Cigna Group S-3ASR, filed Dec 1, 2022
Cigna Group (CI)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 1, 2022
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Cigna Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware |
82-4991898 |
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(State or other jurisdiction of |
(I.R.S. Employer |
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incorporation or organization) |
Identification Number) |
900 Cottage Grove Road
Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002
(860) 226-6000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Nicole Jones
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Cigna Corporation
900 Cottage Grove Road
Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002
(860) 226-6000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Joseph H. Kaufman
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
(212) 455-2000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act
Large accelerated filer ☒ |
Accelerated filer |
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Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Smaller reporting company |
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Emerging growth company |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
PROSPECTUS
Cigna Corporation
Debt
Securities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units
Cigna Corporation may offer and sell the securities listed above from time to time in one or more classes or series and in amounts, at prices and on terms that we may determine at the time of the offering. We will provide the specific terms of the securities in supplements to this prospectus. The debt securities, preferred stock, warrants and purchase contracts may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred stock or other securities of the Company or debt or equity securities of one or more other entities. These securities may also be sold by one or more selling security holders to be named in a prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “CI”. The last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE on November 30, 2022 was $328.89 per share.
We or any selling security holders may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. If underwriters, dealers or agents are used to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.
Investing in these securities involves certain risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors included in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, before you invest in any of our securities. We may also include specific risk factors in an applicable prospectus supplement under the heading “Risk Factors.”
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulator has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is December 1, 2022.
We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not making an offer of these securities or a solicitation of your offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or solicitation is not permitted or legal. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate or complete as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.
Unless otherwise mentioned or unless the context requires otherwise, when used in this prospectus, the terms “Cigna,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Cigna Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, and the term the “Company” refers to Cigna Corporation, not including its consolidated subsidiaries. Unless the context otherwise requires, “including” means including without limitation.
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This prospectus is part of an automatic “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC,” as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement and, if applicable, a pricing supplement. The prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement will describe the specific amounts, prices and other material terms of the securities being offered at that time. The prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement may also add, update or change the information in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement, together with the information contained in the documents referred to under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” If there is any inconsistency between information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.
We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any such free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTORS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on Cigna’s current expectations and projections about future trends, events and uncertainties. These statements are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements may include, among others, statements concerning future financial or operating performance, including our ability to deliver affordable, predictable and simple solutions for our customers and clients, including in light of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic; future growth, business strategy, and strategic or operational initiatives; economic, regulatory or competitive environments, particularly with respect to the pace and extent of change in these areas and the impact of developing inflationary pressures; the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict; financing or capital deployment plans and amounts available for future deployment; our prospects for growth in the coming years; strategic transactions, including the sale of our international life, accident and supplemental benefits businesses; and other statements regarding Cigna’s future beliefs, expectations, plans, intentions, liquidity, cash flows, financial condition or performance. You may identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “may,” “should,” “will” or other words or expressions of similar meaning, although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: our ability to achieve our strategic and operational initiatives; our ability to adapt to changes in an evolving and rapidly changing industry; our ability to compete effectively, differentiate our products and services from those of our competitors and maintain or increase market share; price competition, inflation and other pressures that could compress our margins or result in premiums that are insufficient to cover the cost of services delivered to our customers; the potential for actual claims to exceed our estimates related to expected medical claims; our ability to develop and maintain satisfactory relationships with physicians, hospitals, other health service providers and with producers and consultants; our ability to maintain relationships with one or more key pharmaceutical manufacturers or if payments made or discounts provided decline; changes in the pharmacy provider marketplace or pharmacy networks; changes in drug pricing or industry pricing benchmarks; political, legal, operational, regulatory, economic and other risks that could affect our multinational operations, including currency exchange rates; the scale, scope and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact on our business, operating results, cash flows or financial condition; risks related to strategic transactions and realization of the expected benefits of such transactions, as well as integration or separation difficulties or underperformance relative to expectations; dependence on success of relationships with third parties; risk of significant disruption within our operations or among key suppliers or third parties; our ability to invest in and properly maintain our information technology and other business systems; our ability to prevent or contain effects of a potential cyberattack or other privacy or data security incident; potential liability in connection with managing medical practices and operating pharmacies, onsite clinics and other types of medical facilities; the substantial level of government regulation over our business and the potential effects of new laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations; uncertainties surrounding participation in government-sponsored programs such as Medicare; the outcome of litigation, regulatory audits and investigations; compliance with applicable privacy, security and data laws, regulations and standards; potential failure of our prevention, detection and control systems; unfavorable economic and market conditions, including the risk of a recession or other economic downturn and resulting impact on employment metrics, stock market or changes in interest rates and risks related to a downgrade in financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries; the impact of our significant indebtedness and the potential for further indebtedness in the future; unfavorable industry, economic or political conditions; and credit risk related to our reinsurers.
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This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. The discussions in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, including the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections therein, as such discussions may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC incorporated by reference herein, include both expanded discussion of these factors and additional risk factors and uncertainties that could affect the matters discussed in the forward-looking statements. Cigna does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, are not guarantees of future performance or results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict or quantify. Cigna undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
We own or have rights to trademarks, service marks or trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business. In addition, our names, logos and website domain names and addresses are our service marks or trademarks. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trademarks, service marks, copyrights or trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies. The trademarks we own or have the right to use include, among others, Cigna. We also own or have the rights to copyrights that protect the content of our literature, be it in print or electronic form.
Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to or incorporated by reference in this prospectus are without the ® and ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensors to these trademarks, service marks and trade names. All trademarks, service marks and trade names appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information, including those filed by Cigna, at www.sec.gov. You may also access the SEC filings and obtain other information about Cigna through the website www.cigna.com. Information on, or accessible through, our website is expressly not incorporated by reference into, and does not constitute a part of, this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, except for the SEC filings posted thereon that are referenced below.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
This prospectus is part of the registration statement and does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to any contract or other document of Cigna, the reference may not be complete and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or document.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information we file with the SEC into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we will file later with the SEC (including any prospectus supplement) will automatically update and supersede this information.
This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that Cigna has previously filed with the SEC and that are not delivered with this prospectus. These documents contain important information about Cigna and its financial condition. Since information that we file with the SEC in the future will update and supersede previously incorporated information, you should look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement or in any documents previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded.
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Cigna SEC Filings (File No. 001-38769) |
Period |
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Annual Report on Form 10-K |
For the year ended December 31, 2021 (the “Annual Report”) |
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q |
For the quarters ended March 31, 2022, June 30, 2022 and September 30, 2022 |
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Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A |
Filed on March 18, 2022 (solely those portions that were incorporated by reference into Part III of the Annual Report) |
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Current Report on Form 8-K |
Filed on April 29, 2022, May 2, 2022, June 16, 2022, and October 28, 2022 |
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus all documents filed by us under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus until the offering of the particular securities covered by a prospectus supplement has been terminated or completed, other than any portion of the respective filings that are furnished, rather than filed, under the applicable SEC rules. This additional information is a part of this prospectus from the date of filing of those documents.
