Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc S-3ASR, filed May 7, 2024
Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (FBIN)
Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 2024
Registration Statement No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 520 Lake Cook Road Deerfield, Illinois 60015 (847) 484-4400 |
62-1411546 | ||
| (State of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
Hiranda S. Donoghue
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.
520 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, Illinois 60015
(847) 484-4400
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Samir A. Gandhi
Adam M. Gross
Sidley Austin LLP
787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019
(212) 839-5300
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
Table of Contents
PROSPECTUS
Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.
Debt Securities
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to debt securities that we may issue and sell at various times. Please note that:
| • | Prospectus supplements will be filed and other offering materials may be provided at later dates that will contain specific terms of each issuance of these debt securities. |
| • | You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplements or other offering materials filed or provided carefully before you decide to invest. |
| • | We may sell these debt securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents or directly to purchasers. If we use agents or underwriters to sell these debt securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in the related prospectus supplement. |
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FBIN.” We have not yet determined whether any of these debt securities will be listed on any exchange, inter-dealer quotation system or over-the-counter market.
Investing in these debt securities involves certain risks. You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference herein, as well as other risk factor information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement before making a decision to invest in these debt securities. See “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these debt securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus may not be used to sell debt securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
The date of this prospectus is May 7, 2024.
Table of Contents
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 5 | ||||
| 6 | ||||
| 16 | ||||
| 17 | ||||
| 17 | ||||
| 17 |
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and the other materials to which we refer you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these debt securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of each of those documents. As used in this prospectus, the terms the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” refer to Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Table of Contents
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing an “automatic shelf” registration process. Under this automatic shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell the debt securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of certain terms of the debt securities we may offer. Each time we sell debt securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the debt securities offered thereby. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. In addition, we may include a description of the risks related to an investment in the debt securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Before making an investment decision, you should read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus, in their entirety.
The registration statement that contains this prospectus, and the exhibits to the registration statement, contain additional information about us and the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete. In each instance reference is made to the copy of that contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by the terms of that contract or other document filed as an exhibit. The registration statement and exhibits can be read at the SEC’s website mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.
We may include agreements as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In reviewing such agreements, please remember they are included to provide you with information regarding their terms and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about us or the other parties to the agreements. The agreements may contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and:
| • | should not be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate; |
| • | may have been qualified by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement, which disclosures would not necessarily be reflected in the agreement; |
| • | may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material to you or other investors in our debt securities; and |
| • | were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement, are subject to more recent developments and therefore may no longer be accurate. |
1
Table of Contents
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain certain “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact and those regarding our intent, belief or expectations for our business, operations, financial performance or financial condition, in addition to statements regarding our general business strategies, the market potential of our brands, trends in the housing market, the potential impact of costs, including material and labor costs, the potential impact of inflation, expected capital spending, expected pension contributions and the expected impact of acquisitions, dispositions and other strategic transactions. Statements that include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “projects,” “estimates,” “plans,” “outlook,” “positioned”, “confident,” and “opportunity” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. Where, in any forward-looking statement, we express an expectation or belief as to future results or events, such expectation or belief is based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections of our management about our industry, business and future financial results available at the time this prospectus is filed with the SEC or, with respect to any documents incorporated by reference, available at the time such document was prepared or filed with the SEC. Although we believe that these statements are based on reasonable assumptions, they are subject to numerous factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those indicated in such statements. These factors include those referred to in the section below entitled “Risk Factors,” as well as the risks and uncertainties described under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any subsequent reports filed with the SEC incorporated by reference herein. We undertake no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any such obligation to, update, amend, clarify or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, new information or changes to future results over time or otherwise, except as required by law.
2
Table of Contents
FORTUNE BRANDS INNOVATIONS, INC.
We are a leading innovation company focused on creating smarter, safer and more beautiful homes and improving lives that competes in attractive long-term growth markets in our product categories. We sell our products through a wide array of sales channels, including kitchen and bath dealers, wholesalers oriented toward builders or professional remodelers, industrial and locksmith distributors, “do-it-yourself” remodeling-oriented home centers, showrooms, e-commerce and other retail outlets.
We have three business segments: Water Innovations (“Water”), Outdoors and Security. Our segments compete on the basis of innovation, fashion, quality, price, service and responsiveness to distributor, retailer and installer needs, as well as end-user consumer preferences.
| • | Water. Our Water segment manufactures or assembles and sells faucets, accessories, kitchen sinks and waste disposals, predominantly under the Moen, ROHL, Riobel, Victoria+Albert, Perrin & Rowe, Aqualisa, Shaws, Emtek and Schaub brands. Although this segment sells products principally in the U.S., China and Canada, this segment also sells in Europe, Mexico, Southeast Asia and South America. This segment sells directly through its own sales force and indirectly through independent manufacturer’s representatives, primarily to wholesalers, home centers and mass merchandisers. This segment is increasingly investing in digital trends and “smart” home capabilities. |
| • | Outdoors. Our Outdoors segment manufactures and sells fiberglass and steel entry door systems under the Therma-Tru brand, storm, screen and security doors under the Larson brand, composite decking, railing and cladding under the Fiberon brand, urethane millwork under the Fypon brand and wide-opening exterior door systems and outdoor enclosures under the Solar Innovations brand. This segment sells products principally in the U.S. and Canada. This segment’s principal customers are home centers, hardware and other retailers, millwork building products and wholesale distributors, industrial distributors and specialty dealers that provide products to the residential new construction market, as well as to the remodeling and renovation markets. |
| • | Security. Our Security segment’s products consist of locks, safety and security devices, and electronic security products manufactured, sourced and distributed primarily under the Master Lock, American Lock, Yale and August brands and fire resistant safes, security containers and commercial cabinets manufactured, sourced and distributed under the SentrySafe brand. This segment sells products principally in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Central America, Japan and Australia. This segment manufactures and sells key-controlled and combination padlocks, bicycle and cable locks, built-in locker locks, keyed and keyless smart locks, door hardware, automotive, trailer and towing locks, electronic access control solutions, and other specialty safety and security devices for consumer use to hardware, home center and other retail outlets. In addition, the segment sells lock systems and fire resistant safes to locksmiths, industrial and institutional users, residential and multi-family housing hardware and service providers, and original equipment manufacturers. |
Additional information concerning us and each of our business segments is available in the periodic reports we file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Our principal executive office is located at 520 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, Illinois 60015 and our telephone number is (847) 484-4400.
3
Table of Contents
Investing in our debt securities involves risks. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters discussed under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be updated by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings, and the risk factors described under the caption “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement, all of which are incorporated by reference to this prospectus, as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by our filings under the Exchange Act. For more information, see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.” These risks could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment in our debt securities.
4
Table of Contents
We intend to use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. General corporate purposes may include the repayment of existing indebtedness, additions to working capital, capital expenditures, investments in our subsidiaries and the financing of possible acquisitions. Pending any specific application described in the applicable prospectus supplement, net proceeds may be initially invested in short-term interest-bearing accounts, securities or similar investments.
5
Table of Contents
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
Each prospectus supplement will state the particular terms of the debt securities it covers.
We will issue debt securities in one or more series under the indenture, dated as of June 15, 2015, by and among us and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and Citibank, N.A., as securities agent (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “indenture”). The indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Any indenture supplement or officers’ certificate we elect to use to establish the terms of debt securities issued under the indenture will be filed with the SEC. The terms of the debt securities of any series will be those specified in or pursuant to the indenture, any supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate, the applicable debt securities for that series and those made part of the indenture by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).
This prospectus includes a summary of the indenture. This summary does not include or reflect any changes that may be made through any supplemental indenture. Any supplemental indenture may affect some or all debt securities we issue under the indenture. You should refer to the specific terms of the indenture, and any supplemental indentures we may file, for more detailed information and not rely only on the summary in this prospectus, or any summary contained in the applicable prospectus supplement. Some of the capitalized terms used in the following discussion are defined in the indenture. Those definitions are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. When we use italics, we are referring to sections in the indenture. Wherever we refer to particular provisions of the indenture, those provisions are incorporated by reference in our summary.
