable on the related Dividend Payment Date, or accumulate, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay any dividend accrued for such Dividend Period, whether or not the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board declares a dividend on the Series J Preferred Stock or any other series of Preferred Stock or on the Common Stock for any future Dividend Period.
(d) Dividends that are payable on any Dividend Payment Date will be payable to Holders on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15th calendar day before the applicable Dividend Payment Date, or such other record date as shall be fixed by the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board that shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the applicable Dividend Payment Date.
(e) During a Dividend Period, so long as any share of Series J Preferred Stock remains outstanding:
(i) no dividend shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment, and no distribution shall be declared or made or set aside for payment, on any Junior Stock, other than (x) a dividend payable solely in Junior Stock or (y) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a shareholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under such plan;
(ii) no shares of Junior Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, other than (v) as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock, (w) the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, (x) purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of Junior Stock in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of employees, officers, directors or
5
consultants, (y) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of Junior Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such securities or the security being converted or exchanged and (z) through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation; and
(iii) no shares of Dividend Parity Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation other than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of Series J Preferred Stock and such Dividend Parity Stock (other than the exchange or conversion of such Dividend Parity Stock for or into shares of Junior Stock);
unless, in each case, the full dividends for the preceding Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside and any declared but unpaid dividends for any prior Dividend Period have been paid.
(f) When dividends are not paid in full upon the shares of Series J Preferred Stock and any Dividend Parity Stock (except, (i) with respect to the Corporation’s outstanding Preferred Stock, as a result of the restrictions on declaration and payment of dividends contained in the applicable certificate of designations for such outstanding Preferred Stock (“Dividend Declaration and Payment Restrictions”), or (ii) with respect to any future Dividend Parity Stock that contains Dividend Declaration and Payment Restrictions, as a result of such Dividend Declaration and Payment Restrictions), all dividends declared upon shares of Series J Preferred Stock and any Dividend Parity Stock will be declared on a proportional basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the then-current Dividend Period and any prior Dividend Periods for which dividends were declared but not paid, per share on the Series J Preferred Stock, and accrued dividends, including any accumulations, on any Dividend Parity Stock, bear to each other. The Corporation may pay dividends on the Series J Preferred Stock, which does not include Dividend Declaration and Payment Restrictions, for periods during which the Corporation may not be able to pay dividends on its outstanding Preferred Stock as a result of Dividend Declaration and Payment Restrictions in such outstanding Preferred Stock.
(g) Subject to the considerations described in this Section 5, and not otherwise, dividends (payable in cash, stock, or otherwise), as may be determined by the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board, may be declared and paid on any securities, including Common Stock, any other Junior Stock and any Dividend Parity Stock from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the Holders of Series J Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.
Section 6. Liquidation Rights.
(a) Voluntary or Involuntary Liquidation. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the business and affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, Holders of Series J Preferred Stock are entitled to receive in full a liquidating distribution of the Liquidation Preference Amount, plus dividends that have been declared but not paid prior to the date of payment of distributions to shareholders, without regard to any undeclared dividends, before the Corporation makes or sets aside any distribution of assets to the holders of Common
6
Stock or any other Junior Stock. Holders of Series J Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any other amounts from the Corporation after they have received their full liquidating distribution.
(b) Partial Payment. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the business and affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, if the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay the Liquidation Preference Amount plus any dividends that have been declared but not paid prior to the date of payment of distributions to shareholders, without regard to any undeclared dividends, in full to all Holders of Series J Preferred Stock and all holders of Dividend Parity Stock as to such distribution with the Series J Preferred Stock, the amounts paid to the Holders of Series J Preferred Stock and any holders of Dividend Parity Stock shall be paid pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidating distribution owed to those holders, plus any dividends that have been declared but not paid prior to the date of payment of distributions to shareholders, without regard to any undeclared dividends.
(c) Residual Distributions. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the business and affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, if the Liquidation Preference Amount plus any dividends that have been declared but not paid prior to the date of payment of distributions to shareholders, without regard to any undeclared dividends, has been paid in full to all Holders of Series J Preferred Stock and any Dividend Parity Stock, the holders of Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.
(d) Merger, Consolidation, and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation. For purposes of this Section 6, the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the Holders of Series J Preferred Stock receive cash, securities, or property for their shares, or the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer of all or substantially all of the property or assets of the Corporation, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the business and affairs of the Corporation.
Section 7. Redemption. The Series J Preferred Stock is not subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund, or other similar provisions. Holders of Series J Preferred Stock shall have no right to require the redemption or repurchase of any shares of Series J Preferred Stock.
(a) Optional Redemption. The Corporation, at its option, may, upon notice given as provided in Section 7(b), redeem the Series J Preferred Stock:
(i) in whole but not in part at any time prior to July 15, 2028, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Rating Agency Event at a redemption price equal to $25,500 per share of Series J Preferred Stock, plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to any undeclared dividends, to but excluding the Redemption Date; or
(ii) (a) in whole but not in part at any time prior to July 15, 2028, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Event, or (b) in whole or in part, from time to time, on any Dividend Payment Date on or after July 15, 2028, in each case, at a redemption price equal to $25,000 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to any undeclared dividends, to but excluding the Redemption Date.
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If the Corporation becomes subject to capital regulation and the Preferred Stock is included in the Corporation’s regulatory capital, the redemption of the Preferred Stock and the Depositary Shares may be subject to the Corporation’s receipt of any required prior approval from a capital regulator and to the satisfaction of any conditions set forth in applicable capital rules and any other regulations of such capital regulator.
Dividends will cease to accrue on the shares of the Series J Preferred Stock called for redemption from and including the Redemption Date. No Holders of Series J Preferred Stock shall have the right to require the redemption or repurchase of the Series J Preferred Stock.
(b) Redemption Procedures. If shares of the Series J Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the Holders of Series J Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation, mailed not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof (provided, that if the Series J Preferred Stock or any depositary shares representing interests in the Series J Preferred Stock are held in book-entry form through the Global Depositary, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by such facility). Any notice mailed or otherwise given as provided in this paragraph will be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice, and failure to duly give the notice by mail or otherwise, or any defect in the notice or in the mailing or provision of the notice, to any Holder of the Series J Preferred Stock designated for redemption will not affect the validity of the redemption of any other shares of the Series J Preferred Stock. Each notice of redemption shall include a statement setting forth: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the number of shares of the Series J Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by the Holder of Series J Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock to be redeemed from the Holder; (iii) the redemption price or the manner of its calculation; and (iv) the place or places where the certificate evidencing shares of Series J Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price.
(c) Effectiveness of Redemption. If notice of redemption of any shares of Series J Preferred Stock has been duly given and if, on or before the redemption date specified in the notice, the funds necessary for such redemption have been set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other funds, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the Holders of any shares of Series J Preferred Stock so called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the Redemption Date, dividends will cease to accrue on such shares of Series J Preferred Stock, such shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding, and all rights of the Holders of such shares (including the right to receive any dividends) shall terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price.
(d) Partial Redemption. In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of the Series J Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or by lot. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.
Section 8. Maturity. The Series J Preferred Stock shall be perpetual unless redeemed by the Corporation in accordance with Section 7.
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Section 9. Voting Rights.
(a) General. The Holders of Series J Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law.
(b) Right to Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment. If and whenever the dividends on the Series J Preferred Stock and any other class or series of Voting Parity Stock have not been declared and paid (i) in the case of the Series J Preferred Stock and any other class or series of Voting Parity Stock bearing non-cumulative dividends, in full for at least six (6) quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent (whether or not consecutive) or (ii) in the case of any class or series of Voting Parity Stock bearing cumulative dividends, in an aggregate amount equal to full dividends for at least six (6) quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent (whether or not consecutive) (a “Nonpayment Event”), the number of directors then constituting the Board shall automatically be increased by two and the Holders of Series J Preferred Stock, together with the Holders of any outstanding shares of Voting Parity Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be entitled to elect the two additional directors (the “Preferred Stock Directors”), provided that it shall be a qualification for election for any such Preferred Stock Director that the election of such director shall not cause the Corporation to violate the corporate governance requirement of the New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the Corporation may then be listed or traded) that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors and provided further that the Board shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights).
In the event that the Holders of Series J Preferred Stock and such other holders of Voting Parity Stock shall be entitled to vote for the election of the Preferred Stock Directors following a Nonpayment Event, such directors shall be initially elected following such Nonpayment Event only at a special meeting called at the request of the holders of record of at least 20% of the Series J Preferred Stock and each other series of Voting Parity Stock then outstanding (unless such request for a special meeting is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, in which event such election shall be held only at such next annual or special meeting of stockholders), and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation. Such request to call a special meeting for the initial election of the Preferred Stock Directors after a Nonpayment Event shall be made by written notice, signed by the requisite holders of Series J Preferred Stock or Voting Parity Stock, and delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation in such manner as provided for in Section 12 below, or as may otherwise be required by applicable law. If the Secretary of the Corporation fails to call a special meeting for the election of the Preferred Stock Directors within 20 days of receiving proper notice, any holder of Series J Preferred Stock may call such a meeting at the Corporation’s expense solely for the election of the Preferred Stock Directors, and for this purpose only such Series J Preferred Stock Holder shall have access to the Corporation’s stock ledger.