To obtain a copy of these filings at no cost, you may write or telephone us at Cigna Corporation, Two Liberty Place, 5th Floor, 1601 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19192-1550, Attention: Shareholder Services. You may also request a copy at (212) 761-3516 or shareholderservices@cigna.com. Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have been specifically incorporated by reference into such document.
Cigna Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, is a global health services organization with a mission of helping those we serve improve their health, well-being and peace of mind by making health care affordable, predictable and simple. Our subsidiaries offer a differentiated set of pharmacy, medical, behavioral, dental and supplemental products and services.
Cigna’s principal executive offices are located at 900 Cottage Grove Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002. Our telephone number is (860) 226-6000.
For additional information concerning Cigna, please see our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
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Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities will be added to Cigna’s general funds and used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of indebtedness.
We will not receive any proceeds from sales of securities offered by any selling security holders under this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the debt securities in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also indicate whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities. The debt securities will be issued under one or more base indentures, together with related supplemental indentures or officers’ certificates, between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, or another trustee named in the prospectus supplement (the “Trustee”), including under the indenture dated as of September 17, 2018, between Cigna and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (together with any related supplemental indentures or officers’ certificates, the “existing indenture”). We refer herein to each of the existing indenture and any other indenture under which debt securities will be issued pursuant to this prospectus as the “indenture”. The terms of the indenture and any debt securities issued thereunder will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities.
We have summarized some terms of the existing indenture below. We expect that the terms of the indenture, if other than the existing indenture, will be substantially similar to the existing indenture; however, we will describe the specific terms of the debt securities to be issued under the indenture in a supplement to this prospectus. The below summary of the existing indenture is not complete. The existing indenture is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the existing indenture for a complete statement of the provisions summarized in this prospectus and for provisions that may be important to you. We sometimes refer below to specific sections of the existing indenture. When we do so, we indicate where you can find the relevant section in the existing indenture by noting the section number in parentheses. When we do refer to specific sections contained in the existing indenture or terms defined in the existing indenture, including important terms, which we capitalize here, we use them in this prospectus in the same way we use them in the existing indenture, and you should refer to the existing indenture itself for detailed, specific, legal descriptions. In this section, “Description of Debt Securities,” when we refer to “Cigna,” “we,” “our” or “us,” we refer to Cigna Corporation, not including its consolidated subsidiaries. The existing indenture is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Summary of the existing indenture
Ranking
The debt securities will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally with all of our existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, and senior in right of payment to all of our future indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the debt securities. The debt securities will effectively rank junior to any of our existing and future secured obligations to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such obligations.
Because a significant part of our operations are conducted through subsidiaries, a significant portion of our cash flow, and consequently, our ability to service debt, including the debt securities, is dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and the transfer of funds by those subsidiaries to us in the form of dividends or other transfers.
In addition, because the debt securities will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries, claims in respect of the debt securities will be structurally subordinated to claims of creditors against our subsidiaries, including policy holders, trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any preferred shareholders, except to the extent that we are recognized as a creditor of our subsidiary. Any claims of Cigna as the creditor of its subsidiary would be subordinate to any security interest in the assets of such subsidiary and any indebtedness of such subsidiary senior to that held by us.
In addition to general state law restrictions on payments of dividends and other distributions to shareholders applicable to all corporations, health maintenance organizations and insurance companies, including some of Cigna’s direct and indirect subsidiaries, are subject to further state insurance regulations that, among other things, may require those companies to maintain certain levels of equity and restrict the amount of dividends and other distributions that may be paid to Cigna.
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Terms of the Debt Securities to be Described in the Prospectus Supplement
The existing indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue under them. We may issue debt securities under the existing indenture up to an aggregate principal amount as we may authorize from time to time.
The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any debt securities being offered, including:
| • | the title of the debt securities of the series; |
| • | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
| • | the person to whom the interest will be payable, if other than the person in whose name that debt security is registered at; |
| • | the date or dates on which the principal will be payable; |
| • | the interest rate, if any, and the method for calculating the interest rate; |
| • | the interest payment dates and the record dates for interest payments; |
| • | our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of this deferral period; |
| • | any mandatory or optional redemption terms or prepayment or sinking fund provisions, including the period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option or at your option; |
| • | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we may have to repay the debt securities early at your option; |
| • | the place where we will pay principal, interest and any premium; |
| • | the currency or currencies, if other than the currency of the United States, in which principal, interest and any premium will be paid; |
| • | if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 thereof, the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of global securities; |
| • | additional provisions, if any, relating to the discharge of our obligations under the debt securities; |
| • | whether the amount of payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, will be determined with reference to one or more indices; |
| • | the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities to be paid upon acceleration of maturity thereof; |
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| • | the terms and conditions upon which conversion or exchange of the debt securities may be effected, if any, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate and any adjustments thereto and the period or periods when a conversion or exchange may be effected; |
| • | any authenticating or paying agents, registrars or other agents; |
| • | the application, if any, of defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions to the debt securities; |
| • | other specific terms, including any additional events of default, covenants or warranties; and |
| • | any other terms, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series, including any terms that may be required or advisable under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the debt securities. (Section 3.01) |
We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of any series of debt securities, create and issue further debt securities of any such series ranking equally with, and having the same terms and conditions as, the debt securities of such series in all respects (or in all respects other than the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such further debt securities); provided that if such additional debt securities are not fungible with the initial debt securities of such series for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional debt securities will have a separate CUSIP number.
Events of Default and Notice Thereof
When we use the term “Event of Default” with respect to debt securities of any series we mean:
| • | we fail to pay principal (including any sinking fund payment) of, or premium (if any) on, any debt security of that series when due; |
| • | we fail to pay interest, if any, on any debt security of that series when due and the failure continues for a period of 30 days; |
| • | we fail to perform in any material respect any covenant in the existing indenture not specified in the previous two bullet points (other than a covenant included in the existing indenture solely for the benefit of a different series of debt securities) and the failure to perform continues for a period of 90 days after receipt of a specified written notice to us from the Trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a particular series; and |
| • | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership or liquidation of Cigna. (Section 5.01) |
An Event of Default with respect to debt securities of a particular series may not constitute an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any other series of debt securities.