The following description of debt securities describes general terms and provisions of the series of debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. When the debt securities of a particular series are offered for sale, the specific terms of those debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement for those debt securities. If any particular terms of those debt securities described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms of the debt securities generally described in this prospectus, then the terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supersede the terms described in this prospectus. As used in this “Description of Debt Securities,” the terms the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” refer only to Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc., and not to any of its subsidiaries.
Determination of Terms
The debt securities of each series offered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement will constitute our unsecured unsubordinated obligations and will rank on parity in right of payment with all of our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. We may issue an unlimited principal amount of debt securities under the indenture. The indenture provides that debt securities of any series may be issued up to the aggregate principal amount which may be authorized from time to time by us. Please read the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of the particular series being offered thereby for the specific terms of that series of debt securities, including, but not limited to, where applicable:
| • | the title of the series of debt securities; |
| • | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the series; |
| • | the date or dates on which we will pay the principal of and premium, if any, on debt securities of the series, or the method or methods, if any, used to determine such date or dates; |
| • | the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which debt securities of the series will bear interest, if any, or the method or methods, if any, used to determine such rate or rates; |
| • | the basis used to calculate interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series if other than a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; |
| • | the date or dates, if any, from which interest on the debt securities of the series will accrue; |
6
Table of Contents
| • | the date or dates, if any, on which the interest on the debt securities of the series will be payable and the record dates for any such payment of interest; |
| • | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we are required to, or may, at our option, redeem debt securities of the series; |
| • | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we will be required to repurchase debt securities of the series at the option of the holders of debt securities of the series; |
| • | the terms of any sinking fund or analogous provision; |
| • | the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities of the series which will be payable upon acceleration if other than the full principal amount; |
| • | the authorized denominations in which the series of debt securities will be issued, if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
| • | the place or places where (1) amounts due on the debt securities of the series will be payable, (2) the debt securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer and exchange and, if applicable, for exchange for other securities or property, and (3) notices or demands to or upon us in respect of the debt securities of the series or the indenture may be served, if different than the corporate trust office of the securities agent; |
| • | whether the amount of payments on the debt securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula, or other method or methods (any of those debt securities being referred to as “Indexed Securities”) and the manner used to determine those amounts; |
| • | any addition to, modification, or deletion of, any covenant or Event of Default with respect to debt securities of the series; |
| • | whether any debt securities of the series will be issued in temporary or permanent global form and, if so, the identity of the depositary for the global debt securities; |
| • | whether the debt securities of the series will be subject to the defeasance and discharge provisions of the indenture; and |
| • | any other terms of debt securities of the series and any deletions from or modifications or additions to the indenture in respect of such series. |
As used in this prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of debt securities, references to the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of a series include additional amounts, if any, payable on the debt securities of such series in that context.
We may issue debt securities as original issue discount securities to be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. In the event of an acceleration of the maturity of any original issue discount security, the amount payable to the holder upon acceleration will be determined in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Material federal income tax and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The terms of the debt securities of any series may differ from the terms of the debt securities of any other series, and the terms of particular debt securities within any series may differ from each other. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may, without the consent of, or notice to, the holders of the debt securities of any series, reopen an existing series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series.
Other than to the extent provided with respect to the debt securities of a particular series and described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture does not contain any provisions that limit our ability to incur
7
Table of Contents
indebtedness, which may have an adverse effect on our ability to service our indebtedness (including the debt securities) or that would afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of:
| (1) | a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us, our management, or any affiliate of any of those parties; |
| (2) | a change of control; or |
| (3) | a reorganization, restructuring, merger, or similar transaction involving us or our affiliates that may adversely affect the holders of our debt securities. |
Form, Denominations, Exchange and Transfer
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue the debt securities in definitive form solely as registered securities, without coupons. The indenture also provides that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form. (Section 3.01).
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue registered securities in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. (Section 3.02).
You may surrender debt securities for exchange and registered securities for registration of transfer in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. This may be done without service charge but we may require payment of taxes or other governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, in the event of any redemption, we will not be required to:
| • | issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day the relevant notice of redemption is mailed and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing; or |
| • | register the transfer of or exchange any portion of a registered security called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any registered security being redeemed in part. (Section 3.05). |
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will pay principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on registered securities at the office of the paying agent or paying agents as we may designate at various times. However, we may make interest payments on registered securities (i) by check mailed to the address, as it appears on the security register, of the person entitled to the payments; or (ii) by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located inside the United States, if the Holder has provided valid wire transfer instructions at least three business days prior to the date such interest payment becomes due. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of any installment of interest on registered securities to the person in whose name the registered security is registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest. (Sections 3.07, 10.1 and 10.02).
We will name the paying agents initially appointed by us for a series of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may act as paying agent. We may terminate the appointment of any of the paying agents at various times.
All monies we pay to a paying agent for the payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any debt securities that remain unclaimed at the end of two years after becoming due and payable will be repaid to us. After that time, the holder of the debt securities will look only to us for payment. (Section 10.03).
8
Table of Contents
Book Entry Debt Securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global debt securities. Global debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating thereto. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing debt securities, a global debt security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary. (Section 2.03).
We anticipate that global debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), New York, New York, and that global debt securities will be registered in the name of DTC’s partnership, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by DTC. We also anticipate that the following provisions will apply to the depository arrangements with respect to global debt securities. Additional or differing terms of the depository arrangements will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
DTC has advised us that it is:
| • | a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law; |
| • | a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law; |
| • | a member of the Federal Reserve System; |
| • | a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and |
| • | a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. |
DTC holds securities that its direct participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates post-trade settlement among its direct participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between its direct participants’ accounts, which eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, sometimes referred to in this prospectus as indirect participants, that clear transactions through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant either directly or indirectly. Indirect participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of debt securities within the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the debt securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser or beneficial owner of a debt security is, in turn, recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they purchased the debt securities. Transfers of ownership interests in debt securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the debt securities except in the limited circumstances described below.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all debt securities deposited by direct participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of debt securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee will not change the beneficial ownership of the debt securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the debt securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the debt securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
9
Table of Contents
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the debt securities of a series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in such issue to be redeemed.
A beneficial owner of debt securities must give notice to elect to have its debt securities repurchased or tendered, through its participant to the trustee and effect delivery of such debt securities by causing the direct participant to transfer the participant’s interest in such debt securities, on DTC’s records, to the trustee. The requirement for physical delivery of debt securities in connection with a mandatory purchase or optional tender will be deemed satisfied when the ownership rights in such debt securities are transferred by direct participants on DTC’s records and followed by a book-entry credit of such debt securities to the trustee’s DTC account.
In any case where a vote may be required with respect to the debt securities of any series, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will give consents for or vote debt securities deposited with them unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with its procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the debt securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
Principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the global debt securities will be paid to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts on the relevant payment date upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding information from us. Payments by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of DTC or us, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by DTC, is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants. (Section 2.03).
Except as described in this prospectus (or the prospectus supplement for a particular series of debt securities), owners of beneficial interests in a global debt security will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of debt securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the debt securities and the indenture. (Section 2.03).
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in global debt securities.
DTC is under no obligation to provide its services as depositary for the debt securities of any series and may discontinue providing its services at any time. Neither we nor the trustee or securities agent will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants under the rules and procedures governing DTC. As noted above, owners of beneficial interests in a global debt security will not receive certificates representing their interests. However, we will prepare and deliver certificates for the debt securities of that series in exchange for beneficial interests in the global debt securities if
| • | DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the global debt securities of any series or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days of the notification or of our becoming aware of DTC’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be, |
10
Table of Contents
| • | to the extent permitted by DTC, we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have the debt securities of any series represented by one or more global debt securities, or |
| • | upon request by DTC. |
Any beneficial interest in a global debt security that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for debt securities in definitive certificated form registered in the names that DTC directs. It is expected that these names will be based upon directions received by DTC from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global debt securities. (Section 2.03).
According to DTC, the information with respect to DTC in this section and elsewhere in this prospectus has been provided to its participants and other members of the financial community for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty, or contract modification of any kind.
Certain Covenants
Any material covenants applicable to the debt securities of any series will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Waiver of Covenants
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive our compliance with certain covenants that relate to such series of outstanding debt securities. (Section 10.08).