When dividends have been paid in full on the Series J Preferred Stock and any and all series of non-cumulative Voting Parity Stock (other than the Series J Preferred Stock) for at least one year after a Nonpayment Event and all dividends on any cumulative Voting Parity Stock have been paid in full, then the right of the holders of Series J Preferred Stock to elect the Preferred Stock Directors shall cease (but subject always to revesting of such voting rights in the case of any future Nonpayment Event,
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which, for the avoidance of doubt, will not be based on the failure to declare or pay dividends for any quarter period on which a prior Nonpayment Event was based), and, if and when any rights of holders of Series J Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to elect the Preferred Stock Directors shall have ceased, the terms of office of all the Preferred Stock Directors shall forthwith terminate and the number of directors constituting the Board shall automatically be reduced accordingly.
Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a single class). The Preferred Stock Directors elected at any such special meeting shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders if such office shall not have previously terminated as above provided. In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor shall be elected by the Board to serve until the next annual meeting of the stockholders upon the nomination of the then remaining Preferred Stock Director or, if no Preferred Stock Director remains in office, by the vote of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock for which dividends have not been paid, voting as a single class. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board for a vote.
(c) Other Voting Rights. So long as any shares of Series J Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of shareholders required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, at the time outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to:
(i) authorize or increase the authorized amount of, or issue shares of any class or series of Senior Stock, or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares;
(ii) amend the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation so as to adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges, or rights of the Series J Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of the authorized or issued Series J Preferred Stock or authorized Common Stock or preferred stock or the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, of other series of Preferred Stock ranking equally with or junior to the Series J Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the business and affairs of the Corporation shall not be deemed to adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges, or rights of the Series J Preferred Stock, and each Holder, by its acceptance of any shares of Series J Preferred Stock, is, to the fullest extent permitted by law, deemed to consent and authorizes the Corporation, the Board, and any committee of the Board to take any action to effect any such increase, creation, or issuance; or
(iii) consolidate with or merge into any other corporation unless the shares of Series J Preferred Stock outstanding at the time of such consolidation or merger or sale are converted into or exchanged for preference securities having such rights, preferences, privileges, and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the Holders than the rights, preferences, privileges, and voting powers of the Series J Preferred Stock, taken as a whole.
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The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been set aside by the Corporation for the benefit of the Holders of Series J Preferred Stock to effect such redemption as provided in Section 7(c).
(d) Changes for Clarification. Without the consent of the Holders of Series J Preferred Stock, so long as such action does not adversely affect the special rights, preferences, privileges, voting powers, limitations, or restrictions of the Series J Preferred Stock, taken as a whole, the Corporation may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, amend, alter, supplement, or repeal any term of the Series J Preferred Stock:
(i) to cure any ambiguity, or to cure, correct, or supplement any provision contained in the Certificate of Designations that may be defective or inconsistent; or
(ii) to make any provision with respect to matters or questions arising with respect to the Series J Preferred Stock that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Certificate of Designations.
(e) Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the Holders of Series J Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), soliciting and using proxies at such a meeting, obtaining written consents, and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be those adopted by the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board, in its discretion, from time to time, and shall conform to the requirements of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable law, and any national securities exchange or other trading facility on which the Series J Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time. Whether the vote or consent of the holders of a plurality, majority, or other portion of the shares of Series J Preferred Stock and any Voting Parity Stock has been cast or given on any matter on which the Holders of shares of Series J Preferred Stock are entitled to vote shall be determined by the Corporation by reference to the specified liquidation preference amounts of the shares voted or covered by the consent.
Section 10. Form.
(a) Certificated Series J Preferred Stock. The Series J Preferred Stock shall initially be issued in the form of one or more definitive shares in fully registered form in substantially the form attached to the Certificate of Designations as Exhibit A (“Certificated Series J Preferred Stock”), which is incorporated in and expressly made a part of the Certificate of Designations. Each Certificated Series J Preferred Stock shall reflect the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock represented thereby, and may have notations, legends, or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules, agreements to which the Corporation is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend, or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Corporation). Each Certificated Series J Preferred Stock shall be registered in the name or names of the Person or Persons specified by the Corporation in a written instrument to the Registrar.
(b) Global Series J Preferred Stock. If The Depositary Trust Company or another depositary reasonably acceptable to the Corporation (the “Global Depositary”) is willing to act as depositary for the Global Series J Preferred Stock, a Holder who is an Agent Member may request the Corporation to issue one or more shares of Series J Preferred Stock in global form with the global legend (the “Global Legend”)
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as set forth on the form of Series J Preferred Stock certificate attached to the Certificate of Designations as Exhibit A (“Global Series J Preferred Stock”), in exchange for the Certificated Series J Preferred Stock held by such Holder, with the same terms and of equal aggregate Liquidation Preference Amount. The Global Series J Preferred Stock may have notations, legends, or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules, agreements to which the Corporation is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend, or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Corporation). Any Global Series J Preferred Stock shall be deposited on behalf of the Holders of the Series J Preferred Stock represented thereby with the Registrar, at the principal office of the Registrar at which at any particular time its registrar business is administered, which is currently located at 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120, as custodian for the Global Depositary, and registered in the name of the Global Depositary or a nominee of the Global Depositary, duly executed by the Corporation and countersigned and registered by the Registrar as hereinafter provided. The aggregate number of shares represented by each Global Series J Preferred Stock may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Registrar and the Global Depositary or its nominee as hereinafter provided. This Section 10(b) shall apply only to Global Series J Preferred Stock deposited with or on behalf of the Global Depositary. The Corporation shall execute and the Registrar shall, in accordance with this Section 10(b), countersign and deliver any Global Series J Preferred Stock that (i) shall be registered in the name of Cede & Co. or other nominee of the Global Depositary and (ii) shall be delivered by the Registrar to Cede & Co. or pursuant to instructions received from Cede & Co. or held by the Registrar as custodian for the Global Depositary pursuant to an agreement between the Global Depositary and the Registrar. Members of, or participants in, the Global Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under the Certificate of Designations, with respect to any Global Series J Preferred Stock held on their behalf by the Global Depositary or by the Registrar as the custodian for the Global Depositary, or under such Global Series J Preferred Stock, and the Global Depositary may be treated by the Corporation, the Registrar, and any agent of the Corporation or the Registrar as the absolute owner of such Global Series J Preferred Stock for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Corporation, the Registrar, or any agent of the Corporation or the Registrar from giving effect to any written certification, proxy, or other authorization furnished by the Global Depositary or impair, as between the Global Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of the Global Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Series J Preferred Stock. The Holder of the Global Series J Preferred Stock may grant proxies or otherwise authorize any Person to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take pursuant to the Global Series J Preferred Stock, the Certificate of Designations, or the Certificate of Incorporation. Owners of beneficial interests in Global Series J Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Certificated Series J Preferred Stock, unless (x) the Global Depositary notifies the Corporation that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Global Depositary for the Global Series J Preferred Stock and the Corporation does not appoint a qualified replacement for the Global Depositary within 90 days or (y) the Global Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and the Corporation does not appoint a qualified replacement for the Global Depositary within 90 days. In any such case, the Global Series J Preferred Stock shall be exchanged in whole for Certificated Series J Preferred Stock, with the same terms and of an equal aggregate Liquidation Preference Amount, and such Certificated Series J Preferred Stock shall be registered in the name or names of the Person or Persons specified by the Global Depositary in a written instrument to the Registrar.
Section 11. Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation and the Transfer Agent for the Series J Preferred Stock
12
may deem and treat the record holder of any share of Series J Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Corporation nor such Transfer Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 12. Notices. All notices or communications in respect of Series J Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail, postage prepaid, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted in the Certificate of Designations, in the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, or by applicable law.
Section 13. No Preemptive Rights. No share of Series J Preferred Stock shall have any rights of preemption whatsoever as to any securities of the Corporation, or any warrants, rights, or options issued or granted with respect thereto, regardless of how such securities, or such warrants, rights, or options, may be designated, issued, or granted.
Section 14. Other Rights. The shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall not have any voting powers, preferences, or relative participating, optional, or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation or as provided by applicable law.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The Allstate Corporation has caused this certificate to be signed by Alexandra T. Band, its Senior Vice President and Treasurer, this May 16, 2023.
The Allstate Corporation
By /s/ Alexandra T. Band
Name: Alexandra T. Band
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Name: Alexandra T. Band
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer
[Signature Page to Certificate of Designations (Series J Preferred)]
Exhibit A
[Include for Global Series J Preferred Stock:
FORM OF FACE OF SERIES J PREFERRED STOCK
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION OR EQUINITI TRUST COMPANY, AS TRANSFER AGENT (THE “TRANSFER AGENT”), AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL IN AS MUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SERIES J PREFERRED STOCK SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SERIES J PREFERRED STOCK SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE RELATED CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.]
The Allstate Corporation
Incorporated under the laws of
the State of Delaware
CUSIP: 020002 770 ISIN: US0200027706 | Fixed Rate Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J | shares | ||||||
Certificate Number: 001
THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERRABLE IN
NEW YORK, NY
This is to certify that is the registered owner of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Fixed Rate Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J, $1.00 par value per share, $25,000 liquidation preference per share, of The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed.
[Signature Page Follows]
Witness the signatures of the Corporation’s duly authorized officers.