If an Event of Default under the existing indenture occurs with respect to the debt securities of any series and is continuing, then the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may require us to repay immediately the entire principal amount (or, if the debt securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities (as defined in the existing indenture), such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all outstanding debt securities of that series; provided, however, that under certain circumstances the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind or annul such acceleration and its consequences. (Section 5.02)
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The existing indenture contains a provision entitling the Trustee, subject to the duty of the Trustee during a default to act with the required standard of care (Section 6.01), to be indemnified by the holders of debt securities before proceeding to exercise any right or power under that existing indenture at the request of such holders. (Section 6.03) Subject to these provisions in the existing indenture for the indemnification of the Trustee and certain other limitations, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each affected series then Outstanding (as defined in the existing indenture) may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. (Sections 5.12 and 5.13)
The existing indenture provides that the Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of any default (except in payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any) if the Trustee determines in good faith that it is in the interest of the holders of the debt securities to do so. (Section 6.02)
The existing indenture provides that holders of the outstanding debt securities of any series may seek to institute a proceeding with respect to the existing indenture or for any remedy thereunder only after:
| • | such holders previously gave notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default; |
| • | holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series have made a written request to the Trustee to institute a proceeding; |
| • | such holders have offered an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee to institute a proceeding; |
| • | the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and |
| • | the Trustee shall not have received from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days. (Section 5.07) |
These limitations do not apply, however, to a suit instituted by a holder of a debt security for enforcement of payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such debt security. (Section 5.08)
The existing indenture contains a covenant under which we are required to furnish to the Trustee an officers’ certificate, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, as to the compliance with all terms, provisions and conditions of the existing indenture, or if we are in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which we may have knowledge. (Section 10.07)
Modification and Waiver
The existing indenture (Section 9.01) provides that we, together with the Trustee, may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to:
| • | evidence the assumption by another person of our obligations; |
| • | add covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities or surrender any right or power of Cigna under the existing indenture or the debt securities; |
| • | add any additional Events of Default; |
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| • | add or change the existing indenture to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in bearer form or in uncertificated form; |
| • | add to, change or eliminate a provision of the existing indenture or the debt securities if such addition, change or elimination does not apply to a debt security created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture or modify the rights of a holder of any debt security with respect to such provision; |
| • | secure any debt security or perfect the security interest securing Cigna’s obligations in respect of any debt security; |
| • | establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series; |
| • | evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee; |
| • | add to any provision of the existing indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities if such action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities in any material respect; |
| • | cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in the existing indenture or make other changes, provided that any such action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any affected series in any material respect; |
| • | provide for the guarantee by any person of any debt security; |
| • | conform the existing indenture or any debt security to any provision of any relevant offering memorandum or prospectus; or |
| • | conform the existing indenture to any mandatory provision of law. |
Other amendments and modifications of the existing indenture may be made with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of each series of the outstanding debt securities affected by the amendment or modification; provided, however, no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected:
| • | change the stated maturity of the principal of (or premium, if any) or any installment of principal or interest, if any, on any such debt security; |
| • | reduce the principal amount of (or premium, if any) or the interest rate, if any, on any such debt security or the principal amount due upon acceleration of an Original Issue Discount Security; |
| • | change the place or currency of payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or the interest, if any, on any such debt security; |
| • | impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or with respect to any such debt security; |
| • | reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities necessary to modify or amend the existing indenture; or |
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| • | modify the foregoing requirements or reduce the percentage of outstanding debt securities necessary to waive compliance with certain provisions of the existing indenture or for waiver of certain defaults. (Section 9.02) |
The holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of all holders of that series, waive our required compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the existing indenture and may waive any past default under the existing indenture, except a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest or in the performance of certain covenants. (Section 5.13)
Limitations on Liens on Common Stock of Designated Subsidiaries
The existing indenture provides that so long as any of the debt securities issued under the existing indenture remains outstanding, we will not, and we will not permit any of our subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, issue, assume, incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance of any nature on any of the common stock of a Designated Subsidiary, which common stock is directly or indirectly owned by us, unless our obligations under the debt securities and, if we so elect, any other of our indebtedness ranking on a parity with, or prior to, the debt securities, shall be secured equally and ratably with, or prior to, such secured indebtedness for borrowed money so long as it is outstanding and is so secured. (Section 10.05)
“Designated Subsidiary” means each of Cigna Holding Company, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America, Evernorth Health, Inc., Express Scripts, Inc. and Medco Health Solutions, Inc., so long as it remains a subsidiary, or any subsidiary which is a successor of such Designated Subsidiary. (Section 1.01)
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
We may not consolidate with or merge with or into any other person (other than in a merger or consolidation in which we are the surviving person) or sell our properties and assets as, or substantially as, an entirety to any person unless:
| • | the person formed by the consolidation or with or into which we are merged or the person that purchases our properties and assets as, or substantially as, an entirety is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State or the District of Columbia, and any such successor or purchaser expressly assumes Cigna’s obligations on the debt securities under a supplemental indenture reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; |
| • | immediately after giving effect to the transaction no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and |
| • | an officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel are delivered to the Trustee. (Section 8.01) |
Upon compliance with the foregoing provisions, the successor or purchaser will succeed to, and be substituted for, Cigna under the existing indenture with the same effect as if such successor or purchaser had been the original obligor under the debt securities, and thereafter Cigna will be relieved of all obligations and covenants under the existing indenture and the debt securities. (Section 8.02)
No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control
Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement with respect to a particular series of debt securities, the debt securities will not contain an option for the holders of such debt to require us to purchase all or a portion of such debt securities or any other protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control).
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Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
If we irrevocably deposit, in trust, with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee), sufficient cash and/or specified government obligations (in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants) to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest and any other sums due on the scheduled due date for the debt securities of a particular series, then at our option and subject to certain conditions (including the absence of an Event of Default):
| • | we will be discharged from our obligations with respect to the debt securities of such series (which we refer to in this prospectus as a “legal defeasance”), or |
| • | we will no longer be under any obligation to comply with the covenants described above under “Limitations on Liens on Common Stock of Designated Subsidiaries” and “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets,” and an Event of Default relating to any failure to comply with such covenants will no longer apply to us (which we refer to in this prospectus as a “covenant defeasance”). |
If we exercise our legal defeasance option, payment of such debt securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If we exercise our covenant defeasance option, payment of such debt securities may not be accelerated by reference to the covenants from which we have been released or pursuant to Events of Default referred to above which are no longer applicable. If we fail to comply with our remaining obligations with respect to such debt securities under the existing indenture after we exercise the covenant defeasance option and such debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and government obligations on deposit with the Trustee may be insufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of such series at the time of the acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. However, we will remain liable for such payments. (Section 10.06)
Under current United States federal income tax laws, a legal defeasance would be treated as an exchange of the relevant debt securities in which holders of those debt securities might recognize gain or loss. Unless accompanied by other changes in the terms of the debt securities, a covenant defeasance generally should not be treated as a taxable exchange. In order to exercise our defeasance options, we must deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of the debt securities to recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes. In the case of legal defeasance, such opinion of counsel must be based on (i) an Internal Revenue Service ruling or (ii) a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law occurring since the date of the existing indenture.
No Personal Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers, Directors, Employees or Agents
The existing indenture provides that no recourse shall be had for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, or any debt security, or for any claim based on or in respect of any debt security or the existing indenture or any supplemental indenture, against any incorporator, or against any past, present or future stockholder, officer, director, employee or agent of ours or of any successor person thereof under any law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise. Each holder, by accepting the debt securities, waives and releases all such liability.
Concerning our Relationship with the Trustee
U.S. Bank National Association, is the Trustee under our existing indenture. We maintain customary banking relationships in the ordinary course of business with the Trustee and its affiliates.