Modification of Indenture
In general, our rights and obligations and the rights of holders of debt securities under the indenture may be modified by one or more supplemental indentures if holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modification consent to it. However, the indenture provides that, unless each affected holder agrees, we cannot make any change to any payment term of a debt security such as:
| • | changing the maturity date; |
| • | changing the date on which we have to pay interest; |
| • | reducing the interest rate; |
| • | reducing the amount of principal or premium, if any, we have to repay; |
| • | changing the currency in which we have to make any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest; |
| • | impairing the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder; |
| • | impairing any right to convert the debt securities for another security to the detriment of the holder; |
| • | impairing any right of a holder to bring suit for payment or enforcement of a right of conversion; |
| • | relieving us of the obligation to redeem, repay or purchase debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or otherwise; |
| • | reducing the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of debt securities needed to make any such change to the indenture or to consent to any waiver provided for in the indenture; or |
| • | making any change to this provision of the indenture. (Section 9.02). |
11
Table of Contents
However, if the trustee, securities agent and we agree, we can enter into one or more supplemental indentures modifying the indenture without notifying any holders or seeking their consent for certain purposes, including, but not limited to, the following:
| • | to add to the Events of Default with respect to any or all series of debt securities; |
| • | to add to our covenants in a manner that benefits the holders of all or any series of debt securities issued under the indenture, or to surrender any right or power conferred on us by the indenture; |
| • | to provide for security of debt securities of any series or add guarantees; |
| • | to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series; |
| • | to amend the form or terms of debt securities of any series in a manner that does not adversely affect the interests of holders of any series of debt securities in any material respect; |
| • | to cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision in the indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with other provisions in the indenture, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture, in each case which does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of debt securities in any material respect; |
| • | to add or change or eliminate any provisions of the indenture as are necessary or desirable in accordance with the Trust Indenture Act; |
| • | to change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture, provided that any such change or elimination will become effective only when there is no outstanding debt securities of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; |
| • | to supplement any of the provisions of the indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities in a manner that does not adversely affect the interests of holders of any series of outstanding debt securities in any material respect; |
| • | to add to or change any provisions of the indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of bearer securities, provided that any such action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any outstanding debt securities in any material respect; or |
| • | to conform the terms of the indenture or the debt securities to the description thereof contained in this prospectus and any other offering document relating to the offer and sale of those debt securities. (Section 9.01). |
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive our compliance with some of the restrictive provisions of the indenture, which may include covenants, if any, which are specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series, waive any past default under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series and its consequences, except a default (i) in the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series or (ii) in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the affected series. (Sections 5.13 and 10.08).
The indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of a series of debt securities. A meeting may be called at any time by the trustee or the securities agent, and we or holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may request the securities agent to convene a meeting, and, if the securities agent has not given the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or has not caused the meeting to be held, we or holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may convene a meeting. Notice of a meeting must be given in
12
Table of Contents
accordance with the provisions of the indenture. Except for any consent or waiver which must be given by the holder of each outstanding debt security affected in the manner described above, any resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. However, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action which may be made, given or taken by the holders of a greater specified percentage, other than a majority, in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of the holders of that greater specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of debt securities of any series duly held in accordance with the indenture will be binding on all holders of debt securities of that series and the related coupons, if any. (Sections 13.01, 13.02 and 13.04).
Defaults and Certain Rights on Default
An “Event of Default” is defined under the indenture as any of the following (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
| (1) | default in the due and punctual payment of any interest upon any of the debt securities of a series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; |
| (2) | default in the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any of the debt securities of a series as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, by declaration as authorized by the indenture, or otherwise; |
| (3) | failure on our part to duly observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on our part in the debt securities of a series or in the indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is itself an Event of Default or which has expressly been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than such series) for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied, shall have been given to us and the securities agent by the trustee or to us, the securities agent and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of such series at the time outstanding; |
| (4) | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization, whether involuntary or voluntary; and |
| (5) | any other event of default established for the debt securities of that series. |
We will furnish to the trustee and the securities agent annually a written statement as to the fulfillment of our obligations under the indenture. The indenture provides that the trustee will notify the holders of debt securities of a series of all defaults as to which the trustee has received notice pursuant to the provisions of the indenture, or as to which a responsible officer of the trustee has actual knowledge, within 90 days after receipt of such notice or after acquiring actual knowledge unless the default shall have been cured or waived. The term “default” or “defaults” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of such series. The indenture provides that notwithstanding the foregoing, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any debt security of such series or the making of any sinking fund payment in respect of the debt securities of such series when due, the trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if the trustee determines in good faith that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of the debt securities of such series.
In case an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default specified in paragraph (4) above, which shall result in an automatic acceleration), the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of such series
13
Table of Contents
then outstanding may declare the principal of all the debt securities of such series to be due and payable immediately. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization, whether involuntary or voluntary, the principal amount of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities of such series will ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities of such series. The indenture permits such declaration, under certain circumstances, to be rescinded by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the series at the time outstanding. (Sections 5.01, 5.02, 6.02 and 10.04).
Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee and the securities agent in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the indenture provides that the trustee and securities agent are not obligated to exercise any of the rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of debt securities, unless the holders have offered to the trustee or securities agent, as applicable, reasonable security or indemnity.
Subject to the provisions for indemnification and certain limitations contained in the indenture, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series at the time outstanding and so affected have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series at the time outstanding and so affected may, in certain cases, waive any default except a default in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities of such series. (Sections 5.12, 5.13 and 6.03).
Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance
Satisfaction and Discharge
We may satisfy and discharge our obligations under the indenture by delivering to the securities agent for cancellation all outstanding debt securities of a particular series or by depositing with the securities agent or delivering to the holders, as applicable, after debt securities of a particular series have become due and payable, whether at the maturity date or otherwise, cash sufficient to pay all of the outstanding debt securities of that series and paying all other sums payable under the indenture by us. Such discharge is subject to the other terms contained in the indenture, including the requirement that we provide an officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel to the trustee and securities agent that all of the conditions precedent to the satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied. (Section 4.01).
Covenant Defeasance and Discharge
Additionally, at our option, either (a) we are “discharged” (as described below) from our obligations with respect to the outstanding debt securities of a particular series or (b) we have no obligation to comply with certain covenants in the indenture and, if applicable, other covenants as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement at any time after the applicable conditions set forth below have been satisfied:
| • | we have deposited irrevocably with the securities agent (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of the indenture) as trust funds in trust (i) money in an amount, or (ii) Government Obligations (as defined in the indenture) that through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than the opening of business on the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants) to pay and discharge the principal of and premium, if any, and each installment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and premium are due; |
14
Table of Contents
| • | such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which we are a party or by which we are bound; |
| • | no Event of Default or default which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of the applicable series has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit; and, in the case of debt securities being discharged, no Event of Default arising from specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization with respect to us or default which with notice or lapse of time or both would become such an Event of Default arising from specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization shall have occurred and be continuing during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit; and |
| • | if required for a series of debt securities, we have delivered to the trustee and the securities agent an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders of debt securities of the applicable series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of our exercise of our option as described in this paragraph and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such action had not occurred. |
“Discharged” means that we are deemed to have paid and discharged the applicable debt securities and to have satisfied all the obligations under the indenture, except (a) the rights of holders of the debt securities to receive, from the trust fund, payment of the principal of and premium, if any. and any installment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such debt securities when such payments are due, (b) certain of our obligations with respect to the transfer and exchange of such debt securities and (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee and/or the securities agent under the indenture. (Section 4.03).
The applicable prospectus supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, permitting or restricting discharge or covenant defeasance with respect to the debt securities of a particular series.
Governing Law
The indenture is, and the debt securities will be, governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. The indenture is also subject to provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of the indenture and is governed by such provisions. (Section 1.12).
Concerning the Trustee
The trustee has banking affiliates with which we may from time to time maintain credit facilities or other ordinary banking relationships.
15
Table of Contents
We may sell the debt securities offered by this prospectus (a) through agents; (b) through underwriters or dealers; (c) directly to one or more purchasers; or (d) through a combination of any of these methods of sale. We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers or agents and their compensation in a prospectus supplement.