Dated:
The Allstate Corporation
By: ___________________________
Name:
Title:
By: ___________________________
Name:
Title:
[REVERSE OF CERTIFICATE]
The Allstate Corporation
The Corporation will furnish without charge to each shareholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or special rights of the class of stock or series thereof of the Corporation and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Such request should be addressed to the Corporation or Equiniti Trust Company, the Transfer Agent.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
| TEN COM - | as tenants in common | ||||
| TEN ENT - | as tenants by the entireties | ||||
| JT TEN - | as joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common | ||||
| UNIF GIFT MIN ACT | Custodian (Cust) (Minor) under Uniform Gift to Minors Act (State) | ||||
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
For Value Received, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE)
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS,
INCLUDING ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE)
___________________ Shares
of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _________ Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: ________________
NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THE ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER.
Signature(s) Guaranteed: ____________________________________
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
Exhibit 4.1
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
among
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION,
EQUINITI TRUST COMPANY,
as Depositary,
and
The Holders From Time to Time of
the Depositary Receipts Described Herein
the Depositary Receipts Described Herein
Dated as of May 18, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I.
DEFINED TERMS
Section 1.1. Definitions. ............................................................................................................ 1
ARTICLE II.
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF PREFERRED STOCK, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER, SURRENDER AND REDEMPTION OF RECEIPTS
Section 2.1. Form and Transfer of Receipts. .............................................................................. 3
Section 2.2. Deposit of Preferred Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof. ................................................................................................................... 4
Section 2.3. Registration of Transfer of Receipts........................................................................ 5
Section 2.4. Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Preferred Stock. ....................................................................................................... 5
Section 2.5. Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts. .................................................................................................................. 6
Section 2.6. Lost Receipts, etc. ................................................................................................... 6
Section 2.7. Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts. ......................................... 7
Section 2.8. Redemption of Preferred Stock. .............................................................................. 7
Section 2.9. Bank Accounts. ....................................................................................................... 8
Section 2.10. Receipts Issuable in Global Registered Form.......................................................... 8
ARTICLE III.
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF RECEIPTS AND THE CORPORATION
Section 3.1. Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information. ................................................ 9
Section 3.2. Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges. ............................................ 10
Section 3.3. Warranty as to Preferred Stock. ............................................................................ 10
Section 3.4. Warranty as to Receipts. ....................................................................................... 10
ARTICLE IV.
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES; NOTICES
Section 4.1. Cash Distributions. ................................................................................................ 10
Section 4.2. Distributions Other than Cash, Rights, Preferences or Privileges. ....................... 11
Section 4.3. Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges. .................................................... 11
Section 4.4. Notice of Dividends, etc.; Fixing Record Date for Holders of Receipts. ............. 12
Section 4.5. Voting Rights. ....................................................................................................... 12
Section 4.6. Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc. ......................................................................................................................... 13
Section 4.7. Delivery of Reports. .............................................................................................. 14
Section 4.8. Lists of Receipt Holders. ....................................................................................... 14
ARTICLE V.
THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARY’S AGENTS, THE REGISTRAR AND THE CORPORATION
Section 5.1. Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer Books by the Depositary; Registrar. ............................................................................................................... 14
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Section 5.2. Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar or the Corporation. ............................................................. 15
Section 5.3. Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar and the Corporation. .......................................................................................................... 15
Section 5.4. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary. ............................................................................................................ 17
Section 5.5. Corporate Notices and Reports. ............................................................................ 17
Section 5.6. Indemnification by the Corporation. ..................................................................... 18
Section 5.7. Fees, Charges and Expenses. ................................................................................ 18
ARTICLE VI.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
Section 6.1. Amendment. .......................................................................................................... 19
Section 6.2. Termination. .......................................................................................................... 19
ARTICLE VII.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1. Counterparts. ......................................................................................................... 19
Section 7.2. Exclusive Benefit of Parties. ................................................................................. 20
Section 7.3. Invalidity of Provisions. ........................................................................................ 20
Section 7.4. Notices. ................................................................................................................. 20
Section 7.5. Depositary’s Agents. ............................................................................................. 21
Section 7.6. Appointment of Registrar, Dividend Disbursement Agent and Redemption Agent in Respect of Receipts and Preferred Stock. ......................................................... 21
Section 7.7. Holders of Receipts Are Parties. ........................................................................... 21
Section 7.8. Governing Law. .................................................................................................... 21
Section 7.9. Inspection of Agreement. ...................................................................................... 21
Section 7.10. Headings. .............................................................................................................. 22
Section 7.11. Force Majeure. ...................................................................................................... 22
Section 7.12. Further Assurances. .............................................................................................. 22
Section 7.13. Confidentiality. ..................................................................................................... 22
EXHIBIT A [FORM OF FACE OF RECEIPT] A-1
EXHIBIT B [FORM OF OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE] B-1
ii
THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, dated May 18, 2023 (this “Agreement”), among The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Equiniti Trust Company, as depositary (the “Depositary”), and the Holders from time to time of the Receipts (as defined below).
WHEREAS, it is desired to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Agreement, for the deposit of shares of Fixed Rate Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J, $1.00 par value per share, $25,000 liquidation preference per share (the “Preferred Stock”), of the Corporation from time to time with the Depositary for the purposes set forth in this Agreement and for the issuance hereunder of Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares (as defined below) in respect of the Preferred Stock so deposited; and
WHEREAS, the Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS
DEFINED TERMS
Section 1.1. Definitions.
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Agreement:
“Agreement” shall mean this Deposit Agreement, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Certificate of Designations” shall mean the relevant Certificate of Designations filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware establishing the Preferred Stock as a series of preferred stock of the Corporation.
“Corporation” shall mean The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation. “Depositary” shall mean Equiniti Trust Company and any successor as Depositary hereunder.
“Depositary Shares” shall mean the depositary shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in one share of the Preferred Stock, evidenced by a Receipt.
“Depositary’s Agent” shall mean an agent appointed by the Depositary pursuant to Section 7.5.
“Depositary’s Office” shall mean the principal office of the Depositary at which at any particular time its depositary receipt business shall be administered, which is currently located at 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.
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“DTC” shall mean The Depository Trust Company. “Effective Date” shall mean the date first stated above.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange Event” shall mean with respect to any Global Registered Receipt:
(1) (A) the Global Receipt Depository which is the Holder of such Global Registered Receipt or Receipts notifies the Corporation that it is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities under any Letter of Representations or that it is no longer eligible or in good standing under the Exchange Act, and (B) the Corporation has not appointed a qualified successor Global Receipt Depository within 90 calendar days after the Corporation received such notice, or
(2) the Corporation in its sole discretion notifies the Depositary in writing that the Receipts or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Registered Receipts shall no longer be represented by such Global Receipt or Receipts.
“Global Receipt Depository” shall mean, with respect to any Receipt issued hereunder, DTC or such other entity designated as Global Receipt Depository by the Corporation in or pursuant to this Agreement, which entity must be, to the extent required by any applicable law or regulation, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act.
“Global Registered Receipts” shall mean a global registered Receipt registered in the name of a nominee of DTC.
“Letter of Representations” shall mean any applicable agreement among the Corporation, the Depositary and a Global Receipt Depository with respect to such Global Receipt Depository’s rights and obligations with respect to any Global Registered Receipts, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time and any successor agreement thereto.
“Officer’s Certificate” shall mean a certificate in substantially the form set forth as Exhibit B hereto, which is signed by an officer of the Corporation and which shall include the terms and conditions of the Preferred Stock to be issued by the Corporation and deposited with the Depositary from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the recitals. “Receipt” shall mean one of the depositary receipts issued hereunder, substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit A hereto, whether in definitive or temporary form, and evidencing the number of Depositary Shares with respect to the Preferred Stock held of record by the Record Holder of such Depositary Shares.
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“Record Holder” or “Holder” as applied to a Receipt shall mean the person in whose name such Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.
“Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.
“Registrar” shall mean the Depositary or such other successor bank or trust company which shall be appointed by the Corporation to register ownership and transfers of Receipts as herein provided; and if a successor Registrar shall be so appointed, references herein to “the books” of or maintained by the Depository shall be deemed, as applicable, to refer as well to the register maintained by such Registrar for such purpose.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
ARTICLE II
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF PREFERRED STOCK, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER, SURRENDER AND REDEMPTION OF RECEIPTS
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF PREFERRED STOCK, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER, SURRENDER AND REDEMPTION OF RECEIPTS
Section 2.1. Form and Transfer of Receipts.
The definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided. Pending the preparation of definitive Receipts, the Depositary, upon the written order of the Corporation, delivered in compliance with Section 2.2, shall execute and deliver temporary Receipts which may be printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise substantially of the tenor of the definitive Receipts in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the persons executing such Receipts may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Receipts. If temporary Receipts are issued, the Corporation and the Depositary will cause definitive Receipts to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Receipts, the temporary Receipts shall be exchangeable for definitive Receipts upon surrender of the temporary Receipts at an office described in the penultimate paragraph of Section 2.2, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Receipts, the Depositary shall execute and deliver in exchange therefor definitive Receipts representing the same number of Depositary Shares as represented by the surrendered temporary Receipt or Receipts. Such exchange shall be made at the Corporation’s expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Receipts shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement as definitive Receipts.