Governing Law
The existing indenture is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
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Each debt security will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Certificated securities in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the Trustee. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities represented by the global securities.
We may issue the debt securities in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.
If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. (Sections 2.04 and 3.05) We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary. Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in global securities.
So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the existing indenture. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the existing indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the existing indenture. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the existing indenture, the depositary for the global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
Principal (or premium, if any) and interest payments on debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security. Neither Cigna nor the Trustee nor any agent of Cigna or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.
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We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders of that global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, and will be the responsibility of those participants.
If the depositary for any of these securities represented by a global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the global security that had been held by the depositary. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of the securities represented by one or more global securities. If we make that decision, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the global security or securities representing those securities. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the Trustee or relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global security that had been held by the depositary.
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Description of Common Stock
The following description of our common stock is based upon our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“Certificate of Incorporation”), our Amended and Restated By-Laws (“By-Laws”) and applicable provisions of law as currently in effect. We have summarized certain portions of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws below. This summary is not complete and is qualified by the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws, which are incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws summarized in the following paragraphs may have an anti-takeover effect. This may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interests, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for its shares.
The Company is authorized to issue 600,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 305,739,004 shares were outstanding at October 31, 2022.
Holders of common stock are entitled to receive such dividends as the board of directors of the Company may from time to time declare. Payment of dividends on the common stock will at all times be subject to, among other things, prior satisfaction of dividend and sinking fund requirements, if any, of any series of preferred stock that may then be outstanding, and the availability of funds to the Company, which in turn may be subject to fixed payment obligations which the Company may incur in the future, and the ability of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries to declare and pay dividends under applicable insurance regulatory requirements. No shares of preferred stock are outstanding as of the date of this prospectus.
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All directors of the Company currently hold one-year terms. Any director may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company entitled to vote at an election for directors. Holders of common stock have one vote per share and have no cumulative voting rights, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of directors can elect 100% of the directors and the holders of the remaining shares are not able to elect any directors. The Company has adopted a majority voting standard for the election of directors in uncontested elections. Under this standard, each director must receive a majority of the votes cast with respect to that director. This means that the number of votes cast “for” a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that nominee for the director to be elected. In general, each director agrees to tender, and not withdraw, his or her resignation if he or she does not receive a majority of the votes cast at an annual meeting of shareholders at which such director is a nominee for election. The Company’s Corporate Governance Committee will make a recommendation to the Company’s board of directors on whether to accept the resignation. The Company’s board of directors has discretion to accept or reject the resignation. In contested elections, the voting standard is a plurality of votes cast.
Subject to the rights of creditors and the liquidation preferences of holders of preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in the remaining assets of the Company in the event of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution. Holders of common stock have no preemptive rights. All shares of common stock presently outstanding are, and all such shares to be issued pursuant to this prospectus will be, fully paid and nonassessable. Shares of the Company’s common stock are not convertible into shares of any other class of capital stock.
The Certificate of Incorporation grants the Company the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision in the Certificate of Incorporation in the manner prescribed by statute. Under Section 242 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the Certificate of Incorporation requires a greater vote, a proposed amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon and a majority of the outstanding stock of each class entitled to vote as a class. The Company’s By-Laws may be adopted, amended or repealed by majority vote of the capital stock of the Company outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, or by the Company’s board of directors without any vote of the stockholders. Such provisions could inhibit a change in control in situations that the board of directors determines are not adequate or in the best interests of shareholders, or that do not meet specified fair price criteria and procedural conditions. In some circumstances, some or all shareholders could be denied the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price for the shares.
Description of Preferred Stock
The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. No shares of preferred stock are outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. The Company’s preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, without shareholder approval, when authorized by the board of directors. Subject to limitations prescribed by law, the board of directors is authorized to determine the voting powers (if any), designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, for each series of preferred stock that may be issued, and to fix the number of shares of each such series.
We will include the specific terms of each series of the preferred stock being offered in a supplement to this prospectus.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law prohibits a defined set of transactions between a Delaware corporation, such as us, and an interested stockholder. An interested stockholder is defined as a person who, together with any affiliates or associates of such person, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 15% or more of the outstanding voting shares of a Delaware corporation. This provision may prohibit business combinations between an interested stockholder and a corporation for a period of three years after the date the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. The term business combination is broadly defined to include mergers, consolidations, sales or other dispositions of assets having a total value in excess of 10% of the consolidated assets of the corporation, and some other transactions that would increase the interested stockholder’s proportionate share ownership in the corporation.
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This prohibition is effective unless:
| • | the business combination is approved by the corporation’s board of directors prior to the time the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder; |
| • | the interested stockholder acquired at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation, other than stock held by directors who are also officers or by qualified employee stock plans, in the transaction in which it becomes an interested stockholder; or |
| • | the business combination is approved by a majority of the board of directors and by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
In general, the prohibitions do not apply to business combinations with persons who were shareholders before we became subject to Section 203.
Special By-Laws Provisions
Under our By-Laws, vacancies and newly-created directorships resulting from any increase in the size of our board may be filled by our board, even if the directors then on the board do not constitute a quorum or only one director is left in office. These provisions, together with the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control or the removal of existing management, of deterring potential acquirors from making an offer to our shareholders and of limiting any opportunity to realize premiums over the then-prevailing market prices for our common stock in connection therewith. This could be the case notwithstanding that a majority of our shareholders might benefit from such a change in control or offer.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Computershare Inc. serves as the registrar and transfer agent for the common stock.
Stock Exchange Listing
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “CI”.
We may issue warrants to purchase our debt or equity securities or securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of:
| • | debt or equity securities issued by us or securities of third parties, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities or any combination of the above; |
| • | currencies; or |
| • | commodities. |
Each purchase contract will entitle or obligate the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities, currencies or commodities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the property otherwise deliverable or, in the case of purchase contracts on underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, currencies or commodities and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.
The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require the holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued or at settlement. Our obligation to settle any pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness.
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We may issue units consisting of one or more purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, shares of preferred stock, shares of common stock or any combination of such securities. The terms of any units to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable unit agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Selling security holders to be named in a prospectus supplement may, from time to time, offer and sell some or all of our securities held by them pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. Such selling security holders may sell our securities held by them to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers or as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. See “Plan of Distribution.” Such selling security holders may also sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of some or all of our securities held by them in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
We will provide you with a prospectus supplement, which will, among other things, set forth the name of each selling security holder and the number of our securities beneficially owned by such selling security holders that are covered by such prospectus supplement.
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General
Any of the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement may be sold in any one or more of the following ways from time to time:
| • | directly to purchasers; |
| • | through agents; |
| • | to or through underwriters; |
| • | through dealers; |
| • | directly to our shareholders; or |
| • | through a combination of any such methods of sale. |
We may also issue any of the securities as a dividend or distribution to our shareholders.
In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with such a transaction the third parties may, pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third parties may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.