16
Table of Contents
The validity of the debt securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Sidley Austin LLP. Any underwriters will also be advised about the validity of the debt securities and other legal matters by their own counsel, which will be named in the prospectus supplement.
The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s 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 30, 2023 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report (which contains a paragraph on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting due to the exclusion of the Emtek and Schaub premium and luxury door and cabinet hardware business and the U.S. and Canadian Yale and August residential smart home locks business acquired from ASSA ABLOY, Inc. because they were acquired by the Company in a purchase business acquisition during 2023) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC, which are available to the public at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and our website at http://www.fbin.com.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and later information filed with the SEC will update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any information deemed to be furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules) until our offering is completed:
| • | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023 (“2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K”); |
| • | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2024; |
| • | Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 12, 2024, January 30, 2024 (other than items 2.02 and 9.01), February 1, 2024 and March 1, 2024; and |
| • | Those portion of the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 22, 2024 incorporated by reference in the 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
Under no circumstances will any information filed under items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K be deemed incorporated herein by reference unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary.
We will furnish without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference, including exhibits to these documents. Any such request may be made by writing or calling us at the following address or phone number:
Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.
Office of the Secretary
520 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, Illinois 60015
Telephone number: (847) 484-4400
17
Table of Contents
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement to register the debt securities under the Securities Act. This prospectus omits certain information contained in the registration statement, as permitted by SEC rules. You may obtain copies of the registration statement, including exhibits, as noted above. The contents of our website are not incorporated by reference into this prospectus for any purpose.
18
Table of Contents
Debt Securities
PROSPECTUS
May 7, 2024
Table of Contents
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth the estimated expenses to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, to be paid by the Registrant.
| Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee |
$ | * | ||
| Legal Fees and Expenses |
** | |||
| Accountants’ Fees and Expenses |
** | |||
| Transfer Agent and Trustee’s Fees and Expenses |
** | |||
| Printing Expenses |
** | |||
| Miscellaneous |
** | |||
| Total |
** |
| * | To be deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) under the Securities Act and calculated in connection with the offering of securities under this registration statement pursuant to Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act. |
| ** | Not presently known. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) makes provision for the indemnification of officers and directors of corporations in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify the officers and directors of the Registrant under certain circumstances from liabilities (including reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act. Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director or officer 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 or officer, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s or officer’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) with respect to directors, in respect of certain unlawful dividend payments or stock redemptions or repurchases, (iv) for any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit, or (v) with respect to officers, in any action by or in the right of the corporation.
As permitted by the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (“certificate of incorporation”) provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as amended from time to time, no director or officer of the Registrant shall be personally liable to the Registrant or to its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a director or officer. The effect of this provision in the certificate of incorporation is to eliminate the rights of the Registrant and its stockholders (through stockholders’ derivative suits on behalf of the Registrant) to recover monetary damages against a director or officer for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer thereof (including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior) except in the situations described in clauses (i)-(v), inclusive, above. These provisions will not alter the liability of directors under federal securities laws.
The certificate of incorporation also provides that the Registrant shall indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the DGCL, as amended from time to time, and such right to indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Registrant and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives.
The certificate of incorporation also provides that expenses incurred by a director of the Registrant (acting in his or her capacity as such) in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final
II-1
Table of Contents
disposition shall be paid by the Registrant, provided such expenses shall be advanced only upon delivery to the Registrant of an undertaking by such director to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant.
The certificate of incorporation also provides that indemnification provided for in the Registrant’s certificate of incorporation, the Registrant’s bylaws, any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled and that the Registrant may purchase and maintain insurance to protect itself and any such person against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not the Registrant would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the certificate of incorporation or otherwise.
The Registrant has procured insurance protecting it under its obligation to indemnify officers and directors against certain types of liabilities (including certain liabilities under the Securities Act) that may be incurred by them in the performance of their duties and affording protection to such officers and directors in certain areas to which the corporate indemnity does not extend, all within specified limits and subject to specified deductions.
In addition, the Registrant and certain other persons may be entitled under agreements entered into with agents or underwriters to indemnification by such agents or underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the Registrant or such persons may be required to make in respect thereof.
Item 16. Exhibits.
II-2
Table of Contents
| * | To be filed, if necessary, after the effectiveness of this registration statement as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment hereto or to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. |
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 the registration statement (or the most recent post–effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee Tables” or “Calculation of Registration Fee” table, as applicable, in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post–effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 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;
II-3
Table of Contents
(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:
(A) 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 (B) 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; and (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 hereby 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 this 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 provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public
II-4
Table of Contents
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.
II-5
Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 Deerfield, Illinois, on this 7th day of May, 2024.
| FORTUNE BRANDS INNOVATIONS, INC. (The Company) | ||
| By: | /s/ David V. Barry | |
| David V. Barry Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
Table of Contents
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated below on this 7th day of May, 2024.
| Signature |
Title |
|||||||
| /s/ Nicholas I. Fink Nicholas I. Fink |
Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer) |
|||||||
| /s/ David V. Barry David V. Barry |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) |
|||||||
| /s/ Karen Ries Karen Ries |
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer) |
|||||||
| /s/ Amit Banati* Amit Banati |
Director | |||||||
| /s/ Amee Chande* Amee Chande |
Director | |||||||
| /s/ Irial Finan* Irial Finan |
Director | |||||||
| /s/ Ann Fritz Hackett* Ann Fritz Hackett |
Director | |||||||
| /s/ Susan S. Kilsby* Susan S. Kilsby |
Director | |||||||
| /s/ A. D. David Mackay* A.D. David Mackay |
Director | |||||||
| /s/ Jeffery S. Perry* Jeffery S. Perry |
Director | |||||||
| /s/ Stephanie Pugliese* Stephanie Pugliese |
Director | |||||||
| *By: | /s/ Hiranda S. Donoghue | |
| (Hiranda S. Donoghue, Attorney-in-fact)** |
| ** | By authority of the powers of attorney filed herewith. |
Exhibit 5.1
|
SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP 787 SEVENTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10019 +1 212 839 5300 +1 212 839 5599 FAX |
|||||
|
AMERICA • ASIA PACIFIC • EUROPE |
May 7, 2024
Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.
520 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, Illinois 60015
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) being filed by Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the registration of an indeterminate principal amount of the Company’s debt securities (the “Debt Securities”). The Debt Securities are to be issued under an Indenture dated as of June 15, 2015 (the “Indenture”) among the Company, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and Citibank, N.A., as securities agent (the “Securities Agent”).
This opinion letter is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
We have examined the Registration Statement, the Indenture and the resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) relating to the Registration Statement and the Indenture. We have also examined originals, or copies of originals certified to our satisfaction, of such agreements, documents, certificates and statements of the Company and other corporate documents and instruments, and have examined such questions of law, as we have considered relevant and necessary as a basis for this opinion letter. We have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all persons and the conformity with the original documents of any copies thereof submitted to us for examination. As to facts relevant to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied without independent investigation or verification upon, and assumed the accuracy and completeness of, certificates, letters and oral and written statements and representations of public officials and officers and other representatives of the Company.
Based on and subject to the foregoing and the other limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Debt Securities of each series covered by the Registration Statement will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company when:
Sidley Austin (NY) LLP is a Delaware limited liability partnership doing business as Sidley Austin LLP and practicing in affiliation with other Sidley Austin partnerships.
Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.
May 7, 2024
Page 2
(i) the Registration Statement (including any post-effective amendments) shall have become effective under the Securities Act;
(ii) a prospectus supplement with respect to such series of Debt Securities shall have been filed with the SEC in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;
(iii) all necessary corporate action shall have been taken by the Company to authorize the form, terms, execution, delivery, performance, issuance and sale of such series of Debt Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the prospectus supplement relating to such series of Debt Securities and the Indenture and to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of a supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate establishing the form and terms of such series of Debt Securities as contemplated by the Indenture;
(iv) a supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate establishing the form and terms of such series of Debt Securities shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, the Trustee and the Securities Agent (in the case of such a supplemental indenture) or by duly authorized officers of the Company (in the case of such an officers’ certificate), in each case in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, resolutions of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof and the Indenture; and
(v) the certificates evidencing the Debt Securities of such series shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, authenticated by the Securities Agent and issued, all in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, resolutions of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, the Indenture and the supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate, as the case may be, establishing the form and terms of the Debt Securities of such series, and shall have been duly delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor.