Receipts shall be executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless it shall have been executed manually or by facsimile signature by a duly authorized officer of the Depositary or, if a Registrar for the Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, by manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary and countersigned by manual or facsimile signature by a duly authorized officer of such Registrar. The Depositary shall record on its books each Receipt so signed and delivered as hereinafter provided.
Receipts shall be in denominations of any number of whole Depositary Shares.
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Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement all as may be required by the Depositary and approved by the Corporation or required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which the Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject.
Title to Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt which is properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer, shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures; provided, however, that until transfer of any particular Receipt shall be registered on the books of the Depositary as provided in Section 2.3, the Depositary may, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, treat the Record Holder thereof at such time as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distributions of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Agreement and for all other purposes.
Section 2.2. Deposit of Preferred Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Corporation may from time to time deposit shares of Preferred Stock under this Agreement by delivery to the Depositary of a certificate or certificates for such shares of Preferred Stock to be deposited, properly endorsed or accompanied, if required by the Depositary, by a duly executed instrument of transfer or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Depositary, together with all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and an executed Officer’s Certificate attaching the Certificate of Designations and all other information required to be set forth therein, and together with a written order of the Corporation directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in such order a Receipt or Receipts evidencing in the aggregate the number of Depositary Shares representing such deposited Preferred Stock. Each Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Depositary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed to be incorporated into this Agreement and shall be binding on the Corporation, the Depositary and the Holders of Receipts to which such Officer’s Certificate relates.
The Preferred Stock that is deposited shall be held by the Depositary at the Depositary’s Office or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine. The Depositary shall not lend any Preferred Stock deposited hereunder.
Upon receipt by the Depositary of a certificate or certificates for Preferred Stock deposited in accordance with the provisions of this Section, together with the other documents required as above specified, and upon recordation of the Preferred Stock on the books of the Corporation (or its duly appointed transfer agent) in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall execute and deliver to or upon the order of the person or persons named in the written order delivered to the Depositary referred to in the first paragraph of this Section, a Receipt or Receipts evidencing in the aggregate the number of Depositary Shares representing the Preferred Stock so deposited and
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registered in such name or names as may be requested by such person or persons. The Depositary shall execute and deliver such Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary’s Office or such other offices, if any, as the Depositary may designate. Delivery at other offices shall be at the risk and expense of the person requesting such delivery.
Section 2.3. Registration of Transfer of Receipts.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Depositary shall register on its books from time to time transfers of Receipts upon any surrender thereof by the Holder in person or by duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer. Thereupon, the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts evidencing the same aggregate number of Depositary Shares as those evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered and deliver such new Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto.
The Depositary shall not be required (a) to issue, transfer or exchange any Receipts for a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days prior to any selection of Depositary Shares and Preferred Stock to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of notice of redemption, or (b) to transfer or exchange for another Receipt any Receipt called or being called for redemption in whole or in part except as provided in Section 2.8.
Section 2.4. Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Preferred Stock.
Upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary’s Office or at such other offices as it may designate for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts in the authorized denomination or denominations requested, evidencing the aggregate number of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered, and shall deliver such new Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the Holder of the Receipt or Receipts so surrendered.
Any Holder of a Receipt or Receipts may withdraw the number of whole shares of Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby by surrendering such Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary’s Office or at such other offices as the Depositary may designate for such withdrawals. Thereafter, without unreasonable delay, the Depositary shall deliver to such Holder, or to the person or persons designated by such Holder as hereinafter provided, the number of whole shares of Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by the Receipt or Receipts so surrendered for withdrawal, but Holders of such whole shares of Preferred Stock will not thereafter be entitled to deposit such Preferred Stock hereunder or to receive a Receipt evidencing Depositary Shares therefor. If a Receipt delivered by the Holder to the Depositary in connection with such withdrawal shall evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Depositary Shares representing the number of whole shares of Preferred Stock, the Depositary shall at the same time, in addition to such number of whole shares of Preferred Stock and such money and other property, if any, to be so withdrawn, deliver to such Holder, or subject to Section 2.3 upon his order, a new Receipt evidencing such excess number of Depositary Shares.
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In no event will fractional shares of Preferred Stock (or any cash payment in lieu thereof) be delivered by the Depositary. Delivery of the Preferred Stock and money and other property, if any, being withdrawn may be made by the delivery of such certificates, documents of title and other instruments as the Depositary may deem appropriate.
If the Preferred Stock and the money and other property, if any, being withdrawn are to be delivered to a person or persons other than the Record Holder of the related Receipt or Receipts being surrendered for withdrawal of such Preferred Stock, such Holder shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order so directing the Depositary and the Depositary may require that the Receipt or Receipts surrendered by such Holder for withdrawal of such shares of Preferred Stock be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer in blank.
Delivery of the Preferred Stock and the money and other property, if any, represented by Receipts surrendered for withdrawal shall be made by the Depositary at the Depositary’s Office, except that, at the request, risk and expense of the Holder surrendering such Receipt or Receipts and for the account of the Holder thereof, such delivery may be made at such other place as may be designated by such Holder.
Section 2.5. Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts.
As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration and registration of transfer, split-up, combination, surrender or exchange of any Receipt, the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s Agents or the Corporation may require payment to it of a sum sufficient for the payment (or, in the event that the Depositary or the Corporation shall have made such payment, the reimbursement to it) of any charges or expenses payable by the Holder of a Receipt pursuant to Section 5.7, may require the production of evidence satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature, and may also require compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary or the Corporation may establish consistent with the provisions of this Agreement and/or applicable law.
The deposit of the Preferred Stock may be refused, the delivery of Receipts against Preferred Stock may be suspended, the registration of transfer of Receipts may be refused and the registration of transfer, surrender or exchange of outstanding Receipts may be suspended (i) during any period when the register of stockholders of the Corporation is closed or (ii) if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s Agents or the Corporation at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission or under any provision of this Agreement.
Section 2.6. Lost Receipts, etc.
In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary in its discretion may execute and deliver a Receipt of like form and tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, upon (i) the filing by the Holder thereof with the Depositary of evidence satisfactory to the Depositary of such destruction or loss or theft of such Receipt, of the
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authenticity thereof and of his or her ownership thereof and (ii) the Holder thereof furnishing the Depositary with an affidavit and an indemnity or bond satisfactory to the Depositary. Applicants for such substitute Receipts shall also comply with such other reasonable regulations and pay such other reasonable charges as the Depositary may prescribe and as required by Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code.
Section 2.7. Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.
All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary or any Depositary’s Agent shall be cancelled by the Depositary. Except as prohibited by applicable law or regulation, the Depositary is authorized and directed to destroy all Receipts so cancelled.
Section 2.8. Redemption of Preferred Stock.
Whenever the Corporation shall be permitted and shall elect to redeem shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designations, it shall (unless otherwise agreed to in writing with the Depositary) give or cause to be given to the Depositary, not less than 35 days and not more than 65 days prior to the Redemption Date (as defined below), notice of the date of such proposed redemption of Preferred Stock and of the number of such shares held by the Depositary to be so redeemed and the applicable redemption price, which notice shall be accompanied by a certificate from the Corporation stating that such redemption of Preferred Stock is in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designations. On the date of such redemption, provided that the Corporation shall then have paid or caused to be paid in full to the Depositary the redemption price of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed, plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends (without accumulation of any undeclared dividends) thereon to the date fixed for redemption, in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designations, the Depositary shall redeem the number of Depositary Shares representing such Preferred Stock. The Depositary shall mail notice of the Corporation’s redemption of Preferred Stock and the proposed simultaneous redemption of the number of Depositary Shares representing the Preferred Stock to be redeemed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption of such Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares (the “Redemption Date”), to the Record Holders of the Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed at their respective last addresses as they appear on the records of the Depositary; but neither failure to mail any such notice of redemption of Depositary Shares to one or more such Holders nor any defect in any notice of redemption of Depositary Shares to one or more such Holders shall affect the sufficiency of the proceedings for redemption as to the other Holders. Each such notice shall be prepared by the Corporation and shall state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the number of Depositary Shares to be redeemed and, if less than all the Depositary Shares held by any such Holder are to be redeemed, the number of such Depositary Shares held by such Holder to be so redeemed; (iii) the redemption price or the manner of its calculation; (iv) the place or places where Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends in respect of the Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such Redemption Date. In case less than all the outstanding Depositary Shares are to be redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or by lot.
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Notice having been mailed by the Depositary as aforesaid, from and after the Redemption Date (unless the Corporation shall have failed to provide the funds necessary to redeem the Preferred Stock evidenced by the Depositary Shares called for redemption) (i) dividends on the shares of Preferred Stock so called for Redemption shall cease to accrue from and after such date, (ii) the Depositary Shares being redeemed from such proceeds shall be deemed no longer to be outstanding, (iii) all rights of the Holders of Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares (except the right to receive the redemption price) shall, to the extent of such Depositary Shares, cease and terminate, and (iv) upon surrender in accordance with such redemption notice of the Receipts evidencing any such Depositary Shares called for redemption (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Depositary or applicable law shall so require), such Depositary Shares shall be redeemed by the Depositary at a redemption price per Depositary Share equal to 1/1,000th of the redemption price per share of Preferred Stock so redeemed plus all money and other property, if any, represented by such Depositary Shares, including all amounts paid by the Corporation in respect of dividends in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designations.