The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
We may solicit offers to purchase directly. Offers to purchase securities also may be solicited by agents designated by us from time to time. Any such agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in such prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a reasonable best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.
If securities are sold by means of an underwritten offering, we will execute an underwriting agreement with an underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for such sale is reached, and the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriters, the respective amounts underwritten and the terms of the transaction, including commissions, discounts and any other compensation of the underwriters and dealers, if any, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement which will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered to the public. If underwriters are utilized in the sale of any securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, such securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at fixed public offering prices or at varying prices determined by the underwriters at the time of sale. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by one or more underwriters. If any underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale of securities, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the underwriting agreement will provide that the obligations of the underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters with respect to a sale of such securities will be obligated to purchase all such securities if any are purchased.
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We may grant to the underwriters options to purchase additional securities, to cover over-allotments, if any, at the initial public offering price (with additional underwriting commissions or discounts), as may be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. If we grant any over-allotment option, the terms of such over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for such securities.
If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. Any such dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold. The name of the dealer and their terms of the transaction will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.
Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us and the sale thereof may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof. We may also offer securities through agents in connection with a distribution to our shareholders of rights to purchase such securities. The terms of any such sales will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.
We may offer our equity securities into an existing trading market on the terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters and dealers who may participate in any at-the-market offerings will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.
Pursuant to any standby underwriting agreement entered into in connection with a subscription rights offering to our shareholders, persons acting as standby underwriters may receive a commitment fee for all securities underlying the subscription rights that the underwriter commits to purchase on a standby basis. Additionally, prior to the expiration date with respect to any subscription rights, any standby underwriters in a subscription rights offering to our shareholders may offer such securities on a when-issued basis, including securities to be acquired through the purchase and exercise of subscription rights, at prices set from time to time by the standby underwriters. After the expiration date with respect to such subscription rights, the underwriters may offer securities of the type underlying the subscription rights, whether acquired pursuant to a standby underwriting agreement, the exercise of the subscription rights or the purchase of such securities in the market, to the public at a price or prices to be determined by the underwriters. The standby underwriters may thus realize profits or losses independent of the underwriting discounts or commissions paid by us. If we do not enter into a standby underwriting arrangement in connection with a subscription rights offering to our shareholders, we may elect to retain a dealer-manager to manage such a subscription rights offering for us. Any such dealer-manager may offer securities of the type underlying the subscription rights acquired or to be acquired pursuant to the purchase and exercise of subscription rights and may thus realize profits or losses independent of any dealer-manager fee paid by us.
Securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more firms (“remarketing firms”) acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, in connection with the securities remarketed thereby.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such delayed delivery contracts will be subject to only those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. A commission indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement will be paid to underwriters and agents soliciting purchases of securities pursuant to delayed delivery contracts accepted by us.
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Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms may be entitled under relevant agreements with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which such agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms may be required to make in respect thereof.
Any underwriter may engage in stabilizing and syndicate covering transactions in accordance with Rule 104 under Regulation M. Rule 104 permits stabilizing bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. The underwriters may over-allot shares of the securities in connection with an offering of securities, thereby creating a short position in the underwriters’ account. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing and syndicate covering transactions may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of such transactions. These transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of securities, other than our common stock that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, will be a new issue and will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any series of securities on an exchange but, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we shall not be obligated to do so. In addition, underwriters will not be obligated to make a market in any securities. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or activity in, the trading market for any of the securities.
Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.
The anticipated date of delivery of securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to each offer.
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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, purchase contracts and units will be passed upon for us by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York.
The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
Cigna and certain of its affiliates may each be considered a “party in interest” within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or a “disqualified person” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), with respect to many employee benefit plans subject to Title I of ERISA or plans subject to Section 4975 of the Code or entities deemed to hold the assets of such employee benefit plan or plans (collectively, “Plans”). Prohibited transactions within the meaning of ERISA or the Code may arise, for example, if securities are acquired by a Plan with respect to which Cigna or any of its affiliates is a service provider, unless such securities are acquired pursuant to an exemption for transactions effected on behalf of such Plan by a “qualified professional asset manager” or pursuant to any other available statutory, class or individual exemption. In addition, certain governmental, church and non-U.S. plans are subject to federal, state, local or non-U.S. laws that are substantially similar to Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (“Similar Laws”). Therefore, each purchaser or holder of the securities or any interest therein will be deemed to have represented by its purchase or holding thereof that either (i) it is not and is not using the assets of any Plan or any plan subject to Similar Laws or (ii) its purchase and holding of the securities or any interest therein will not constitute or result in a nonexempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or in a similar violation of Similar Laws.
Any Plan or plan subject to Similar Laws proposing to invest in the securities should consult with its legal counsel. The sale of the securities offered hereunder to any Plan or plan subject to Similar Laws is in no respect a representation by Cigna or any of its affiliates that such an investment is appropriate for or meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by any such Plan or plan subject to Similar Laws generally or any particular Plan or plan subject to Similar Laws.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table lists the expenses expected to be incurred by Cigna in connection with the issuance and distribution of securities registered under this registration statement.
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SEC registration fee |
$ | * | |
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Accounting fees and expenses |
** | ||
|
Legal fees and expenses |
** | ||
|
Printing and distribution expenses |
** | ||
|
Trustee fees and expenses |
** | ||
|
Rating Agency fees |
** | ||
|
Miscellaneous expenses, including listing fees and Blue Sky fees |
** | ||
|
Total |
$ | ** |
| * | Omitted because the registration fee is being deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r). See Exhibit 107 to this registration statement for additional detail. |
| ** | Because an indeterminate amount of securities is covered by this registration statement, the expenses of the issuance and distribution of the securities cannot be determined at this time. The estimates of such expenses in connection with securities offered and sold pursuant to this registration statement will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Company is empowered to indemnify its directors and officers in the circumstances therein provided.
Under Article VI of its By-Laws, the Company will indemnify any director or officer of the Company, as well as any other person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries who serve as directors or officers of any other entity at the request of the Company, who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Company), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person).
The Company is insured against liabilities which it may incur by reason of Article VI of its By-Laws. In addition, directors and officers of the Company, as well as any other persons who serve as directors or officers of any other entity at the request of the Company, are insured, at the Company’s expense, against liabilities which might arise against such persons in any such capacity, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such persons against such liability under the provisions of Article VI.
Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director shall not be liable to the registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
| II-1 |
Item 16. Exhibits.