For the purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed that, at the time of the issuance, sale and delivery of the Debt Securities of each series:
(a) all Debt Securities of such series will be issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the prospectus supplement relating thereto;
(b) the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of such Debt Securities, the Indenture and the supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate, as the case may be, establishing the form and terms of such series of Debt Securities will not (A) contravene or violate the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company, (B) result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon
Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.
May 7, 2024
Page 3
the Company or any order, judgment or decree of any court or governmental authority applicable to the Company, or (C) require any authorization, approval or other action by, or notice to or filing with, any court or governmental authority (other than such authorizations, approvals, actions, notices or filings which shall have been obtained or made, as the case may be, and which shall be in full force and effect);
(c) the authorization by the Company of the transactions described above and the instruments, agreements and other documents entered into or to be entered into by the Company as described above will not have been modified or rescinded, and there will not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity, binding character or enforceability of any such instruments, agreements and other documents;
(d) the Indenture will not have been modified or amended (other than by a supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate establishing the form or terms of the Debt Securities of any series);
(e) the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company and resolutions of the Board, as currently in effect, will not have been modified or amended and will be in full force and effect; and
(f) the form and terms of such series of Debt Securities shall have been established by the Board, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized officer of the Company acting pursuant to authority delegated to such officer by the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board, all in accordance with, and within any parameters or limitations established by, the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, resolutions of the Board, the Indenture and applicable law, and such terms will be accurately reflected in the certificates evidencing such series of Debt Securities and the supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate, as the case may be, establishing the form and terms of such series of Debt Securities.
We have further assumed that the Debt Securities and any supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate establishing the form and terms of the Debt Securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Our opinion is subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including concepts of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief.
Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.
May 7, 2024
Page 4
This opinion letter is limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the laws of the State of New York (excluding the securities laws of the State of New York). We express no opinion as to the laws, rules or regulations of any other jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the federal laws of the United States of America or any state securities or blue sky laws.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement and to all references to our Firm included in or made a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ Sidley Austin 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 Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. of our report dated February 27, 2024 relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedule and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2023. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chicago, Illinois
May 7, 2024
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each individual whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of NICHOLAS I. FINK, DAVID V. BARRY and HIRANDA S. DONOGHUE as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution, to sign for and in the name of the undersigned in the capacities indicated below, the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (the “Company”), and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto for the proposed offering of debt securities of the Company, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith necessary, appropriate or advisable to enable the Company to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and other federal and state securities laws, and to file any such documents or instruments with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully and for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or either of them or their substitute may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
| /s/ Amit Banati | /s/ Amee Chande | |||
| Amit Banati, Director | Amee Chande, Director | |||
| Date: May 7, 2024 | Date: May 7, 2024 | |||
| /s/ Irial Finan | /s/ Ann Fritz Hackett | |||
| Irial Finan, Director | Ann Fritz Hackett, Director | |||
| Date: May 7, 2024 | Date: May 7, 2024 | |||
| /s/ Susan S. Kilsby | /s/ A. D. David Mackay | |||
| Susan S. Kilsby, Director | A. D. David Mackay, Director | |||
| Date: May 7, 2024 | Date: May 7, 2024 | |||
| /s/ Jeffery S. Perry | /s/ Stephanie Pugliese | |||
| Jeffery S. Perry, Director | Stephanie Pugliese, Director | |||
| Date: May 7, 2024 | Date: May 7, 2024 | |||
Exhibit 25.1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
| ☐ | Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) |
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
16-1486454
(I.R.S. employer identification no.)
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890-0001
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Kyle Barry
Senior Vice President
Wilmington Trust Company
285 Delaware Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 839-6909
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 62-1411546 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
520 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, Illinois, 60015-5611
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Debt Securities
(Title of the indenture securities)
ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION.
Furnish the following information as to the trustee:
| (a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
| Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C. |
| Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C. |
| (b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
| The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each affiliation:
Based upon an examination of the books and records of the trustee and information available to the trustee, the obligor is not an affiliate of the trustee.
ITEM 3 – 15. No responses are included for Items 3-15 of this Form T-1 because the obligor is not in default as provided under Item 13.
ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
Listed below are all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of Eligibility and Qualification.
| 1. | A copy of the Charter for Wilmington Trust, National Association. |
| 2. | The authority of Wilmington Trust, National Association to commence business was granted under the Charter for Wilmington Trust, National Association, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 above. |
| 3. | The authorization to exercise corporate trust powers was granted under the Charter for Wilmington Trust, National Association, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 above. |
| 4. | A copy of the existing By-Laws of Trustee, as now in effect, attached hereto as Exhibit 4 of this Form T-1. |
| 5. | Not applicable. |
| 6. | The consent of Wilmington Trust, National Association as required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached hereto as Exhibit 6 of this Form T-1. |
| 7. | Current Report of the Condition of Wilmington Trust, National Association, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached hereto as Exhibit 7 of this Form T-1. |
| 8. | Not applicable. |
| 9. | Not applicable. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Wilmington Trust, 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 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Iselin and State of New Jersey on the 7th day of May, 2024.
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
| By: |
/s/ Latoya S. Elvin | |
| Name: |
Latoya S. Elvin | |
| Title: |
Vice President | |
EXHIBIT 1
CHARTER OF WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
For the purpose of organizing an association to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned do enter into the following articles of association:
FIRST. The title of this association shall be Wilmington Trust, National Association.
SECOND. The main office of the association shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware. The general business of the association shall be conducted at its main office and its branches.
THIRD. The board of directors of this association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, unless the OCC has exempted the bank from the 25-member limit. The exact number is 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 $1,000. Determination of these values may be based as of either (i) the date of purchase or (ii) the date the person became a director, whichever value is greater. 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 not increase the number of directors between meetings of shareholders to a number which:
| 1) | exceeds by more than two the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 15 or less; or |
| 2) | exceeds by more than four the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 16 or more, but in no event shall the number of directors exceed 25, unless the OCC has exempted the bank from the 25-member limit. |
Directors shall be elected for terms of one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. 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 qualifies 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 determine 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 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 time, place and purpose of a shareholders’ meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first class mail, unless the OCC determines that an emergency circumstance exists. The sole shareholder of the bank is permitted to waive notice of the shareholders’ meeting.
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares such shareholder 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. If, after the first ballot, subsequent ballots are necessary to elect directors, a shareholder may not vote shares that he or she has already fully cumulated and voted in favor of a successful candidate. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
Nominations for election to the board of directors may be made by the board of directors or by any stockholder of any outstanding class of capital stock of the association entitled to vote for election of directors. Nominations other than those made by or on behalf of the existing management shall be made in writing and be delivered or mailed to the president of the association not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days notice of the meeting is given to shareholders, such nominations shall be mailed or delivered to the president of the association not later than the close of business on the seventh day following the day on which the notice of meeting was mailed. Such notification shall contain the following information to the extent known to the notifying shareholder:
| 1) | The name and address of each proposed nominee. |
| 2) | The principal occupation of each proposed nominee. |
| 3) | The total number of shares of capital stock of the association that will be voted for each proposed nominee. |
| 4) | The name and residence address of the notifying shareholder. |
| 5) | The number of shares of capital stock of the association owned by the notifying shareholder. |
Nominations not made in accordance herewith may, in his/her discretion, be disregarded by the chairperson of the meeting, and the vote tellers may disregard all votes cast for each such nominee. No bylaw may unreasonably restrict the nomination of directors by shareholders.
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 shareholders at a meeting called to remove the director, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove the director 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 the director under cumulative voting is voted against the director’s removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of this association shall be ten thousand shares of common stock of the par value of one hundred dollars ($100) 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.
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. Preemptive rights also must be approved by a vote of holders of two-thirds of the bank’s outstanding voting shares. Unless otherwise specified in these 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.
Unless otherwise specified in these 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. If a proposed amendment would affect two or more classes or series in the same or a substantially similar way, all the classes or series so affected must vote together as a single voting group on the proposed amendment.