If fewer than all of the Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt are called for redemption, the Depositary will deliver to the Holder of such Receipt upon its surrender to the Depositary, together with the redemption payment, a new Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares evidenced by such prior Receipt and not called for redemption.
Section 2.9. Bank Accounts.
The Corporation acknowledges that the bank accounts maintained by the Depositary in connection with the services provided under this Agreement will be in the Depositary’s name and that the Depositary may receive investment earnings in connection with the investment at the Depositary’s risk and for its benefit of funds held in those accounts from time to time. Neither the Corporation nor the Holders will receive interest on any deposits.
Section 2.10. Receipts Issuable in Global Registered Form.
If the Corporation shall determine in a writing delivered to the Depositary that the Receipts are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Registered Receipts, then the Depositary shall, in accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement, execute and deliver one or more Global Registered Receipts evidencing such Receipts, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in the aggregate number of Receipts to be represented by such Global Registered Receipt or Receipts, and (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Global Receipt Depository therefor or its nominee.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, unless otherwise provided in the Global Registered Receipt, a Global Registered Receipt may only be transferred in whole and only by the applicable Global Receipt Depository for such Global Registered Receipt to a nominee of such Global Receipt Depository, or by a nominee of such Global Receipt Depository to such Global Receipt Depository or another nominee of such Global
Receipt Depository, or by such Global Receipt Depository or any such nominee to a successor Global Receipt Depository for such Global Registered Receipt selected or approved
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by the Corporation or to a nominee of such successor Global Receipt Depository. Except as provided below, owners solely of beneficial interests in a Global Registered Receipt shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of the Receipts represented by such Global Registered Receipt. Neither any such beneficial owner nor any direct or indirect participant of a Global Receipt Depository shall have any rights under this Agreement with respect to any Global Registered Receipt held on their behalf by a Global Receipt Depository and such Global Receipt Depository may be treated by the Corporation, the Depositary and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or the Depositary as the holder of such Global Registered Receipt for all purposes whatsoever. Unless and until definitive Receipts are delivered to the owners of the beneficial interests in a Global Registered Receipt, (1) the applicable Global Receipt Depository will make book-entry transfers among its participants and receive and transmit all payments and distributions in respect of the Global Registered Receipts to such participants, in each case, in accordance with its applicable procedures and arrangements, and (2) whenever any notice, payment or other communication to the holders of Global Registered Receipts is required under this Agreement, the Corporation and the Depositary shall give all such notices, payments and communications specified herein to be given to such holders to the applicable Global Receipt Depository.
If an Exchange Event has occurred with respect to any Global Registered Receipt, then, in any such event, the Depositary, upon receipt of a written order from the Corporation for the execution and delivery of individual definitive registered Receipts in exchange for such Global Registered Receipt, shall execute and deliver individual definitive registered Receipts, in authorized denominations and of like tenor and terms in an aggregate number equal to the beneficial interests represented by such Global Registered Receipt in exchange for such Global Registered Receipt.
Definitive registered Receipts issued in exchange for a Global Registered Receipt pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Global Receipt Depository for such Global Registered Receipt, pursuant to instructions from its participants, shall instruct the Depositary in writing. The Depositary shall deliver such Receipts to the persons in whose names such Receipts are so registered.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, should the Corporation determine that the Receipts should be issued as a Global Registered Receipt, the parties hereto shall comply with the terms of any Letter of Representations.
ARTICLE III
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF RECEIPTS AND THE CORPORATION
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF RECEIPTS AND THE CORPORATION
Section 3.1. Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
Any Holder of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file such proof of residence, or other matters or other information, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties as the Depositary or the Corporation may reasonably deem necessary or proper. The Depositary or the Corporation may withhold the delivery, or delay the registration of transfer or redemption, of any Receipt or the withdrawal of the Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares and evidenced by a Receipt or the distribution of any dividend or other distribution or the sale of any rights or of the proceeds thereof until such proof
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or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties are made.
Section 3.2. Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges.
Holders of Receipts shall be obligated to make payments to the Depositary of certain charges and expenses, as provided in Section 5.7. Registration of transfer of any Receipt or any withdrawal of Preferred Stock and all money or other property, if any, represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt may be refused until any such payment due is made, and any dividends, interest payments or other distributions may be withheld or any part of or all the Preferred Stock or other property represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt and not theretofore sold may be sold for the account of the Holder thereof (after attempting by reasonable means to notify such Holder prior to such sale), and such dividends, interest payments or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale may be applied to any payment of such charges or expenses, the Holder of such Receipt remaining liable for any deficiency.
Section 3.3. Warranty as to Preferred Stock.
The Corporation hereby represents and warrants that the Preferred Stock, when issued, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Such representation and warranty shall survive the deposit of the Preferred Stock and the issuance of the related Receipts.
Section 3.4. Warranty as to Receipts.
The Corporation hereby represents and warrants that the Receipts, when issued, will represent legal and valid interests in the Preferred Stock. Such representation and warranty shall survive the deposit of the Preferred Stock and the issuance of the Receipts.
ARTICLE IV
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES; NOTICES
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES; NOTICES
Section 4.1. Cash Distributions.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on the Preferred Stock, the Depositary shall, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, distribute to Record Holders of Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.4 such amounts of such dividend or distribution as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such Holders; provided, however, that in case the Corporation or the Depositary shall be required to withhold and shall withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of the Preferred Stock an amount on account of taxes, the amount made available for distribution or distributed in respect of Depositary Shares shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall distribute or make available for distribution, as the case may be, only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Holder of Receipts a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributable shall be held by the Depositary (without liability for interest thereon) and shall be added to and be treated as part of the next sum received by the Depositary or distribution to Record Holders of Receipts then outstanding. Each Holder of a Receipt shall provide the
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Depositary with its certified tax identification number on a properly completed Form W-8 or W- 9, as may be applicable. Each Holder of a Receipt acknowledges that, in the event of non- compliance with the preceding sentence, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may require withholding by the Depositary of a portion of any of the distributions to be made hereunder.
Section 4.2. Distributions Other than Cash, Rights, Preferences or Privileges.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than cash, rights, preferences or privileges upon the Preferred Stock, the Depositary shall, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, distribute to Record Holders of Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.4 such amounts of the securities or property received by it as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipts held by such Holders, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution. If in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among such Record Holders, or if for any other reason (including any requirement that the Corporation or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes) the Depositary deems, after consultation with the Corporation, such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, with the approval of the Corporation, adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, in a commercially reasonable manner. The net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, be distributed or made available for distribution, as the case may be, by the Depositary to Record Holders of Receipts as provided by Section 4.1 in the case of a distribution received in cash. The Corporation shall not make any distribution of such securities or property to the Depositary and the Depositary shall not make any distribution of such securities or property to the Holders of Receipts unless the Corporation shall have provided an opinion of counsel stating that such securities or property have been registered under the Securities Act or do not need to be registered in connection with such distributions.
Section 4.3. Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges.
If the Corporation shall at any time offer or cause to be offered to the persons in whose names the Preferred Stock is recorded on the books of the Corporation any rights, preferences or privileges to subscribe for or to purchase any securities or any rights, preferences or privileges of any other nature, such rights, preferences or privileges shall in each such instance be made available by the Depositary to the Record Holders of Receipts in such manner as the Depositary may determine, either by the issue to such Record Holders of warrants representing such rights, preferences or privileges or by such other method as may be approved by the Depositary in its discretion with the approval of the Corporation; provided, however, that (i) if at the time of issue or offer of any such rights, preferences or privileges the Depositary determines that it is not lawful or (after consultation with the Corporation) not feasible to make such rights, preferences or privileges available to Holders of Receipts by the issue of warrants or otherwise, or (ii) if and to the extent so instructed by Holders of Receipts who do not desire to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges, then the Depositary, in its discretion (with approval of the Corporation, in any case where the Depositary has determined that it is not feasible to make such rights, preferences or privileges available), may, if applicable laws or the terms of such rights, preferences or privileges permit such transfer, sell such rights, preferences or privileges at public
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or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper. The net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, be distributed by the Depositary to the Record Holders of Receipts entitled thereto as provided by Section 4.1 in the case of a distribution received in cash.
The Corporation shall notify the Depositary whether registration under the Securities Act of the securities to which any rights, preferences or privileges relate is required in order for Holders of Receipts to be offered or sold the securities to which such rights, preferences or privileges relate, and the Corporation agrees with the Depositary that it will file promptly a registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act with respect to such rights, preferences or privileges and securities and use its best efforts and take all steps available to it to cause such registration statement to become effective sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such Holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges. In no event shall the Depositary make available to the Holders of Receipts any right, preference or privilege to subscribe for or to purchase any securities unless and until such registration statement shall have become effective, or the Corporation shall have provided to the Depositary an opinion of counsel to the effect that the offering and sale of such securities to the Holders are exempt from registration under the provisions of the Securities Act.
The Corporation shall notify the Depositary whether any other action under the laws of any jurisdiction or any governmental or administrative authorization, consent or permit is required in order for such rights, preferences or privileges to be made available to Holders of Receipts, and the Corporation agrees with the Depositary that the Corporation will use its reasonable best efforts to take such action or obtain such authorization, consent or permit sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such Holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges.