The Exhibit Index appearing before the signature pages below is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
| II-2 |
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(d) The undersigned registrant undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
| II-3 |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
|
Exhibit Number |
Description |
|
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant as last amended on December 20, 2018 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K on December 20, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference) | |
|
Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant as last amended on October 26, 2022 (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K on October 28, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference) | |
|
Indenture, dated as of September 17, 2018, between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K on September 21, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference) | |
|
Specimen Common Stock Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.12 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, dated August 10, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference) | |
|
4.3** |
Form of Warrant Agreement |
|
4.4** |
Form of Purchase Contract |
|
4.5** |
Form of Unit Agreement |
|
Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | |
|
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | |
|
Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (included in Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement) | |
|
Powers of Attorney (included on the Signature Pages herein) | |
|
Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Trustee under the Existing Indenture | |
|
Filing fee table |
| * | Filed herewith |
| ** | To be filed prior to or in connection with the first offering contemplated by such agreement as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference |
| II-4 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bloomfield, State of Connecticut, on December 1, 2022.
|
CIGNA CORPORATION | ||
|
By: |
/s/ Brian C. Evanko | |
|
Brian C. Evanko | ||
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below, officers and/or directors of Cigna Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Cigna”), hereby makes, designates, constitutes and appoints NICOLE S. JONES and NEIL B. TANNER, and each of them (with full power to act without the other), as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power and authority to act in any and all capacities for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of any amendment to this registration statement, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto pertaining to offerings by Cigna of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock and, to the extent included in such registration statement, warrants, purchase contracts and units that may include any of the above securities or securities of other entities, or any combination thereof, including, without limitation, a registration statement on Form S-3 and a registration statement under Rule 415 of the Securities Act.
Such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, are also hereby granted full power and authority, on behalf of and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, to execute and deliver all such registration statements, registrations, amendments, exhibits, qualifications and notifications, and to execute and deliver any and all such other documents, and to take further action as they, or any of them, deem appropriate. The powers and authorities granted herein to such attorneys in-fact and agents, and each of them, also include the full right, power and authority to effect necessary or appropriate substitutions or revocations. The undersigned hereby ratifies, confirms, and adopts, as his or her own act and deed, all action lawfully taken by such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or by their respective substitutes, pursuant to the powers and authorities herein granted.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated as of December 1, 2022.
|
Signature |
Title |
|
/s/ David M. Cordani |
Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer |
|
David M. Cordani | |
|
/s/ Brian C. Evanko |
Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
|
Brian C. Evanko | |
|
/s/ Mary T. Agoglia Hoeltzel |
Senior
Vice President, Tax and Chief Accounting Officer |
|
Mary T. Agoglia Hoeltzel | |
|
/s/ William J. DeLaney |
Director |
|
William J. DeLaney |
| II-5 |
|
Signature |
Title |
|
/s/ Eric J. Foss |
Director |
|
Eric J. Foss |
|
|
/s/ Elder Granger, M.D. |
Director |
|
Elder Granger, M.D. |
|
|
/s/ Neesha Hathi |
Director |
|
Neesha Hathi |
|
|
/s/ George Kurian |
Director |
|
George Kurian |
|
|
/s/ Kathleen M. Mazzarella |
Director |
|
Kathleen M. Mazzarella |
|
|
/s/ Mark McClellan M.D. |
Director |
|
Mark McClellan, M.D. |
|
|
/s/ Kimberly A. Ross |
Director |
|
Kimberly A. Ross
|
|
|
/s/ Eric C. Wiseman |
Lead Independent Director |
|
Eric C. Wiseman |
|
|
/s/ Donna F. Zarcone |
Director |
|
Donna F. Zarcone |
| II-6 |
Exhibit 5
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP
425 LEXINGTON AVENUE
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10017-3954
(212) 455-2000
FACSIMILE (212) 455-2502
December 1, 2022
Cigna Corporation
900 Cottage Grove Road
Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Cigna Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to (i) shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”); (ii) shares of preferred stock of the Company, par value $1.00 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); (iii) debt securities (the “Debt Securities”); (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (the “Warrants”); (v) contracts for the purchase and sale of the Securities (as defined below) (the “Purchase Contracts”); (vi) units consisting of one or more of the Securities (the “Units”) and (vii) Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities that may be issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants or Purchase Contracts, whichever is applicable. The Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities, the Warrants, the Purchase Contracts and the Units are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Securities.” The Securities may be issued and sold or delivered from time to time for an indeterminate aggregate initial offering price.
The Debt Securities will be issued under the Indenture, dated as of September 17, 2018, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Indenture”).
The Warrants will be issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”), between the Company and a warrant agent named therein.
The Purchase Contracts will be issued pursuant to one or more purchase contract agreements (each, a “Purchase Contract Agreement”), between the Company and a purchase contract agent named therein.
The Units will be issued pursuant to one or more unit agreements (each, a “Unit Agreement”), between the Company and a unit agent named therein (a “Unit Agent”).
The Indenture, the Warrant Agreements, the Purchase Contract Agreements and the Unit Agreements are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Securities Agreements.”
We have examined the Registration Statement and the Indenture (including the form of Debt Securities set forth therein), which is an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth.
In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We also have assumed that, at the time of execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of any of the Securities, the applicable Securities Agreement will be the valid and legally binding obligation of each party thereto other than the Company. We also have assumed that, with respect to the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, the amount of valid consideration paid in respect of such shares will equal or exceed the par value of such shares.
In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed further that, at the time of execution, authentication, issuance and delivery, as applicable, of each of the applicable Securities Agreements (other than the Indenture) and Securities, (1) the Company will be validly existing and in good standing under the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and such Securities Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company in accordance with its organizational documents and the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, (2) the execution, delivery, issuance and performance, as applicable, by the Company of such Securities Agreement and such Securities will not constitute a breach or violation of its organizational documents or violate the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized or any other jurisdiction (except that no such assumption is made with respect to the law of the State of New York or the Delaware General Corporation Law, assuming there shall not have been any change in such laws affecting the validity or enforceability of such Securities Agreement and such Securities) and (3) the execution, delivery, issuance and performance, as applicable, by the Company of such Securities Agreement and such Securities (a) will not constitute a breach or default under any agreement or instrument which is binding upon the Company and (b) will comply with all applicable regulatory requirements.