Shares of one class or series may be issued as a dividend for shares of the same class or series on a pro rata basis and without consideration. Shares of one class or series may be issued as share dividends for a different class or series of stock if approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the class or series to be issued, unless there are no outstanding shares of the class or series to be issued. Unless otherwise provided by the board of directors, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to a share dividend shall be the date authorized by the board of directors for the share dividend.
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.
If a shareholder is entitled to fractional shares pursuant to a stock dividend, consolidation or merger, reverse stock split or otherwise, the association may: (a) issue fractional shares; (b) in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, issue script or warrants entitling the holder to receive a full share upon surrendering enough script or warrants to equal a full share; (c) if there is an established and active market in the association’s stock, make reasonable arrangements to provide the shareholder with an opportunity to realize a fair price through sale of the fraction, or purchase of the additional fraction required for a full share; (d) remit the cash equivalent of the fraction to the shareholder; or (e) sell full shares representing all the fractions at public auction or to the highest bidder after having solicited and received sealed bids from at least three licensed stock brokers; and distribute the proceeds pro rata to shareholders who otherwise would be entitled to the fractional shares. The holder of a fractional share is entitled to exercise the rights for shareholder, including the right to vote, to receive dividends, and to participate in the assets of the association upon liquidation, in proportion to the fractional interest. The holder of script or warrants is not entitled to any of these rights unless the script or warrants explicitly provide for such rights. The script or warrants may be subject to such additional conditions as: (1) that the script or warrants will become void if not exchanged for full shares before a specified date; and (2) that the shares for which the script or warrants are exchangeable may be sold at the option of the association and the proceeds paid to scriptholders.
The association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether or not subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether or not 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 into 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 in which 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. |
| 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 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 other place within the limits of Wilmington, Delaware, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of such association for a relocation 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 Wilmington Delaware, but not more than 30 miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any branch or branches 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 this association, or any one or more shareholders owning, in the aggregate, not less than 50 percent of the stock of this association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the bylaws or the laws of the United States, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given at least 10 days prior to the meeting by first-class mail, unless the OCC determines that an emergency circumstance exists. If the association is a wholly-owned subsidiary, the sole shareholder may waive notice of the shareholders’ meeting. Unless otherwise provided by the bylaws or these articles, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. For purposes of this Article Tenth, the term “institution-affiliated party” shall mean any institution-affiliated party of the association as such term is defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(u).
Any institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may be indemnified or reimbursed by the association for reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions or proceedings and appeals therein, whether civil, criminal, governmental, administrative or investigative, in accordance with and to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such law now or hereafter exists; provided, however, that when an administrative proceeding or action instituted by a federal banking agency results in a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association, then the association shall require the repayment of all legal fees and expenses advanced pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph and may not indemnify such institution-affiliated parties (or their heirs, executors or administrators) for expenses, including expenses for legal fees, penalties or other payments incurred. The association shall provide indemnification in connection with an action or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) only if such action or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors.
Expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding under 12 U.S.C. 164 or 1818 may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) a determination by the board of directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding that the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) has a reasonable basis for prevailing on the merits, (b) a determination that the indemnified individual (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) will have the financial capacity to reimburse the bank in the event he or she does not prevail, (c) a determination that the payment of expenses and fees by the association will not adversely affect the safety and soundness of the association, and (d) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event of a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association. In all other instances, expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding as to which indemnification may be given under these articles of association may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by or on behalf of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event that such institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification as authorized by these articles of association and (b) approval by the board of directors acting by a quorum
consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding or, if such a quorum is not obtainable, then approval by stockholders. To the extent permitted by law, the board of directors or, if applicable, the stockholders, shall not be required to find that the institution-affiliated party has met the applicable standard of conduct provided by law for indemnification in connection with such action or proceeding.
In the event that a majority of the members of the board of directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the remaining members of the board may authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the remaining members of the board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Article Tenth have been met. If independent legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the remaining members of the board of directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.
In the event that all of the members of the board of directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the board shall authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Article Tenth have been met. If legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the board of directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.
To the extent permitted under applicable law, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these articles of association (a) shall be available with respect to events occurring prior to the adoption of these articles of association, (b) shall continue to exist after any restrictive amendment of these articles of association with respect to events occurring prior to such amendment, (c) may be interpreted on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time of the occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the action or proceeding, or on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time such rights are claimed, and (d) are in the nature of contract rights which may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction as if the association and the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) for whom such rights are sought were parties to a separate written agreement.
The rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these articles of association shall not, to the extent permitted under applicable law, be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any such institution affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may now or hereafter be otherwise entitled whether contained in these articles of association, the bylaws, a resolution of stockholders, a resolution of the board of directors, or an agreement providing such indemnification, the creation of such other rights being hereby expressly authorized. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these articles of association shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights, pursuant to statute or otherwise, of any such institution-affiliated party (or of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in any such action or proceeding to have assessed or allowed in his or her favor, against the association or otherwise, his or her costs and expenses incurred therein or in connection therewith or any part thereof.
If this Article Tenth or any part hereof shall be held unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remainder of this Article Tenth shall remain fully enforceable.
The association may, upon affirmative vote of a majority of its board of directors, purchase insurance to indemnify its institution-affiliated parties to the extent that such indemnification is allowed in these articles of association; provided, however, that no such insurance shall include coverage to pay or reimburse any institution-affiliated party for the cost of any judgment or civil money penalty assessed against such person in an administrative proceeding or civil action commenced by any federal banking agency. Such insurance may, but need not, be for the benefit of all institution-affiliated parties.
ELEVENTH. 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 this 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. The association’s board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the articles of association for submission to the shareholders.
EXHIBIT 4
BY-LAWS OF WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
(Effective as of September 12, 2023)
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated by the chair of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief operating officer, the secretary, or the Board of Directors for the purpose of the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, except such date shall not be a legal holiday in Delaware. Notice of the meeting shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 10 days and no more than 60 days prior to the date thereof, addressed to each shareholder at his or her address appearing on the books of the association. If, for any cause, an election of directors is not made on that date, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the date fixed, to be designated by the Board of Directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the date, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares. In these circumstances, at least 10 days’ notice must be given by first class mail to shareholders.
Section 2. Special Meetings. The chair of the Board of Directors, the president, the chief executive officer, the secretary, or the Board of Directors may call a special meeting of the shareholders. A special meeting shall be called to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of shareholders upon the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at the meeting. Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called by mailing, postage prepaid, not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting, to each shareholder at the address appearing on the books of the association a notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting, in reasonable proximity to the date of giving notice to the shareholders of such meeting. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to demand a special meeting is the date the first shareholder signs a demand for the meeting describing the purpose or purposes for which it is to be held.
Section 3. Adjournment. If an annual or special shareholders’ meeting is adjourned to a different date, time, or place, notice need not be given of the new date, time or place, if the new date, time or place is announced at the meeting before adjournment, unless any additional items of business are to be considered, or the association becomes aware of an intervening event materially affecting any matter to be voted on more than 10 days prior to the date to which the meeting is adjourned. If a new record date for the adjourned meeting is fixed, however, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given to persons who are shareholders as of the new record date. If, however, the meeting to elect the directors is adjourned before the election takes place, at least ten days’ notice of the new election must be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.
– 1 –
Section 4. Nominations of Directors. Nominations for election to the Board of Directors may be made by the Board of Directors or by any shareholder of any outstanding class of capital stock of the association entitled to vote for the election of directors. Nominations, other than those made by or on behalf of the existing management of the association, shall be made in writing and shall be delivered or mailed to the president of the association, not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days’ notice of the meeting is given to shareholders, such nomination shall be mailed or delivered to the president of the association not later than the close of business on the seventh day following the day on which the notice of meeting was mailed. Such notification shall contain the following information to the extent known to the notifying shareholder:
| (1) | The name and address of each proposed nominee; |
| (2) | The principal occupation of each proposed nominee; |
| (3) | The total number of shares of capital stock of the association that will be voted for each proposed nominee; |
| (4) | The name and residence of the notifying shareholder; and |
| (5) | The number of shares of capital stock of the association owned by the notifying shareholder |
Nominations not made in accordance herewith may, in his/her discretion, be disregarded by the chair of the meeting, and upon his/her instructions, all votes cast for each such nominee may be disregarded.