Section 4.4. Notice of Dividends, etc.; Fixing Record Date for Holders of Receipts.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or if rights, preferences or privileges shall at any time be offered, with respect to the Preferred Stock, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting at which holders of the Preferred Stock are entitled to vote or of which holders of the Preferred Stock are entitled to notice, or whenever the Depositary and the Corporation shall decide it is appropriate, the Depositary shall in each such instance fix a record date (which shall be the same date as the record date fixed by the Corporation with respect to or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Stock) for the determination of the Holders of Receipts who shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution, rights, preferences or privileges or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, or to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, or who shall be entitled to notice of such meeting or for any other appropriate reasons.
Section 4.5. Voting Rights.
Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Designations, upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Record Holders of Receipts a notice prepared by the Corporation which shall contain (i) such information as is contained in such notice of
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meeting and (ii) a statement that the Holders may, subject to any applicable restrictions, instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of Preferred Stock represented by their respective Depositary Shares (including an express indication that instructions may be given to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Corporation) and a brief statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given. Upon the written request of the Holders of Receipts on the relevant record date, the Depositary shall vote or cause to be voted, in accordance with the instructions set forth in such requests, the maximum number of whole shares of Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by all Receipts as to which any particular voting instructions are received. The Corporation hereby agrees to take all reasonable action which may be deemed necessary by the Depositary in order to enable the Depositary to vote such Preferred Stock or cause such Preferred Stock to be voted. In the absence of specific instructions from the Holder of a Receipt, the Depositary will not vote (but, at its discretion, may appear at any meeting with respect to such Preferred Stock unless directed to the contrary by the Holders of all the Receipts) to the extent of the Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt.
Section 4.6. Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc.
Upon any change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or any other reclassification of the Preferred Stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Designations, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation affecting the Corporation or to which it is a party, the Depositary may in its discretion with the approval of, and shall upon the instructions of, the Corporation, and (in either case) in such manner as the Depositary may deem equitable, (i) make such adjustments as are certified by the Corporation in the fraction of an interest represented by one Depositary Share in one share of Preferred Stock and in the ratio of the redemption price per Depositary Share to the redemption price per share of Preferred Stock, in each case as may be necessary fully to reflect the effects of such change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or other reclassification of the Preferred Stock, or of such recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation and (ii) treat any securities which shall be received by the Depositary in exchange for or upon conversion of or in respect of the Preferred Stock as new deposited securities so received in exchange for or upon conversion or in respect of such Preferred Stock. In any such case the Depositary may in its discretion, with the approval of the Corporation, execute and deliver additional Receipts or may call for the surrender of all outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new deposited securities. Anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding, Holders of Receipts shall have the right from and after the effective date of any such change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or other reclassification of the Preferred Stock or any such recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation to surrender such Receipts to the Depositary with instructions to convert, exchange or surrender the Preferred Stock represented thereby only into or for, as the case may be, the kind and amount of shares and other securities and property and cash into which the Preferred Stock represented by such Receipts might have been converted or for which such Preferred Stock might have been exchanged or surrendered immediately prior to the effective date of such transaction.
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Section 4.7. Delivery of Reports.
The Depositary shall furnish to Holders of Receipts any reports and communications received from the Corporation which are received by the Depositary and which the Corporation is required to furnish to the holders of the Preferred Stock.
Section 4.8. Lists of Receipt Holders.
Reasonably promptly upon request from time to time by the Corporation, at the sole expense of the Corporation, the Depositary shall furnish to it a list, as of the most recent practicable date, of the names, addresses and holdings of Depositary Shares of all registered Holders of Receipts.
ARTICLE V
THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARY’S AGENTS, THE REGISTRAR AND THE CORPORATION
THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARY’S AGENTS, THE REGISTRAR AND THE CORPORATION
Section 5.1. Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer Books by the Depositary; Registrar.
Upon execution of this Agreement, the Depositary shall maintain at the Depositary’s Office, facilities for the execution and delivery, registration and registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of Receipts, and at the offices of the Depositary’s Agents, if any, facilities for the delivery, registration and registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of Receipts, all in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
The Depositary shall keep books at the Depositary’s Office for the registration and registration of transfer of Receipts, which books at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Record Holders of Receipts; provided that any such Holder requesting to exercise such right shall certify to the Depositary that such inspection shall be for a proper purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as an owner of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts.
The Depositary may close such books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder.
The Depositary may, with the approval of the Corporation, appoint a Registrar for registration of the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby. If the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby or the Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Shares shall be listed on one or more national securities exchanges, the Depositary will appoint a Registrar (acceptable to the Corporation) for registration of the Receipts or Depositary Shares in accordance with any requirements of such exchange. Such Registrar (which may be the Depositary if so permitted by the requirements of any such exchange) may be removed and a substitute registrar appointed by the Depositary upon the request or with the approval of the Corporation. If the Receipts, Depositary Shares or Preferred Stock are listed on one or more other securities exchanges, the Depositary will, at the request of the Corporation, arrange such facilities for the delivery, registration, registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of the Receipts, Depositary Shares or Preferred Stock as may be required by law or applicable securities exchange regulation.
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Section 5.2. Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar or the Corporation.
Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor any Registrar nor the Corporation shall incur any liability to any Holder of Receipt if by reason of any provision of any present or future law, or regulation thereunder, of the United States of America or of any other governmental authority or, in the case of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agent or the Registrar, by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including the Certificate of Designations) or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstance beyond the control of the relevant party, the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agent, the Registrar or the Corporation shall be prevented or forbidden from, or subjected to any penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which the terms of this Agreement provide shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar or the Corporation incur liability to any Holder of a Receipt (i) by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which the terms of this Agreement shall provide shall or may be done or performed, or (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Agreement except as otherwise explicitly set forth in this Agreement.
Section 5.3. Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar and the Corporation.
Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor any Registrar nor the Corporation assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under this Agreement to Holders of Receipts other than for its gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith (each as determined in a final, non-appealable opinion by a court of competent jurisdiction). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, excluding the Depositary’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith (each as determined in a final, non-appealable opinion by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Depositary’s aggregate liability under this Agreement with respect to, arising from or arising in connection with this Agreement, or from all services provided or omitted to be provided under this Agreement, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, is limited to, and shall not exceed, the amounts paid hereunder by the Corporation to the Depositary as fees and charges, but not including reimbursable expenses.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Depositary, nor the Depositary’s Agent nor any Registrar nor the Corporation shall be liable in any event for special, punitive, incidental, indirect or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits).
Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor any Registrar nor the Corporation shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of the Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense and liability be furnished as often as may be required.
Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor any Registrar nor the Corporation shall be liable for any action or any failure to act by it in reliance upon the written
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advice of legal counsel or accountants, or information from any person presenting Preferred Stock for deposit, any Holder of a Receipt or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such information. The Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, any Registrar and the Corporation may each rely and shall each be protected in acting upon or omitting to act upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote any of the shares of Preferred Stock or for the manner or effect of any such vote made, as long as any such action or non-action is not taken in bad faith (such bad faith as determined in a final, non-appealable opinion by a court of competent jurisdiction). The Depositary undertakes, and any Registrar shall be required to undertake, to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Depositary or any Registrar.
The Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, and any Registrar may own and deal in any class of securities of the Corporation and its affiliates and in Receipts. The Depositary may also act as transfer agent or registrar of any of the securities of the Corporation and its affiliates.
The Depositary shall not be under any liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Receipts, the Depositary Shares or the Preferred Stock nor shall it be obligated to segregate such monies from other monies held by it, except as required by law. The Depositary shall not be responsible for advancing funds on behalf of the Corporation and shall have no duty or obligation to make any payments if it has not timely received sufficient funds to make timely payments.
In the event the Depositary believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by the Depositary hereunder, or in the administration of any of the provisions of this Agreement, the Depositary shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, omitting or suffering to take any action hereunder, the Depositary may, in its sole discretion upon written notice to the Corporation, refrain from taking any action and shall be fully protected and shall not be liable in any way to the Corporation, any Holders of Receipts or any other person or entity for refraining from taking such action, unless the Depositary receives written instructions or a certificate signed by the Corporation which eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty to the satisfaction of the Depositary or which proves or establishes the applicable matter to the satisfaction of the Depositary.
From time to time, the Corporation may provide the Depositary with instructions concerning the services performed by the Depositary under this Agreement. In addition, at any time, the Depositary may apply to any officer of the Corporation for instruction, and may consult with legal counsel for the Depositary or the Corporation with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Depositary under this Agreement. The
Depositary and its agents and subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Corporation for any action taken or omitted by the Depositary in reliance upon any instructions from the Corporation or upon the advice or opinion of such counsel. The
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Depositary shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from Corporation.
Section 5.4. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by delivering notice of its election to do so to the Corporation, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Corporation by notice of such removal delivered to the Depositary, such removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary hereunder and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.
In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Corporation shall, within 60 days after the delivery of the notice of resignation or removal, as the case may be, appoint a successor Depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States of America and having a combined capital and surplus, along with its affiliates, of at least $50,000,000. If no successor Depositary shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 60 days after delivery of such notice, the resigning or removed Depositary may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Depositary. Every successor Depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Corporation an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor and for all purposes shall be the Depositary under this Agreement, and such predecessor, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Corporation, shall promptly execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Preferred Stock and any moneys or property held hereunder to such successor, and shall deliver to such successor a list of the Record Holders of all outstanding Receipts and such records, books and other information in its possession relating thereto. Any successor Depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the Holders of Receipts.