In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed further that the execution, issuance, delivery and performance by the Company of the Indenture (a) do not constitute a breach or default under any agreement or instrument which is binding upon the Company and (b) comply with all applicable regulatory requirements.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. With respect to the Common Stock, assuming (a) the taking of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of the Common Stock and the terms of the offering thereof so as not to violate any applicable law or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company and (b) due issuance and delivery of the Common Stock, upon payment therefor in accordance with the applicable definitive underwriting, purchase or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of such agreement, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
2. With respect to the Preferred Stock, assuming (a) the taking of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of the Preferred Stock and the terms of the offering thereof so as not to violate any applicable law or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company, (b) due filing of the applicable definitive Certificate of Designations with respect to such Preferred Stock and (c) due issuance and delivery of the Preferred Stock, upon payment therefor in accordance with the applicable definitive underwriting, purchase or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of such agreement, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
3. With respect to the Debt Securities, assuming (a) the taking of all necessary corporate action by the Board of Directors of the Company or duly authorized officers of the Company (such Board of Directors or authorized officers being referred to herein as the “Company Authorizing Party”) to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of any Debt Securities and the terms of the offering thereof so as not to violate any applicable law or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company, and (b) the due execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of such Debt Securities, upon payment therefor in accordance with the applicable definitive underwriting, purchase or similar agreement approved by the Company Authorizing Party and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of such agreement and the Indenture, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
4. With respect to the Warrants, assuming (a) the taking of all necessary corporate action by the Board of Directors of the Company to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of any Warrants and the terms of the offering thereof so as not to violate any applicable law or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company and (b) the due execution, countersignature, issuance and delivery of such Warrants, upon payment therefor in accordance with the applicable definitive underwriting, purchase or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of such agreement and the applicable definitive Warrant Agreement, such Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
5. With respect to the Purchase Contracts, assuming (a) the taking of all necessary corporate action by the Board of Directors of the Company to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of any Purchase Contracts and the terms of the offering thereof so as not to violate any applicable law or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company and (b) the due execution, issuance and delivery of such Purchase Contracts, upon payment therefor in accordance with the applicable definitive underwriting, purchase or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of such agreement and the applicable definitive Purchase Contract Agreement, such Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
6. With respect to the Units, assuming (a) the taking of all necessary corporate action by the Board of Directors of the Company to authorize and approve the issuance and delivery to the Unit Agent of the Securities that are the components of any Units, the issuance and terms of such Units and the terms of the offering thereof so as not to violate any applicable law or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company and (b) the due execution, authentication, issuance and delivery, as applicable, of such Units and the Securities that are the components of such Units, in each case upon payment therefor in accordance with the applicable definitive underwriting, purchase or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of such agreement and the applicable definitive Securities Agreements, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Delaware General Corporation Law, such Units will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
Our opinions set forth in paragraphs 3 through 6 above are subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. In addition, we express no opinion as to the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of Section 1.10 of the Indenture relating to the separability of provisions of the Indenture.
We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York and the Delaware General Corporation Law.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Validity of Securities” in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Cigna Corporation of our reports dated February 24, 2022 relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedules, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Cigna Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Hartford, Connecticut
December 1, 2022
Exhibit 25
securities and exchange commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________________________
FORM T-1
Statement of Eligibility Under
The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of a
Corporation Designated to Act as Trustee
Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of
a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) [_]
_______________________________________________________
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)
91-1821036
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
|
800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota |
55402 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Christopher J. Grell
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
100 Wall Street, Suite
New York, NY 10005
212-951-6990
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Cigna Corporation
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
| Delaware | 82-4991898 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
900 Cottage Grove Road Bloomfield, Connecticut |
06002 |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Debt Securities
(Title of the Indenture Securities)
FORM T-1
| Item 1. | GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee. |
| a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Comptroller of the Currency
Washington, D.C.
| b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes
| Item 2. | AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation. |
None
Items 3-15 | Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee's knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee. |
| Item 16. | LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification. |
| 1. | A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 1. |
| 2. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business and exercise corporate trust powers, attached as Exhibit 2. |
| 3. | A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 3. |
| 4. | A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable. |
| 5. | The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 5. |
| 6. | Report of Condition of the Trustee as of September 30, 2022, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 6. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York, State of New York on the 10th of November, 2022.
| By: | /s/ Christopher J. Grell | |
| Christopher J. Grell | ||
| Vice President |
Exhibit 1
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF
U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
For the purpose of organizing an association (the "Association) to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned enter into the following Articles of Association:
FIRST. The title of this Association shall be U. S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.
SECOND. The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, state of Oregon. The business of the Association will be limited to fiduciary powers and the support of activities incidental to the exercise of those powers. The Association may not expand or alter its business beyond that stated in this article without the prior approval of the Comptroller of the Currency.
THIRD. The board of directors of the Association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, the exact number to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the Association or of a holding company owning the Association, with an aggregate par, fair market, or equity value of not less than $1,000, as of either (i) the date of purchase, (ii) the date the person became a director, or (iii) the date of that person's most recent election to the board of directors, whichever is more recent. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the Association or holding company may be used.
Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may increase the number of directors up to the maximum permitted by law. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director's term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.
Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the Association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determined the number of directors of the Association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.
FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the Bylaws, or if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the
| - 1 - |
Association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases, at least 10 days’ advance notice of the meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.
Transfers of the Association's stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.
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Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.
Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.
The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.
SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors' and shareholders' meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.
The board of directors shall have the power to:
| (1) | Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (2) | Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (3) | Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. |
| (4) | Dismiss officers and employees. |
| (5) | Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. |
| (6) | Ratify written policies authorized by the Association's management or committees of the board. |
| (7) | Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. |
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| (8) | Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. |
| (9) | Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association. |
| (10) | Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders. |
| (11) | Make contracts. |
| (12) | Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. |
SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.
EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.
NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association's activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association's board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.
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In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 3
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.
Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock.
Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.
Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.
Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any
meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.
Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.
Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.
Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.
Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.
Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five- member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board
by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.
Section 2.5. Organization Meeting. The newly elected Board shall meet for the purpose of organizing the new Board and electing and appointing such officers of the Association as may be appropriate. Such meeting shall be held on the day of the election or as soon thereafter as practicable, and, in any event, within thirty days thereafter, at such time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. If, at the time fixed for such meeting, there shall not be a quorum present, the directors present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained.
Section 2.6. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held, without notice, as the Chairman or President may designate and deem suitable.
Section 2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time, at any place and for any purpose by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Association, or upon the request of a majority of the entire Board. Notice of every special meeting of the Board shall be given to the directors at their usual places of business, or at such other addresses as shall have been furnished by them for the purpose. Such notice shall be given at least twelve hours (three hours if meeting is to be conducted by conference telephone) before the meeting by telephone or by being personally delivered, mailed, or electronically delivered. Such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting.
Section 2.8. Quorum and Necessary Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, except when otherwise provided by law; but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles or Bylaws of this Association, once a quorum is established, any act by a majority of those directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board.
Section 2.9. Written Consent. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws and regulations, the Board may act without a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all directors, to be filed with the Secretary of the Association as part of the corporate records.
Section 2.10. Remote Meetings. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, video or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, the remaining members of the Board may appoint a director to fill such vacancy at any regular meeting of the Board, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 3.1. Advisory Board of Directors. The Board may appoint persons, who need not be directors, to serve as advisory directors on an advisory board of directors established with respect to the business affairs of either this Association alone or the business affairs of a group of affiliated organizations of which this Association is one. Advisory directors shall have such powers and duties as may be determined by the Board, provided, that the Board's responsibility for the business and affairs of this Association shall in no respect be delegated or diminished.
Section 3.2. Trust Audit Committee. At least once during each calendar year, the Association shall arrange for a suitable audit (by internal or external auditors) of all significant fiduciary activities under the direction of its trust audit committee, a function that will be fulfilled by the Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association. The Association shall note the results of the audit (including significant actions taken as a result of the audit) in the minutes of the Board. In lieu of annual audits, the Association may adopt a continuous audit system in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 9.9(b).
The Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association, fulfilling the function of the trust audit committee:
(1) Must not include any officers of the Association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the Association’s fiduciary activities; and
(2) Must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the Association.
Section 3.3. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee which shall consist of at least three directors and which shall have, and may exercise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board or otherwise when the Board is not meeting.