Section 5. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing, but no officer or employee of this association shall act as proxy. A director or an attorney of the association may act as proxy for shareholders voting if they are not also employed as an officer of the association. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting, to be specified therein, and any adjournments of such meeting. Proxies shall be dated and filed with the records of the meeting. Proxies with facsimile signatures may be used and unexecuted proxies may be counted upon receipt of a written confirmation from the shareholder. Proxies meeting the above requirements submitted at any time during a meeting shall be accepted.
Section 6. Quorum. 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. If a meeting for the election of directors is not held on the fixed date, at least 10 days’ notice must be given by first-class mail to the shareholders.
– 2 –
ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 1. Board of Directors. The Board of Directors 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 of Directors.
Section 2. Number. The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the association from the 25-member limit. The exact number within such minimum and maximum limits is 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 meeting thereof. The Board of Directors may not increase the number of directors between meetings of shareholders to a number which: (a) exceeds by more than 2 the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 15 or less; or (b) exceeds by more than 4 the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 16 or more, but in no event shall the number of directors exceed 25, unless the OCC has exempted the association from the 25-member limit.
Section 3. Qualifications. Each director must be a citizen of the United States and must own in his or her own right either shares of the capital stock of the association or a company that controls the association that has not less than an aggregate par value of $1,000, an aggregate shareholders’ equity of $1,000, or an aggregate fair market value of $1,000. The value of the common or preferred stock held by a director is valued as of the date purchased or the date on which the individual became a director, whichever is greater.
Section 4. Organization Meeting. After each annual meeting of shareholders at which directors shall have been elected, the Board of Directors shall meet as soon as practicable for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business. Such first regular meeting shall be held at any place as may be designated by the chair, the president or the Board of Directors for such first regular meeting or, in default of such designation, where the immediately preceding meeting of shareholders was held.
Section 5. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on such dates and at such places as may be designated from time to time by the chair. No notice of regular meetings shall be necessary.
Section 6. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the chair, the chief executive officer, the president or by a majority of the then- acting directors by vote at a meeting or in writing, or by a majority of the members of the executive committee, if one is constituted, by vote at a meeting or in writing. A special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held on such date and at any place as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. In the absence of such designation, such meeting shall be held at such place as may be designated in the call. Each member of the Board of Directors shall be given notice stating the date, time and place, by letter, electronic delivery or in person, of each special meeting not less than one day before the meeting. Such notice need not specify the purpose for which the meeting is called, unless required by the Articles of Association or the bylaws.
– 3 –
Section 7. Quorum. A majority of the entire Board then in office shall constitute a quorum at any meeting, except when otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, but a lesser number may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held, as adjourned, without further notice. If the number of directors present at the meeting is reduced below the number that would constitute a quorum, no business may be transacted, except selecting directors to fill vacancies in conformance with Article II, Section 11. If a quorum is present, the board of directors may take action through the vote of a majority of the directors who are in attendance. No director may vote by proxy.
Section 8. Attendance by Electronic, Telephonic or Similar Means. Any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a regular or special meeting of such board or committee by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, conference telephone or other communications equipment by which all directors or committee members participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at a meeting.
Section 9. Procedures. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at every meeting of the Board of Directors may be determined by the person presiding at the meeting.
Section 10. Removal of Directors. Any director may be removed for cause at any meeting of shareholders, notice of which shall have referred to the proposed action, by vote of the shareholders. Any director may be removed without cause at any meeting of shareholders, notice of which shall have referred to the proposed action, by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the association entitled to vote. Any director may be removed for cause at any meeting of the directors, notice of which shall have referred to the proposed action, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors.
Section 11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors may appoint a director to fill such vacancy until the next election at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors, or at a special meeting called for that purpose at which a quorum is present, or if the directors remaining in office constitute fewer than a quorum of the Board of Directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the directors remaining in office, or by shareholders at a special meeting called for that purpose in conformance with Section 2 of Article I. A vacancy that will occur at a specific later date (by reason of a resignation effective at a later date) may be filled before the vacancy occurs but the new director may not take office until the vacancy occurs.
Section 12. Consent of Directors without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all members of the Board. The action may be evidenced by one or more written consents signed by each director before or after such action, describing the action taken, and included in the minutes or filed with the corporate records. A director’s consent to action taken without a meeting may be in electronic form and delivered by electronic means.
– 4 –
Section 13. Ratification. The board of directors may ratify and make binding on the association any action or inaction by the association or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the shareholders could have originally authorized the matter and as permitted by law. Moreover, any action or inaction questioned in any shareholders’ derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or shareholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the shareholders, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the shareholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 1. Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee, which shall have and may exercise, during the intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors, all the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business, properties and affairs of the association except as prohibited by law, the Articles of Association or these Bylaws. All acts done and powers conferred by the Executive Committee shall be deemed to be and may be certified as being, done or conferred under authority of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Trust Audit Committee. Unless delegated pursuant to Section 5 of this Article III, there shall be a Trust Audit Committee composed of not less than 2 directors, appointed by the Board of Directors, which shall, at least once during each calendar year make suitable audits of the association’s fiduciary activities or cause suitable audits to be made by auditors responsible only to the Board, and at such time shall ascertain whether fiduciary powers have been administered according to law, Part 9 of the Regulations of the Comptroller of the Currency, and sound fiduciary principles. Such 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 of Directors has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the bank.
Section 3. Examining Committee. Unless delegated pursuant to Section 5 of this Article III, there shall be an examining committee composed of not less than 2 directors, exclusive of any active officers, appointed by the board of directors annually or more often. The duty of that committee shall be to examine at least once during each calendar year and within 15 months of the last examination the affairs of the association or cause suitable examinations to be made by auditors responsible only to the board of directors and to report the result of such examination in writing to the board of directors at the next regular meeting thereafter. Such report shall state whether the association is in a sound condition, and whether adequate internal controls and procedures are being maintained and shall recommend to the board of directors such changes in the manner of conducting the affairs of the association as shall be deemed advisable.
– 5 –
Section 4. Other Committees. The Board of Directors may from time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, appoint other committees of the Board of Directors which shall have such powers and duties as the Board of Directors may properly determine. No such other committee of the Board of Directors shall be composed of fewer than three (3) directors. The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more directors as alternative members of a committee. All acts done and powers conferred by the Board of Directors on committees of the Board of Directors shall be deemed to be and may be certified as being, done or conferred under that authority of the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Delegation of Responsibility and Authority. The responsibility, authority and constitution of any committee under this Article III may, if authorized by law, be given over to a duly constituted committee of the association’s parent corporation by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV
Officers and Employees
Section 1 Officers. The Board of Directors shall annually, at the Annual Reorganization Meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting of shareholders, appoint or elect a chair of the Board, a chief executive officer, a president, one or more vice presidents however denominated, a corporate secretary, a treasurer, a chief auditor, and such other officers as it may determine. At the Annual Reorganization Meeting, the Board of Directors shall also elect or reelect all of the officers of the association to hold office until the next Annual Reorganization Meeting. In the interim between Annual Reorganization Meetings, the officers of the association may be elected as follows and shall hold office until the next Annual Reorganization Meeting unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors or such authorized officer(s): The head of the Human Resources Department of M&T Bank or his or her designee or designees, may appoint officers up to and including the rank of senior executive vice president, including (without limitation as to title or number) one or more executive vice presidents, senior vice presidents, vice presidents, assistant vice presidents, assistant secretaries, assistant treasurers and assistant auditors, and any other officer positions as they deem necessary and appropriate, except the chair of the board, chief executive officer, president, any “Executive Officer” of the association for the purposes of Regulation O (codified at 12 C.F.R. §215.2(e)(1)), and any “Senior Executive Officer” within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. §5.51(c)(4) may only be appointed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Chair of the Board. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of its members to be the chair of the Board to serve at its pleasure. Such person shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The chair of the Board shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board of Directors; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such further powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board of Directors.
– 6 –
Section 3. President. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of its members to be the president of the association. The president shall be a member of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the chair, the president shall preside at any meeting of the Board of Directors. 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 further powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Vice President. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more vice presidents. Each vice president shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors. One vice president shall be designated by the Board of Directors, in the absence of the president, to perform all the duties of the president.