Any entity into or with which the Depositary may be merged, consolidated or converted shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act, and notice thereof shall not be required hereunder. Such successor Depositary may authenticate the Receipts in the name of the predecessor Depositary or its own name as successor Depositary.
Section 5.5. Corporate Notices and Reports.
The Corporation agrees that it will deliver to the Depositary, and the Depositary will, promptly after receipt thereof, transmit to the Record Holders of Receipts, in each case at the addresses recorded in the Depositary’s books, copies of all notices and reports (including without limitation financial statements) required by law, by the rules of any national securities exchange upon which the Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts are listed or by
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the Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including the Certificate of Designations), to be furnished to the Record Holders of Receipts. Such transmission will be at the Corporation’s expense and the Corporation will provide the Depositary with such number of copies of such documents as the Depositary may reasonably request. In addition, the Depositary will transmit to the Record Holders of Receipts at the Corporation’s expense such other documents as may be requested by the Corporation.
Section 5.6. Indemnification by the Corporation.
Notwithstanding Section 5.3 to the contrary, the Corporation shall indemnify the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent and any Registrar (including each of their officers, directors, agents and employees) against, and hold each of them harmless from, any loss, damage, cost, penalty, liability or expense (including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself) which may arise out of acts performed, suffered or omitted to be taken in connection with this Agreement and the Receipts by the Depositary, any Registrar or any of their respective agents (including any Depositary’s Agent) and any transactions or documents contemplated hereby, except for any liability arising out of gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith (each as determined in a final, non-appealable opinion by a court of competent jurisdiction) on the respective parts of any such person or persons. The obligations of the Corporation set forth in this Section 5.6 shall survive any succession of any Depositary, Registrar or Depositary’s Agent.
Section 5.7. Fees, Charges and Expenses.
The Corporation agrees promptly to pay the Depositary the compensation to be agreed upon with the Corporation for all services rendered by the Depositary hereunder and to reimburse the Depositary for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by the Depositary without gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith (each as determined in a final, non-appealable opinion by a court of competent jurisdiction) on its part (or on the part of any agent or Depositary Agent) in connection with the services rendered by it (or such agent or Depositary Agent) hereunder. The Corporation shall pay all charges of the Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the Preferred Stock and the initial issuance of the Depositary Shares, all withdrawals of shares of Preferred Stock by owners of Depositary Shares, and any redemption or exchange of the Preferred Stock at the option of the Corporation. The Corporation shall pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. All other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges shall be at the expense of Holders of Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts. If, at the request of a Holder of Receipts, the Depositary incurs charges or expenses for which the Corporation is not otherwise liable hereunder, such Holder will be liable for such charges and expenses; provided, however, that the Depositary may, at its sole option, require a Holder of a Receipt to prepay the Depositary any charge or expense the Depositary has been asked to incur at the request of such Holder of Receipts. The Depositary shall present its statement for charges and expenses to the Corporation at such intervals as the Corporation and the Depositary may agree.
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ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
Section 6.1. Amendment.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Corporation and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that no such amendment which shall materially and adversely alter the rights of the Holders of Receipts shall be effective against the Holders of Receipts unless such amendment shall have been approved by the Holders of Receipts representing in the aggregate at least a two-thirds majority of the Depositary Shares then outstanding. Every Holder of an outstanding Receipt at the time any such amendment becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by this Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.5 and 2.6 and Article III, of any owner of Depositary Shares to surrender any Receipt evidencing such Depositary Shares to the Depositary with instructions to deliver to the Holder the Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law or the rules and regulations of any governmental body, agency or commission, or applicable securities exchange.
Section 6.2. Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated by the Corporation or the Depositary only if (i) all outstanding Depositary Shares issued hereunder have been redeemed pursuant to Section 2.8, (ii) there shall have been made a final distribution in respect of the Preferred Stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation and such distribution shall have been distributed to the Holders of Receipts representing Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2, as applicable or (iii) upon the consent of Holders of Receipts representing in the aggregate not less than two-thirds of the Depositary Shares outstanding.
Upon the termination of this Agreement, the Corporation shall be discharged from all obligations under this Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent and any Registrar under Sections 5.6 and 5.7.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each of the parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. A signature to this Agreement transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect, and enforceability as an original signature.
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Section 7.2. Exclusive Benefit of Parties.
This Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim to any other person whatsoever.
Section 7.3. Invalidity of Provisions.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
Section 7.4. Notices.
Any and all notices to be given to the Corporation hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or overnight delivery service, or by electronic mail, confirmed by letter, addressed to the Corporation at:
The Allstate Corporation
3100 Sanders Road
Northbrook, IL 60062
Attention: Treasurer
3100 Sanders Road
Northbrook, IL 60062
Attention: Treasurer
Email: alexandra.band@allstate.com
or at any other addresses of which the Corporation shall have notified the Depositary in writing.
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or overnight delivery service, or by electronic mail, confirmed by letter, addressed to the Depositary at:
Equiniti Trust Company
1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
Attention: Daniel Loeffler
Email: Daniel.Loeffler@equiniti.com
1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
Attention: Daniel Loeffler
Email: Daniel.Loeffler@equiniti.com
or at any other addresses of which the Depositary shall have notified the Corporation in writing.
Any and all notices to be given to any Record Holder of a Receipt hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission or confirmed by letter, addressed to such Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder as it appears on the books of the Depositary, or if such Holder shall have timely filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for such Holder be mailed to some other address, at the address designated in such request.
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Delivery of a notice sent by mail or by facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a facsimile transmission) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office letter box. The Depositary or the Corporation may, however, act upon any facsimile transmission received by it from the other or from any Holder of a Receipt, notwithstanding that such facsimile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter or as aforesaid.
Section 7.5. Depositary’s Agents.
The Depositary may from time to time appoint Depositary’s Agents to act in any respect for the Depositary for the purposes of this Agreement and may at any time appoint additional Depositary’s Agents and vary or terminate the appointment of such Depositary’s Agents. The Depositary will promptly notify the Corporation of any such action.
Section 7.6. Appointment of Registrar, Dividend Disbursement Agent and Redemption Agent in Respect of Receipts and Preferred Stock.
The Corporation hereby appoints Equiniti Trust Company as Registrar, dividend disbursement agent and redemption agent in respect of the Receipts, and Equiniti Trust Company hereby accepts such respective appointments.
The Corporation hereby appoints Equiniti Trust Company as transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent in respect of the Preferred Stock and Equiniti Trust Company hereby accepts such appointments. With respect to the appointments of Equiniti Trust Company as transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent in respect of the Preferred Stock, each of the Corporation and Equiniti Trust Company, in their respective capacities under such appointments, shall be entitled to the same rights, indemnities, immunities and benefits as the Corporation and Depositary hereunder, respectively, as if explicitly named in each such provision.
Section 7.7. Holders of Receipts Are Parties.
The Holders of Receipts from time to time shall be parties to this Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Receipts and of the Officer’s Certificate by acceptance of delivery thereof.
Section 7.8. Governing Law.
This Agreement and the Receipts of each series and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to applicable conflicts of law principles.
Section 7.9. Inspection of Agreement.
Copies of this Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and the Depositary’s Agents and shall be open to inspection during business hours at the Depositary’s Office and the respective offices of the Depositary’s Agents, if any, by any Holder of a Receipt.
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Section 7.10. Headings.
The headings of articles and sections in this Agreement and in the form of the Receipt set forth in Exhibit A hereto have been inserted for convenience only and are not to be regarded as a part of this Agreement or the Receipts or to have any bearing upon the meaning or interpretation of any provision contained herein or in the Receipts.
Section 7.11. Force Majeure.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Depositary will not be liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of God, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, breakdowns or malfunctions, interruptions or malfunction of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems, labor difficulties, war, or civil unrest.
Section 7.12. Further Assurances.
The Corporation agrees that it will perform, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, acknowledged or delivered, all such further and other acts, documents, instruments and assurances as the Depositary may reasonably require to perform the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 7.13. Confidentiality.
The Depositary and the Corporation agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party, including inter alia, personal, non-public Holder information and the fees for services, which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement, shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except as may be required by law or legal process.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation and the Depositary have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth, and all Holders of Receipts shall become parties hereto by and upon acceptance by them of delivery of Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
By: /s/ Alexandra T. Band
Name: Alexandra T. Band
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Name: Alexandra T. Band
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer
EQUINITI TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Matthew Paseka
Name: Matthew Paseka
Title: Senior Vice President
Name: Matthew Paseka
Title: Senior Vice President
[Signature Page to Deposit Agreement (Series J Preferred)]
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF FACE OF RECEIPT]
Unless this receipt is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to The Allstate Corporation or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
DEPOSITARY SHARES $600,000,000
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT NO. 001 FOR 24,000,000 DEPOSITARY SHARES,
EACH REPRESENTING 1/1,000th OF ONE SHARE OF
FIXED RATE NONCUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES J
OF
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
FIXED RATE NONCUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES J
OF
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
CUSIP: 020002 788
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Dividend Payment Dates: January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on October 15, 2023.