Section 3.4. Trust Management Committee. The Board of this Association shall appoint a Trust Management Committee to provide oversight of the fiduciary activities of the Association. The Trust Management Committee shall determine policies governing fiduciary activities. The Trust Management Committee or such sub-committees, officers or others as may be duly designated by the Trust Management Committee shall oversee the processes related to fiduciary activities to assure conformity with fiduciary policies it establishes, including ratifying the acceptance and the closing out or relinquishment of all trusts. The Trust Management Committee will provide regular reports of its activities to the Board.
Section 3.5. Other Committees. The Board may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more persons who need not be directors, for such purposes and with such powers as the Board may determine; however, the Board will not delegate to any committee any powers or responsibilities that it is prohibited from delegating under any law or regulation. In addition, either the Chairman or the President may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more officers, employees, agents or other persons, for such purposes and with such powers as either the Chairman or the President deems appropriate and proper. Whether appointed by the Board, the Chairman, or the President, any such committee shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board.
Section 3.6. Meetings, Minutes and Rules. An advisory board of directors and/or committee shall meet as necessary in consideration of the purpose of the advisory board of directors or committee, and shall maintain minutes in sufficient detail to indicate actions taken or recommendations made; unless required by the members, discussions, votes or other specific details need not be reported. An advisory board of directors or a committee may, in consideration of
its purpose, adopt its own rules for the exercise of any of its functions or authority.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.1. Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint one of its members to be Chairman of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Chairman shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.2. President. The Board may appoint one of its members to be President of the Association. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at any meeting of the Board. The President shall have general executive powers, and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the office of President, or imposed by these Bylaws. The President shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.3. Vice President. The Board may appoint one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board and to perform the duties of the President on those occasions when the President is absent, including presiding at any meeting of the Board in the absence of both the Chairman and President.
Section 4.4. Secretary. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, or other designated officer who shall be Secretary of the Board and of the Association, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws to be given; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the Association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the Association; shall, upon request, authenticate any records of the Association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the Secretary, or imposed by these Bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries with such powers and duties as the Board, the President or the Secretary shall from time to time determine.
Section 4.5. Other Officers. The Board may appoint, and may authorize the Chairman, the President or any other officer to appoint, any officer as from time to time may appear to the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other
officer to be required or desirable to transact the business of the Association. Such officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other authorized officer. Any person may hold two offices.
Section 4.6. Tenure of Office. The Chairman or the President and all other officers shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, subject to the right of the Board or authorized officer to discharge any officer at any time.
ARTICLE V
Stock
Section 5.1. The Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. If the Board issues certificated stock, the certificate shall be signed by the President, Secretary or any other such officer as the Board so determines. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall, in proportion to such person's shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. Each certificate of stock shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the Association properly endorsed. The Board may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the Association for stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings, and related matters, and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.
ARTICLE VI
Corporate Seal
Section 6.1. The Association shall have no corporate seal; provided, however, that if the use of a seal is required by, or is otherwise convenient or advisable pursuant to, the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the following seal may be used, and the Chairman, the President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix such seal:
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, checks, drafts, orders, indentures, notes, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, endorsements, assignments, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, guarantees, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, countersigned, executed, acknowledged, endorsed, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Association, whether in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise, by any officer of the Association, or such employee or agent as may be designated from time to time by the Board by resolution, or by the Chairman or the President by written instrument, which resolution or instrument shall be certified as in effect by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Association. The provisions of this section are supplementary to any other provision of the Articles of Association or Bylaws.
Section 7.2. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws as revised or amended from time to time and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board, and standing committees of the Board, shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary, or other officer appointed to act as Secretary of the meeting.
Section 7.3. Trust Files. There shall be maintained in the Association files all fiduciary records necessary to assure that its fiduciary responsibilities have been properly undertaken and discharged.
Section 7.4. Trust Investments. Funds held in a fiduciary capacity shall be invested according to the instrument establishing the fiduciary relationship and according to law. Where such instrument does not specify the character and class of investments to be made and does not vest in the Association a discretion in the matter, funds held pursuant to such instrument shall be invested in investments in which corporate fiduciaries may invest under law.
Section 7.5. Notice. Whenever notice is required by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws or law, such notice shall be by mail, postage prepaid, e- mail, in person, or by any other means by which such notice can reasonably be expected to be received, using the address of the person to receive such notice, or such other personal data, as may appear on the records of the Association.
Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, prior notice shall be proper if given not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event for which notice is given.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
Section 8.1. The Association shall indemnify such persons for such liabilities in such manner under such circumstances and to such extent as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as now enacted or hereafter amended. The Board may authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance and/or the execution of individual agreements for the purpose of such indemnification, and the Association shall advance all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding to all persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.1. Such insurance shall be consistent with the requirements of 12
C.F.R. § 7.2014 and shall exclude coverage of liability for a formal order assessing civil money penalties against an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12
U.S.C. § 1813(u).
Section 8.2. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, however, (a) any indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12
U.S.C. § 1813(u), for an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder; and (b) any indemnification payments and advancement of costs and expenses to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and consistent with safe and sound banking practices.
ARTICLE IX
Bylaws: Interpretation and Amendment
Section 9.1. These Bylaws shall be interpreted in accordance with and subject to appropriate provisions of law, and may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed, at any regular or special meeting of the Board.
Section 9.2. A copy of the Bylaws and all amendments shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during Association hours.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.
Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Association designates the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, as the governing law for its corporate governance procedures, to the extent not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and regulations or bank safety and soundness.
***
(February 8, 2021)
Exhibit 5
CONSENT
In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.
Dated: November 10, 2022
| By: | /s/ Christopher J. Grell | |
| Christopher J. Grell | ||
| Vice President |
Exhibit 6
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
Statement of Financial Condition
as of 9/30/2022
($000’s)
| 9/30/2022 | ||||
| Assets | ||||
| Cash and Balances Due From | $ | 668,095 | ||
| Depository Institutions | ||||
| Securities | 4,281 | |||
| Federal Funds | 0 | |||
| Loans & Lease Financing Receivables | 0 | |||
| Fixed Assets | 2,441 | |||
| Intangible Assets | 581,868 | |||
| Other Assets | 121,947 | |||
| Total Assets | $ | 1,378,632 | ||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Deposits | $ | 0 | ||
| Fed Funds | 0 | |||
| Treasury Demand Notes | 0 | |||
| Trading Liabilities | 0 | |||
| Other Borrowed Money | 0 | |||
| Acceptances | 0 | |||
| Subordinated Notes and Debentures | 0 | |||
| Other Liabilities | 94,169 | |||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 94,169 | ||
| Equity | ||||
| Common and Preferred Stock | 200 | |||
| Surplus | 1,171,635 | |||
| Undivided Profits | 112,628 | |||
| Minority Interest in Subsidiaries | 0 | |||
| Total Equity Capital | $ | 1,284,463 | ||
| Total Liabilities and Equity Capital | $ | 1,378,632 | ||