Section 5. Secretary. The Board of Directors shall appoint a secretary or other designated officer who shall be secretary of the Board of Directors and of the association and who shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws; 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 have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, or imposed by these bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time, by the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Other Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more assistant vice presidents, one or more trust officers, one or more officers, one or more assistant secretaries, one or more assistant treasurers, one or more managers and assistant managers of branches and such other officers and attorneys in fact as from time to time may appear to the Board of Directors to be required or desirable to transact the business of the association. Such officers shall respectively exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the chair of the Board, or the president. The Board of Directors may authorize an officer to appoint one or more officers or assistant officers.
Section 7. Resignation. An officer may resign at any time by delivering notice to the association. A resignation is effective when the notice is given unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
ARTICLE V
Stock and Stock Certificates
Section 1. Transfers. 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 shareholder’s shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. The Board of Directors may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the association with respect to stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings and related matters and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.
– 7 –
Section 2. Stock Certificates. Certificates of stock shall bear the signature of the president (which may be engraved, printed or impressed) and shall be signed manually, by facsimile process, or electronic means by the secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or any other officer appointed by the Board of Directors for that purpose, to be known as an authorized officer, and the seal of the association shall be engraved thereon. Each certificate shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the association properly endorsed and otherwise comply with the requirements of 12
U.S.C. 52 and 12 C.F.R. §7.2016(b).
Section 3. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In case any certificate representing shares shall be lost, stolen or destroyed, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, or any officer or officers thereunder duly authorized by the Board of Directors, may authorize the issue of a substitute certificate or substitute shares in uncertificated form in the place of the certificate so lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 4. Fixing of Record Date. The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall be 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 10 days before the meeting.
ARTICLE VII
Corporate Seal
Section 1. Seal. The seal of the association shall be in such form as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The president, the treasurer, the secretary or any assistant treasurer or assistant secretary, or other officer thereunto designated by the Board of Directors shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any document requiring such seal and to attest the same. The seal on any corporate obligation for the payment of money may be facsimile.
ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the association shall be the calendar year.
Section 2. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, indentures, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, executed, acknowledged, verified, delivered or
– 8 –
accepted on behalf of the association by any officer elected or appointed pursuant to Article IV of these Bylaws. Any such instruments may also be executed, acknowledged, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the association in such other manner and by such other officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time direct. The provisions of this Section 2 are supplementary to any other provision of these Bylaws.
Section 3. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board of Directors, and standing committees of the Board of Directors shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for that purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the secretary, treasurer or other officer appointed to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 4. Corporate Governance Procedures. To the extent not inconsistent with federal banking statutes and regulations, or safe and sound banking practices, the association may follow the Delaware General Corporation Law, Del. Code Ann. tit. 8 (1991, as amended 1994, and as amended thereafter) with respect to matters of corporate governance procedures.
Section 5. Indemnification. For purposes of this Section 5 of Article VIII, the term “institution-affiliated party” shall mean any institution-affiliated party of the association as such term is defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(u).
Any institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may be indemnified or reimbursed by the association for reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions or proceedings and appeals therein, whether civil, criminal, governmental, administrative or investigative, in accordance with and to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such law now or hereafter exists; provided, however, that when an administrative proceeding or action instituted by a federal banking agency results in a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association, then the association shall require the repayment of all legal fees and expenses advanced pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph and may not indemnify such institution-affiliated parties (or their heirs, executors or administrators) for expenses, including expenses for legal fees, penalties or other payments incurred. The association shall provide indemnification in connection with an action or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) only if such action or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.
Expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding under 12 U.S.C. 164 or 1818 may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) a determination by the Board of Directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding that the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) has a reasonable basis for prevailing on the merits, (b) a determination that the indemnified individual (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators)
– 9 –
will have the financial capacity to reimburse the association in the event he or she does not prevail, (c) a determination that the payment of expenses and fees by the association will not adversely affect the safety and soundness of the association, and (d) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event of a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association. In all other instances, expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding as to which indemnification may be given under the Articles of Association may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by or on behalf of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event that such institution- affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification as authorized by these Bylaws and (b) approval by the Board of Directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding or, if such a quorum is not obtainable, then approval by shareholders. To the extent permitted by law, the Board of Directors or, if applicable, the shareholders, shall not be required to find that the institution-affiliated party has met the applicable standard of conduct provided by law for indemnification in connection with such action or proceeding.
In the event that a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the remaining members of the Board may authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the remaining members of the Board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Section 5 of Article VIII have been met. If independent legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the remaining members of the Board of Directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.
In the event that all of the members of the Board of Directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the Board shall authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the Board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Section 5 of Article VIII have been met. If legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the Board of Directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.
To the extent permitted under applicable law, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in the Articles of Association (a) shall be available with respect to events occurring prior to the adoption of these Bylaws, (b) shall continue to exist after any restrictive amendment of these Bylaws with respect to events occurring prior to such amendment, (c) may be interpreted on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time of the occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the action or proceeding, or on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time such rights are claimed, and (d) are in the nature of contract rights which may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction as if the association and the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) for whom such rights are sought were parties to a separate written agreement.
– 10 –
The rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not, to the extent permitted under applicable law, be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any such institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may now or hereafter be otherwise entitled whether contained in the association’s Articles of Association, these Bylaws, a resolution of shareholders, a resolution of the Board of Directors, or an agreement providing such indemnification, the creation of such other rights being hereby expressly authorized. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights, pursuant to statute or otherwise, of any such institution-affiliated party (or of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in any such action or proceeding to have assessed or allowed in his or her favor, against the association or otherwise, his or her costs and expenses incurred therein or in connection therewith or any part thereof.
If this Section 5 of Article VIII or any part hereof shall be held unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remainder of this Section 5 of Article VIII shall remain fully enforceable.
The association may, upon affirmative vote of a majority of its Board of Directors, purchase insurance to indemnify its institution-affiliated parties to the extent that such indemnification is allowed in these Bylaws; provided, however, that no such insurance shall include coverage for a final order assessing civil money penalties against such persons by a bank regulatory agency. Such insurance may, but need not, be for the benefit of all institution- affiliated parties.
ARTICLE IX
Inspection and Amendments
Section 1. Inspection. A copy of the bylaws of the association, with all amendments, shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the main office of the association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during banking hours.
Section 2. Amendments. The Board of Directors shall have the power, at any regular or special meeting thereof, to amend, alter or repeal the bylaws of the association, or to make and adopt new bylaws. These Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed and new bylaws may be adopted by the shareholders of the association to the extent and as permitted in the Articles of Association or applicable law.
EXHIBIT 6
Section 321(b) Consent
Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, Wilmington Trust, National Association hereby consents that reports of examinations by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||||||
| Dated: May 7th, 2024 | By: |
/s/ Latoya S. Elvin | ||||
| Name: Latoya S. Elvin | ||||||
| Title: Vice President | ||||||
EXHIBIT 7
R E P O R T O F C O N D I T I O N
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
As of the close of business on December 31, 2023
| ASSETS | Thousands of Dollars | |||
| Cash and balances due from depository institutions: |
537,816 | |||
| Securities: |
5,633 | |||
| Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreement to resell: |
0 | |||
| Loans and leases held for sale: |
0 | |||
| Loans and leases net of unearned income, allowance: |
44,955 | |||
| Premises and fixed asset |
31,969 | |||
| Other real estate owned: |
210 | |||
| Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies: |
0 | |||
| Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures: |
0 | |||
| Intangible assets: |
0 | |||
| Other assets: |
62,185 | |||
| Total Assets: |
682,768 | |||
| LIABILITIES | Thousands of Dollars | |||
| Deposits |
6,021 | |||
| Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase |
0 | |||
| Other borrowed money: |
0 | |||
| Other Liabilities: |
94,313 | |||
| Total Liabilities |
100,334 | |||
| EQUITY CAPITAL | Thousands of Dollars | |||
| Common Stock |
1,000 | |||
| Surplus |
345,403 | |||
| Retained Earnings |
236,374 | |||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income |
(343 | ) | ||
| Total Equity Capital |
582,434 | |||
| Total Liabilities and Equity Capital |
682,768 | |||