Equiniti Trust Company, as Depositary (the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that Cede & Co. is the registered owner of 24,000,000 depositary shares (“Depositary Shares”), each Depositary Share representing 1/1,000th of one share of the Fixed Rate Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J, $1.00 par value per share, $25,000 liquidation preference per share (the “Preferred Stock”), of The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), on deposit with the Depositary, subject to the terms and entitled to the benefits of the Deposit Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2023 (the “Deposit Agreement”), among the Corporation, the Depositary and the Holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts. By accepting this Depositary Receipt, the Holder hereof becomes a party to and agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement. This Depositary Receipt shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose or entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement unless it shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer or, if executed in facsimile by the Depositary, countersigned by a Registrar in respect of the Depositary Receipts by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer thereof.
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Dated:
EQUINITI TRUST COMPANY,
Depositary
Depositary
By:
Authorized Officer
Authorized Officer
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[FORM OF REVERSE OF RECEIPT]
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH RECEIPTHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS A COPY OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND A COPY OR SUMMARY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS OF THE FIXED RATE NONCUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES J, OF THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION. ANY SUCH REQUEST IS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE DEPOSITARY NAMED ON THE FACE OF THIS RECEIPT.
The Corporation will furnish without charge to each receipt holder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Corporation, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Such request may be made to the Corporation or to the Registrar.
EXPLANATION OF ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations when used in the form of ownership on the face of this certificate shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations. Abbreviations in addition to those appearing below may be used.
| Abbreviation | Equivalent Word | Abbreviation | Equivalent Word | ||||||||
| JT TEN | As joint tenants, with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common | TEN BY ENT | As tenants by the entireties | ||||||||
| TEN IN COM | As tenants in common | UNIF GIFT MIN ACT | Uniform Gifts to Minors Act | ||||||||
| Abbreviation | Equivalent Word | Abbreviation | Equivalent Word | Abbreviation | Equivalent Word | ||||||||||||
| ADM | Administrator(s), Administratrix | EX | Executor(s), Executrix | PL | Public Law | ||||||||||||
| AGMT | Agreement | FBO | For the benefit of | TR | (As) trustee(s), for, of | ||||||||||||
| ART | Article | FDN | Foundation | U | Under | ||||||||||||
| CH | Chapter | GDN | Guardian(s) | UA | Under Agreement | ||||||||||||
| CUST | Custodian for | GDNSHP | Guardianship | UW | Under will of, Of will of, Under last will & testament | ||||||||||||
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| Abbreviation | Equivalent Word | Abbreviation | Equivalent Word | Abbreviation | Equivalent Word | ||||||||||||
| DEC | Declaration | MIN | Minor(s) | ||||||||||||||
| EST | Estate, of Estate of | PAR | Paragraph | ||||||||||||||
For value received, hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE:
PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE:
Depositary Shares represented by the within Receipt, and do(es) hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint as Attorney to transfer the said Depositary
Shares on the books of the within named Depositary with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:
NOTICE: The signature to the assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Receipt in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEED
NOTICE: If applicable, the signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations, and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE]
I, Alexandra T. Band, Senior Vice President and Treasurer of The Allstate Corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certify that pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designations effective May 16, 2023, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 16, 2023 (the “Certificate of Designations”), pursuant to resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation on September 26, 2019 and the consent of the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Pricing Committee”) on May 15, 2023, the Corporation has established the Preferred Stock which the Corporation desires to deposit with the Depositary for the purposes of being subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2023 (the “Deposit Agreement”), among the Corporation, Equiniti Trust Company, as Depositary, and the Holders of Receipts issued thereunder from time to time. In connection therewith, the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a duly authorized committee thereof has authorized the terms and conditions with respect to the Preferred Stock as described in the Certificate of Designations attached as Annex A hereto. Any terms of the Preferred Stock that are not so described in the Certificate of Designations and any terms of the Receipts representing such Preferred Stock that are not described in the Deposit Agreement are described below:
Aggregate Number of shares of Preferred Stock issued on the day hereof: 24,000
CUSIP Number for Receipt: 020002 788
Denomination of Depositary Share per share of Preferred Stock (if different than 1/1,000th of a share of Preferred Stock): N/A
Redemption Provisions (if different than as set forth in the Deposit Agreement): N/A
Name of Global Receipt Depositary: The Depository Trust Company
All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have such meaning as ascribed thereto in the Deposit Agreement.
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THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
This certificate is dated:
By:
Name: Alexandra T. Band
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Name: Alexandra T. Band
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer
[Signature Page to Officer’s Certificate – Deposit Agreement (Series J Preferred)]
Exhibit 5.1787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019-6099
Tel: 212 728 8000
Fax: 212 728 8111
New York, NY 10019-6099
Tel: 212 728 8000
Fax: 212 728 8111
May 18, 2023
The Allstate Corporation
3100 Sanders Road
Northbrook, Illinois, 60062
3100 Sanders Road
Northbrook, Illinois, 60062
Re: The Allstate Corporation – 24,000,000 Depositary Shares
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale of an aggregate of 24,000,000 depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”), each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of the Company’s Fixed Rate Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J, par value $1.00 per share and liquidation preference $25,000 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated May 15, 2023 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Loop Capital Markets LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) listed on Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement. The shares of Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares (the “Preferred Shares”) were deposited against delivery of depositary receipts (the “Depositary Receipts”), which evidence the Depositary Shares and were issued by Equiniti Trust Company (the “Depositary”) under a Deposit Agreement, dated May 18, 2023 (the “Deposit Agreement”), among the Company, the Depositary and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts issued thereunder. The terms of the Preferred Stock are set forth in a certificate of designations (the “Certificate of Designations”) filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 16, 2023.
In connection therewith, we have examined (a) the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-255698) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which automatically became effective under the Securities Act on April 30, 2021, allowing for delayed offerings pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (the “Rules and Regulations”), including the documents incorporated by reference therein (such registration statement on the date such registration statement is deemed to be effective pursuant to Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations for purposes of liability under Section 11 of the Securities Act of
Brussels Chicago Frankfurt Houston London Los Angeles Milan New York Palo Alto Paris Rome San Francisco Washington | ||
The Allstate Corporation
May 18, 2023
Page 2
the Company and the Underwriters (which, for purposes hereof, is May 15, 2023, the “Effective Date”), and including the information deemed to be a part of such registration statement as of the Effective Date pursuant to Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations, the “Registration Statement”); (b) the prospectus, dated April 30, 2021 (the “Base Prospectus”), filed as part of the Registration Statement; (c) the prospectus supplement, dated May 16, 2023 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), relating to the Depositary Shares and the Preferred Shares, in the form filed by the Company with the Commission on May 16, 2023 pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations; (d) an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement; (e) an executed copy of the Deposit Agreement; (f) an executed copy of the Depositary Receipts; (g) an executed copy of the certificate representing the Preferred Shares; (h) an executed copy of the Certificate of Designations; (i) a certificate, dated May 10, 2023, and facsimile bringdowns thereof, dated May 15, 2023 and May 18, 2023, from the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as to the existence and good standing in the State of Delaware of the Company; (j) a copy of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as currently in effect, a copy of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as currently in effect and a copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company and the written consent of the Pricing Committee of the Company relating to the issuance and sale of the Depositary Shares and the Preferred Shares, in each case, as certified by the Secretary of the Company in the Secretary’s Certificate, dated May 18, 2023; and (k) such other records of the corporate proceedings of the Company as we have deemed necessary as the basis for the opinions expressed herein.
We have also examined, have relied as to matters of fact upon and have assumed the accuracy of originals or copies certified, or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such representations, statements and certificates or comparable documents of or from public officials and officers and representatives of the Company and of representations of such persons whom we have deemed appropriate, and have made such other investigations, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth. In such examination, and in connection with our review of all such documents, including the documents referred to in clauses (a) through (k) of the preceding paragraph, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.
With your permission, for purposes of the opinion expressed herein, we have assumed that the Depositary has the power and authority to execute and deliver the Deposit Agreement and authenticate the Depositary Receipts.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and subject to the further limitations, qualifications and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that:
(1) The Preferred Shares and Depositary Shares have been duly authorized by the Company and, upon the issuance and delivery of and payment for the Depositary Shares pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The deposit of the Preferred Shares in accordance with the Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized; and
The Allstate Corporation
May 18, 2023
Page 3
(2) Upon deposit of the Preferred Shares with the Depositary pursuant to the Deposit Agreement and the due execution and delivery by the Depositary of the Deposit Agreement and the Depositary Receipts in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary Shares will entitle the holder thereof to the benefits provided in the Deposit Agreement and the Depositary Receipts. The issuance of the Depositary Shares and the Preferred Shares is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company or other entity. No holder of Depositary Shares will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder.
We express no opinion as to the effect of any federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers or conveyances. We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States. Furthermore, we express no opinion as to: (i) whether a United States federal court would accept jurisdiction in any dispute, action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Preferred Shares or the Depositary Shares or the Deposit Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby; and (ii) any waiver of inconvenient forum.
This opinion letter is rendered as of the date hereof based upon the facts and law in existence on the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update or supplement this opinion letter to reflect any circumstances that may come to our attention after the date hereof with respect to the opinion and statements set forth above, including any changes in applicable law that may occur after the date hereof.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K to be filed in connection with the issuance and sale of the Depositary Shares and the underlying Preferred Shares, and to the reference to us under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not thereby concede that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP